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Certification Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When do I apply for entitlement/certification?

A: You apply for entitlement/certification after you have completed your student teaching, all appropriate State tests are completed, your degree has been posted, and you have received an email from SIUC stating that you should apply.

Q: How is entitlement/certification processed?

A: Entitlement/certification is processed on-line through the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

Q: What are the required certification tests and when should students take them?

A: Illinois Basic Skills Test, prior to admission to the Teacher Education Program (TEP); Content Area Test, prior to student teaching; APT test prior to certification.

Q: If you don’t pass a test the first time, can you retake the test?

A: Yes. You can retake the test multiple times.

Q: What is the cost of a test?

• Basic Skills Test is $60
  

• Content Area Test is $60, except for Special Education General Curriculum- $30
  

• Learning Behavior Specialist I - $30
  

• Speech Language Pathologist: Teaching- $30
  (There is a non-refundable registration processing fee of $26 for each test date for which you register.)

Q: What steps can a student take to make sure everything is on schedule for his/her graduation and certification?

A: Check with your advisor.

Q: What must occur before the entitling institution, SIUC, may mark a student’s entitlement/certification complete?

A: Your degree must be posted and you must pass all State required tests.

Q: Once the student has received approval for certification for their level of certification, what is the process students need to go through to apply for entitlement/certification?

A: You will receive an email from the Certification Coordinator with instructions on how to apply for entitlement/certification.

Q: How do I request transcripts to be sent to the Illinois State Board of Education for certification purposes?
A: Contact SIUC's Department of Records and Registration or on-line at http://registrar.siu.edu/records/transcript.htm

Q: What if a student wants to pursue certification in another state?

A: Contact the State Board of Education in the state in which you want to obtain certification for instructions.

Q: Where can a student go for information on job opportunities, state standards, recent legislative issues, and other certification issues?

A: On-line at www.isbe.state.il.us

Q: When do I apply for entitlement/certification?

A: Undergraduate students apply for certification at the Student Teacher Orientation meeting during the first day of their student teaching semester.  A letter verifying the date, time, and location of the orientation will be sent to the student by the office of Student Services.

All other students seeking certification must obtain departmental approval prior to completing the certification process.

Students assigned to a student teaching placement in Belleville, Chicago area, or other special arrangement site should come to Wham 135 and complete a certification application with the Certification Coordinator the semester prior to student teaching.

To make application for entitlement/certification, the student should complete a “SIUC Certification Documentation” form with the COEHS Certification Coordinator. Also, a “Transcript Request Form”, and $5.00 fee per transcript must be submitted to the SIUC Transcripts Office.  A total of two (2) transcripts will be needed at a total cost of $10.00.   One transcript will be sent to the Illinois State Board of Education and one transcript sent to the student.

Students must make sure the Certification Coordinator has all correct personal contact information. There will be times throughout the semester when personal contact is necessary.  It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Certification Coordinator as soon as possible if any contact information changes.
Students must also apply for graduation no later than the end of the first week of the semester you will graduate (if applicable).

Q: How is entitlement/certification processed?

A: Certification requests are processed throughout the semester.  Academic advisors and program coordinators are routinely asked to complete a certification check for each student to verify if the student has met all certification requirements, including required tests, and to indicate endorsements, if applicable, for which a student is eligible.

The Certification Coordinator will send a list of students seeking certification to the Records Officer, Office of Admissions and Records.  Also, the request is made to post degrees in a timely manner.  Once degrees are posted and the student submits a transcript request and payment for transcripts through the SIUC Transcripts Office, the Transcripts Office will release one transcript to the Illinois State Board of Education and one to the student.

The entitlement/certification request is then processed electronically by the Certification Coordinator (i.e. electronically signed, stamped, transcript verification, entitlement and endorsement verified).  The Certification Coordinator will then contact the student by e-mail for the student to complete the entitlement/certification process on-line through the Illinois State Board of Education’s On-Line Educator Certification System (ECS) at https://sec1.isbe.net/ecs

Note: The on-line certification process is completed by the student using a major credit card.  If you do not have a credit card or are uncomfortable using a credit card on-line, you will have to make arrangements with the Certification Coordinator to complete the certification paperwork procedure.

Note: Individuals who are not United States citizens must complete the certification paperwork procedure.  In addition, students must complete ISBE Form 73-91 - “Notice of Intent to Become a United States Citizen”, and provide proof of U.S. citizenship or valid U.S. work authorization, before certification may be processed.  Please contact the Certification Coordinator for additional information.

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Q: What are the required certification tests and when should students take them?

A: Every student seeking teacher certification is required to take and pass appropriate testing for the certification type being sought before entitlement/certification may  be marked complete.

Please refer to the Illinois State Board of Education web-site for a listing of tests required for certificate type:  http://www.isbe.net/certification/pdf/testreq.pdf

For information pertaining to the Assessment of Professional Teaching test, please refer to:  http://www.isbe.net/certification/pdf/APT-FACT_SHEET.pdf

Test registration information can be picked up in Wham 135 or from any Regional Superintendent’s office.  All Subject Area and Assessment of Professional Teaching tests, and Illinois Basic Skills test study guides, are available on-line at the Illinois Certification Testing System (ICTS) web-site at www.icts.nesinc.com, or may be requested by calling ICTS at 1-800-239-8107 and requesting a specific booklet.

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Q: At what point in a student’s academic career should he/she take the tests?

A: Passing scores on the Illinois Basic Skills test are a requirement for admission in the Teacher Education Program (TEP).  A passing score on the appropriate Subject Matter test is required prior to student teaching.  A passing score on the appropriate Assessment of Professional Teaching (APT) test is required before certification is processed.  Students are strongly encouraged to pass the APT test prior to graduation so there is no delay in the certification process.

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