Teacher Education Program Admissions Requirements
The programs in North Park鈥檚 School of Education all lead to teacher licensure in the State of Illinois. Our programs in early childhood, elementary, secondary, and K鈥�12 education are approved by the Illinois State Teacher Licensure Board and the Illinois State Board of Education.
Students with intended education majors must meet specific requirements to be accepted into the teacher licensure programs. Though your formal application is made during the Introduction to Teaching course (typically during sophomore year), you are encouraged to contact the School of Education during your first year to discuss requirements and receive initial advising.
Acceptance into the early childhood, elementary, and secondary education majors is based on:
- Formal application to the School of Education when enrolled in Introduction to Teaching (EDUC 2120)
- An overall GPA of 2.5
- Acceptance into an area of concentration or approved major
- Positive recommendations from School of Education faculty
- Approval by the Teacher Education Screening Committee
- Completion of health screening
- Successful results of criminal background check
Candidates are required to pass the Test of Academic Proficiency prior to acceptance into a teacher education program. The Content Area Test must be passed prior to the student teaching field experience. An Assessment of Professional Teaching (APT) test must be passed prior to receiving a teaching certificate. .
Once admitted to a teacher education program, candidates also meet benchmark assessments at key transition points during Professional Terms A, B, C, and D. Candidates meet the benchmarks for their portfolio assessment in Professional Terms B, C, and D. These benchmark assessments are described fully in the Teacher Education Handbook provided by the School of Education. Students are expected to complete all course requirements including clinical experiences. Review the requirements for , , and .
All coursework that is submitted to ISBE as part of an an application for certification, endorsement, or approval on or after February 1, 2012, must have been passed with a grade no lower than “C” or equivalent in order to be counted toward fulfillment of the applicable requirements.
Illinois State Licensure Requirements*
Basic Skills Requirement:
All students seeking state licensure must pass the Illinois Basic Skills requirement at the conclusion of Quad A during their second TeacherAiding practicum to be eligible for the Mini-Teaching practicum.
Content Area Test Requirement:
All students seeking state licensure must pass the appropriate Content Area Test requirement at the conclusion of Quad A during the Mini-Teaching practicum to be eligible for Student Teaching.
Final Assessment:
All students must submit a grade/content area appropriate edTPA portfolio assessment to earn an Illinois Professional Educator License.
Grade Requirements:
All education and content-area coursework that is required for licensure, endorsement, or approval must have been passed with a minimum grade of 鈥淐鈥� and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.