Applicants presenting foreign documents must call this office and make an appointment (217-854-4016) to come in with their materials. Please make sure you have all the items listed below before scheduling an appointment. You must bring all the items listed below at the time of your appointment.
If the applicant is not a United States citizen, evidence of Legal Authorization for employment is necessary. An excerpt from the School Code of Illinois; Chapter 122; Article 21; Section 1:"If the holder of a certificate under this section is not a citizen of the United States six years after the date of issuance of the original certificate, any certificate held by such person on that date shall be canceled by the board of education and no other certificate shall be issued to such person until such person is a citizen of the United States."
A complete application should include the following:
1. A complete educational chronology completed by the applicant, stating name and birth date, a list of names of all institutions attended from primary through higher education, dates of attendance, and the names and dates of all certificates, degrees, and licenses earned.
2. Original documents of academic credentials from secondary and higher educational institutions showing all courses taken and grades received.*
3. Original documents of degrees or certificates earned.* This office is able to verify to the Illinois State Board of Education that we have seen your original foreign documents and make copies of such.
4. Certified translations/statement of degree equivalence (certified by a recognized credential evaluation service listed below).
5. Complete ISBE 73-03C Application for Teaching Certificate.
6. $30.00 money order or check made payable to Regional Office of Education #40.
7. Complete ISBE 73-91 Notice of Intent to Become a United States Citizen. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must fill out this form in order to apply for a teaching certificate.
8. We also need to see a work permit or green card.
**Attention- If you have answered "yes" to one or more of the questions on the Application for Teaching Certificate please click on the following for further information Application Background Questions.
To get further information on the services authorized to perform foreign credential evaluations please visit the following link: http://www.isbe.net/certification/html/foreign_credential.htm
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