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Subsequent Endorsements

Subsequent endorsements in adjacent grade bands may be available through the University of Illinois depending on student’s major and are subject to the limitations imposed by the major’s course and/or placement requirements as well as Illinois State Board of Education requirements. 

Registration in endorsement courses requires Junior, Senior or Graduate Student standing and admission to a licensure program.

Due to the extensive requirements of subsequent endorsements and the potential for necessary modifications to school placement hours, interested students should contact their academic adviser during the first semester of freshmen year regarding their academic plan and time to degree. Do not assume the published placement schedule in the professional sequence precludes you from obtaining subsequent endorsements.

You may also apply for subsequent endorsements directly through ISBE. Upon completion of an initial PEL, you may request an ISBE transcript audit through your ELIS account. ISBE will determine what courses you need; you may take those courses at any college/university. With proof of completion of the requirements, including passing the relevant content test, ISBE will grant the subsequent endorsement.

Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2) Subsequent Endorsement

An Early Childhood endorsement can be added to Professional Educator Licenses (PEL) in adjacent licensure band only (Elementary Education).

Students seeking an Early Childhood endorsement should expect to complete the requirements in an additional semester and may opt to stay a full 5th year to pursue a master’s degree by taking the endorsement courses, three 500 level courses, and the EPSY and EPOL Foundations courses.

The following University courses are required to add a subsequent Early Childhood endorsement to a PEL in Elementary Education:

  • Child Growth & Development, CI 424
  • Literacy Methods, CI 465
  • Assessment/Planning, CI 421 and EDPR 420
  • Methods and Content Pedagogy, CI 443
  • Child, Family & Community, CI 422

 Students must also pass the Early Childhood (Birth – Grade 2) Content Test.

Elementary Education (Grades 1-6) Subsequent Endorsement

An Elementary Education endorsement can be added to Professional Educator Licenses (PEL) in adjacent licensure bands only (Early Childhood and Middle Grades PEL).

ELED endorsement on ECE PEL: Students should expect to complete the requirements in an additional semester and may opt to stay a full 5th year to pursue a master’s degree by taking the endorsement courses, three 500 level courses, and the EPSY and EPOL Foundations courses.

ELED endorsement on MG PEL: Students may or may not need additional semester(s) to complete the endorsement.

The following University courses are required to add a subsequent Elementary Education endorsement to a PEL in Early Childhood or Middle Grades Education:

  • Child Growth & Development, EPSY 201 OR CI 424
  • Literacy Methods, CI 475
  • Assessment/Planning, CI 405
  • Methods and Content Pedagogy, CI 451 and CI 432

Students must also pass the Elementary Education (Grades 1-6) Content Test.

Middle Grades (Grades 5-8) Subsequent Endorsement

A Middle Grades endorsement can be added to Professional Educator Licenses (PEL) in adjacent licensure bands only (Elementary Education, Secondary Education).

A Middle Grades endorsement on an ELED PEL: Students seeking a MG endorsement in General Science, Language Arts, Mathematics, or Social Sciences must include 18 hours of graduate or undergraduate content coursework including one content-specific methods course (CI 402) AND pass the Middle Grade subject specific content test. Completion of this endorsement may require an additional semester, depending on content area and your individual schedule.

A Middle Grades endorsement on a Secondary Education PEL: Students seeking a MG endorsement on a Secondary PEL in the same content area must take one content-specific methods course (CI 402) and pass the Middle Grade subject specific content test. Students seeking a MG endorsement on a Secondary PEL in a different content area must complete 18 hours of graduate or undergraduate content coursework in the additional content area and one content-specific methods course (CI 402) and pass the Middle Grade subject specific content test.

Senior High (Grades 9-12) Secondary Subsequent Endorsement

A Secondary endorsement can be added to Professional Educator Licenses (PEL) in adjacent licensure bands only (Middle Grades Education).

Secondary Education endorsements in Science, English, Mathematics, or Social Sciences must include 18 hours of graduate or undergraduate content coursework including one content-specific methods course (CI 403) and passage of the Secondary Education subject specific content test.

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