Certification Information

Students who graduated from TIE prior to 2005, click here.

NOTE: According to the Illinois State Board of Education, the Type 10 Technology Specialist certification can be an INITIAL certification for those who do not already possess a Type 03 or 09 teaching certificate. The candidates complete the approved program, pass the applicable Illinois tests, including the basic skills, content test, and K-12 APT and with the institution’s verification for entitlement, are eligible for an initial teaching certificate.

Application forms for receiving the Technology Specialist (Type 10) certification are available by clicking here or from the ISBE web site (http://www.isbe.net/certification/html/forms.htm). You will need Adobe Reader to access the forms. Instructions for completing the form and submitting through NLU are given below and are available from the NCE Certification Office (847-947-5348 or 5102).

When submitting your application to the Certification Office at NLU, please include a copy of your scores for the tests that you have taken to complete certification requirements. Also, include a copy of both sides of your current teaching certificate with the application.

Submit your application when you have completed or are very near to completion of all coursework required for certification. If you are currently enrolled in a course(s) required for certification, please include a note to indicate that your application should be held for processing until the end of the quarter.

To complete the application:

• Print or type, filling in all of the blanks.
• Include your complete address (city and zip code).
• Answer all of the questions.
• Include the type and number of previously held certificates.
• List all institutions from which you have received a degree. NLU must appear in this section. If your degree has not yet been awarded, indicate "pending" in the date column.
• Check the appropriate box for the certification for which you are applying. An initial certificate is issued to an applicant who does not currently hold a teaching certificate or someone with less than four years of experience. A standard certificate is issued to an individual who has four years of full-time teaching experience and has completed the professional development requirements.
• On the application, indicate Technology Specialist on the line that states "Special K-12." Check box "A" that says you are applying for a single Special K-12 certificate, and choose initial or standard.
• Do not write on the reverse side of the application.
• Sign where indicated.

When submitting your application to the certification office at NLU, please include a copy of your scores for the tests that you have taken to complete certification requirements. (The tests are listed here.) Also include a copy of both sides of your current teaching certificate.

The ICTS Basic Skills test, the Content Area (Technology Specialist, Field 178) test, and the APT (Special for Grades K-12) test must be taken and passed before a certificate will be issued. An individual who has taken and passes the Basic Skills test as a requirement for admission will not need to retake the test when applying for the certificate. If you have taken and passed the Basic Skills test for a certificate that was issued to you after July 1, 1988, you do not need to retake the test. However, if you received a certificate before July 1, 1988, you will need to take the Basic Skills test. If you took the Basic Skills test more than five years ago and did not receive a teaching certificate, you must retake the test.

Return the original application and other required information to:

Certification Office
National-Louis University
1000 Capitol Drive
Wheeling IL 60090

After the application is approved at NLU, it will be returned to you to send to a county office of ISBE or to apply online with the state. Instructions will be sent with an address list of Regional (County) Offices of Education. The certificate fee and registration fee are payable to the State of Illinois. You must also send an official NLU transcript with the application. Follow the online instructions.

NLU will notify the ISBE regarding the type of certification you are qualified to receive. This notice is sent to Springfield after the application has been approved at NLU. You cannot apply with the state until NLU sends the entitlement notice.

Important! The last day of the quarter, not the last day of class, determines the time required to process the application. Due to the volume of applications received in the spring and summer months, the time for processing could be longer. Please allow a reasonable length of time for your application to be processed. It takes time to receive documents, etc. The approved application will be returned to you without delay except in unforeseen circumstances. Your cooperation and patience is required and appreciated.

Additional resources related to certification are found on the Resources page.

Questions, call the certification office at 847-947-5348 or 5724.

Note: TIE students who graduated prior to 2005 are not automatically entitled to the Technology Specialist Certification, but must take an additional course, TIE 575 (in addition to taking the required exams) before being allowed to complete the process of receiving certification as described above.

TIE 575, Leading Staff Development in Educational Technology (2 semester hours) will be offered at least annually. This course is designed to help new and seasoned technology educators to identify resources, plan and design experiences, and create materials for leading effective professional development activities related to technology integration into K-12 teaching and learning. Participants will explore effective staff development models, apply skills in conducting staff development, and critique/reflect on improving approaches to instructional and mentoring experiences for technology integration. As part of the course, students will participate in 15 hours of hands-on professional development experiences involving collaborative experiences to generate growth in professional knowledge and skills through peer and instructor feedback.

Students who have already received their Type 75 certificate, or who can document significant and exemplary leadership in staff development in technology, may be except from taking TIE 575. Please contact the program director, Randy Hansen , for more information.

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Last modified on Thursday, December 16, 2008 @ 1:24PM by: Randy Hansen_

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