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Undergraduate Handbook

Licensure

Council on Teacher Education

The Council on Teacher Education (CoTE) oversees all teacher preparation programs on the Urbana campus. In addition to coordinating teacher education curricula, the Council acts as a liaison between the campus and the Illinois State Board of Education.

The Council on Teacher Education website offers a wealth of information for students. Students are highly encouraged to become familiar with policies and procedures affecting teacher education by consulting the Council on Teacher Education website. Specific information pertaining to programs, licensure requirements & procedures, and endorsements can be found online under the heading Certification.

Please be aware that licensure and endorsement requirements are subject to change without notice and you are not guaranteed protection from such changes. It is in your best interest to complete requirements and apply for licensure/endorsements as soon as possible. Should the Illinois State Board of Education require changes prior to your licensure/endorsement(s) being processed, you may be required to complete additional coursework.

For all teacher education programs in the College of Education, please be aware that per Illinois State Board of Education policy, grades of D+ or lower in content and professional education coursework may not be used to meet licensure, endorsement or approval requirements. PLEASE SEE YOUR EDUCATION ADVISER FOR A LIST OF COURSES APPLICABLE TO THE C- POLICY

Students completing degree requirements may need to work directly with the Council on Teacher Education after their degree is awarded to complete licensure requirements.

Questions regarding licensure, endorsements, and ISBE policy should be directed to the Council on Teacher Education: (217) 333-2804; info@cote.illinois.edu.

School and Community Experiences

Clinical experiences are a vital component of teacher education programs. School and Community Experiences (SCE) coordinates all aspects of clinical placements for students leading to Illinois licensure in Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle Grades and Secondary Education. They also provide assistance to and collaboration among all parties involved in the teacher licensure process within the College of Education.

Specific information pertaining to the licensure programs of Early Childhood EducationElementary Education, Middle Grades Education and Secondary Education is located on the School and Community Experiences website. The website also provides information pertaining to community-based field experiences, a component of EDUC 201: Identity and Difference in Education.

Each licensure program on the SCE website provides specific information regarding:

  • the programs’ clinical courses and sequence
  • access to the student teaching application
  • access to general forms required to engage in clinical experiences

The website also provides important information and links regarding licensure requirements. Through this website, you can access your Council on Teacher Education (CoTE) portal to allow you to complete required training such as Blood Borne Pathogens, Safety Training, and Mandated Reporter Training.

Common Assessment Plan & Licensure 

Requirements for licensure are set by the Illinois State Board of Education, Council on Teacher Education Council Executive Committee, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign colleges and departments that offer licensure programs. All candidates for licensure must satisfy the Council on Teacher Education Transition Points, college and program requirements, and pass Illinois State Licensure (ILTS) tests appropriate to their licensure major.

Students who do not meet minimum grade point average criteria, listed in the CAP, must petition the Council on Teacher Education for permission to student teach. For a petition to be approved, the student must provide evidence of extenuating circumstances.