Certification

Certification Types

DePaul has approved programs for the following certificate areas and types.

• Type 03 (K-9) - Elementary
• Type 04 (Birth-3) - Early Childhood
• Type 09 (9-12) - Secondary Education (Art, English, Math, Social Science & History, Sciences)
• Type 10 (K-12) - Special (Physical Education, LBS1, Music, Reading Specialist, World Languages)
• Type 73 School Counseling
• Type 75 General Administrative (Principal) and Superintendent

Teacher Education Certification Process

Teacher Education certification occurs at the end of Student Teaching.  For all certification types an audit of your record is completed after grades are posted for that term and all certification tests and course requirements are completed.  After verification DePaul submits a notification to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) indicating that the requirements for the certificate have been satisfied.  DePaul will then contact you via e-mail to let you know the notification has been sent.  Only then are you eligible to apply for the certificate.

Applying for certification requires an application form (available online or as paper application), $30 application fee, $5 registration fee, and official transcripts.  Individuals that are not US citizens or have a criminal background cannot apply with the online application.  The online application charges an additional $1.75 for processing.

Advanced Programs Certification Process

Students must submit a paper application (available on the ISBE website) and required application materials.  An eligibility evaluation will be completed after grades are posted for that term.  For more details on the process, view the Advanced Programs Certification Application Instructions.

Substitute Teaching Certification

In the state of Illinois, you must possess a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree to become a substitute teacher.  You may apply at any Regional Board of Education using form 73-52 available on the ISBE forms website.  Application for a substitute certificate costs $30 (plus $5 registration fee) and requires the application form and official transcripts.  Note that once you earn your teaching certificate you can be employed as a substitute certificate without possessing a substitute teaching certificate.  Chicago Public Schools requires application for a "sub card" to be a substitute in their system.  Private, religious, and suburban schools have separate requirements and it is best to contact the school or district directly to find out their procedures.

Teacher Certification in Other States

You should contact the state board of education in the state where you want to pursue certification.  State requirements vary.  Many states will have a document that must be completed by DePaul to verify that you have completed your requirements for certification in Illinois.  Please direct the form to the Certification Officer in the School of Education.

Endorsements

Endorsements are additional teaching areas added to your certificate.  DePaul restricts evaluations to areas that DePaul has programs approved by the State Board of Education.  Additional areas can be reviewed directly through ISBE after obtaining the certificate.  All endorsements have specific requirements for courses, hours, and tests.  Endorsement evaluations before student teaching are to be requested through your adviser with the evaluation request form.  Most middle school endorsements do not require the content area test, however, it is required for highly qualified status (see below).  Additional information about endorsements is available on the Endorsement Get The Facts PDF.

Note: World language candidates earn certification to teach languages in all grades Kindergarten through 12th grade.  Candidates seeking additional endorsements in other subjects may need to complete requirements for endorsements in specific grade levels.

Highly Qualified and No Child Left Behind

To be highly qualified in a certification or endorsement area you must either pass the content area test in that subject or complete HOUSSE (for veteran teachers).  Many schools are now requiring their teachers to have highly qualified status to be employed so if you are pursuing an endorsement area it is a good idea to take the contenta area test in that subject.  Additional information is available on the ISBE Highly Qualified Website.

FAQ’s

Do I have to take the Basic Skills test?
If you plan to apply for the Early Childhood, Elementary, Secondary, or Special Teaching Certificate, you must pass the Basic Skills test.  If you plan to apply for the School Service Personnel or Administrative Certificate, you must pass the Basic Skills test.

Which Content Area Test should I take?

• Early Childhood majors: Early Childhood Education test (#107)

• Elementary majors: Elementary test (#110)

• Secondary majors: your subject: math, English, biology*, history*, social science*, etc.

• PE majors: PE test (#144)

• Dual Certification majors: LBS1 [learning and behavioral specialist 1] test (#155), Elementary test (#110), and Special Ed General Curriulum test (#163)

• Special Education for Teachers:  LBS1 [learning behavioral specialist 1] test (#155) and Special Ed General Curriulum test (#163)

• Reading Specialist:  Reading Specialist test (#176)

• School Counselors:  School Counselor test (#181)

• Principal: Principal test (#186)

• Superintendent: Superintendent test (#187)

*Important Note: The tests for all secondary science majors have 2 parts: general science (consisting of questions on biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, space science) and a more in-depth test on your specific major.

Similarly, tests for secondary majors in all areas of the social sciences, must take a two-part test: general social sciences (consisting of history, geography, political science, economics, behavioral sciences) and a more in-depth test on your specific major. All social science majors must take at least 1 in-depth subject matter test as well as the general social science test.

I’ve heard the terms content area test and subject matter knowledge. What’s the difference?
They are referring to the same test. The terms are interchangeable.

Do I have to take the APT (Assessment of Professional Teaching) test?
Yes, everyone has to take this test. There are four versions of the test and you must take the one that is linked to your certificate.

• Early Childhood majors: Birth-Grade 3 APT (#101)
• Elementary majors: K-9 APT (#102)
• Secondary majors: 6-12 APT (#103)
• Foreign Language majors: K-12 APT (#104)
• Dual Certification majors: K-12 APT (#104)
• Special Education for Teachers (certificate seeking): K-12 APT (#104)
• Reading Specialist: K-12 APT (#104)
• PE majors: K-12 APT (#104)

Do I need a substitute certificate to sub right after student teaching?
Undergraduates: No. You can substitute teach with your regular teaching certificate.
Grad students: Possibly. If you want to substitute teach during the few weeks after student teaching ends and before you get your regular teaching certificate, you will need a sub certificate.

I want to be a school counselor.  Do I have to get a teaching certificate?
No, but you will have to take coursework in addition to what is required for applicants who do have a teaching certificate.