Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Type 04 (Early Childhood) Teacher Certification

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1. What do I need to do to get my Type 04 certification? I do not have a degree at this time.
   
   The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) issues all teaching certificates in the state. Applicants are first required to pass the Illinois Basic Skills Test (along with several other tests). Then, to be recommended for a Type 04 certificate, applicants must also complete an approved teacher education degree program, which includes student teaching experience through a 4-year college or university in Illinois.
   
   All certified teachers must at minimum hold a bachelor’s degree. A partial listing of ISBE-approved early childhood teacher education programs can be found in the Higher Education Directory on the Gateways to Opportunity Web site at http://www.ilgateways.com. A Type 04 certificate entitles early childhood practitioners to work with children from birth through grade 3.
   
   
2. I have a 4-year education degree and another type of certification from ISBE, and now I want to earn my Type 04 certificate. Do I have to go back to school as a full-time student?
   
   All candidates applying for subsequent or additional certificates are required to attend a higher education program approved for the certificate they want to earn (including the Type 04). Universities can develop focused programs for students by evaluating transcripts and, at some colleges, portfolios (detailed documentation of previous related work or educational experience). Requirements for clinical hours or student teaching experiences can also be based on a candidate’s previous experience.
   
   It is important to check with individual teacher education programs to learn about specific requirements and attendance options. ISBE also issues provisional certifications* to students enrolled in an alternative certification program. For further information, look under Certification on the ISBE Web site, http://www.isbe.net or on the Regional Office of Education (ROE) site: http://www.isbe.state.il.us/regionaloffices/default.htm.
   
   *Note: Provisional certifications are highly individualized and should NOT be considered as a shortcut or pathway to earning full ISBE-issued teaching certification of any type.
   
   
3. I want to earn my ISBE Type 04 certificate. I have a 4-year degree in another field, NOT in education. What do I need to do to get my 04?

• Investigate colleges or universities with an approved Type 04 teacher education program. The Gateways to Opportunity Web site lists early childhood teacher preparation programs under Higher Education at http://www.ilgateways.com. Having several schools to choose from allows you to compare programs to find the best option for your needs.
• Request a transcript evaluation from each school that you are interested in attending. We strongly suggest having several schools to consider, because the requirements will be different at each school. One may be a better match for your needs and qualifications.
• Pass the required Illinois Basic Skills Test prior to being admitted to an approved teacher education program. Information on test dates, locations, and registration can be found at the Illinois Certification Testing System Web site, http://www.icts.nesinc.com. A Student Advisor with the schools you are thinking about attending may have additional information on study materials or sessions to help prepare you for the Basic Skills Test. 5/22/2007 2
• Get detailed information about each school’s student teaching requirements. Institutional policies vary regarding the age groups and in what settings the student teaching requirement can be fulfilled and who is responsible for providing student supervision, evaluation, and support.
• If you feel you need more help, ask for the assistance of a Gateways to Opportunity Professional Development Advisor. Further information about the Professional Development Advisor program is available at http://www.ilgateways.com.
  

4. If I have an associate’s degree in ECE or Child Development and want to earn my Type 04 Certificate, what do I need to do?
   
   All candidates for teaching certificates, including the Type 04, must have a bachelor’s degree. Follow the steps in question #3 and see the response to question #5, which discusses coursework and credit transfers between 2- and 4- year institutions.
   
   
5. What is a transcript evaluation and will my course credits transfer?
   
   Transcript evaluation is the process that schools use to determine (1) which courses taken at another school will provide credit toward a degree at the school being attended and (2) what coursework a student will still need to take in order to be eligible for a degree. Not all courses taken at one school will transfer for credit toward a degree at another college or university. Although a transcript documents all the courses that were taken, not all courses will count toward a specific degree. Specific questions can be directed to the Early Childhood Education Department of the school from which you are seeking a degree.
   
   It is also important to monitor the total number of credit hours that an individual school will accept from another institution for application toward degree requirements. Institutions vary on the number of transferring credits that can be accepted toward a degree.
   
   Some 4-year institutions have agreements with local community colleges, called articulation agreements. Under these agreements, a 4-year institution agrees to accept, for full credit toward a degree, some or all of the courses from a specific community college program. Also, check to see if the 2-year institution that you are attending has been approved to offer the Associate of Arts in Teaching in Early Childhood Education degree (AAT-ECE). The new AAT-ECE degree fully articulates from the 2-year colleges offering them to the 4-year institutions agreeing to accept the AAT-ECE degree.
   
   It is IMPORTANT that students understand the specifics of articulated agreements before enrolling in a community college program, if they are planning to transfer schools at some later point and wish to apply earned credits from community college classes to a 4-year institution. Good planning on your part will save you time, money, and frustration in the future.
   
   
6. How do I get a transcript evaluation?
   
   Contact an advisor in the department you want to attend (e.g., the department that offers the Early Childhood Education program). Ask who can help you begin the evaluation process. Some schools may require an “official” transcript from the other schools that you have attended. Others may accept copies or unofficial documents.
   
   
7. Will I have to do student teaching to earn a Type 04 or other teaching certificate?
   
   If you do not have a current ISBE teaching certificate (Type 04 or other certificate), you will need to complete the student teaching experience required by a teacher preparation program. If you have a valid Type 03 certificate, the number of clinical hours that are required will vary based on previous coursework, teaching experience, and clinical experiences. All ISBE teaching certificates require an age-appropriate student teaching experience. Based on standards from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), early childhood teacher preparation programs generally require that students have the opportunity to complete clinical hours or student teaching experiences with two out of the three age groups, from birth through third grade, which are covered by the Type 04 certificate. Some teacher preparation 5/22/2007 3 programs will allow teachers to complete all or part of their student teaching experience in their current non-public school work settings while being paid as a staff member. Based on the passage of Public Act 094-1110 in January 2007, those candidates with at least one year of experience in a school-based or community-based early childhood program may complete the student teaching requirement of a Type 04 teacher education program with their current employer, as long as that experience meets the requirements of their early childhood preparation program. Check with individual college and university Type 04 degree programs regarding their specific requirements.
   
   
8. I have a teaching certificate from another state. Will the Illinois State Board of Education accept this certificate and allow me to teach in Illinois?
   
   Candidates from other states can demonstrate that they have met Illinois certification requirements by presenting a valid, comparable certificate from another state or by presenting a State-Approved Program Verification form (http://www.isbe.state.il.us/certification/pdf/73-05_approved_verification.pdf) signed by an official from the recommending institution in the other state, and bearing the college’s seal. Candidates from other states are evaluated on an individual basis, and acceptance of certification from other states without additional coursework is not guaranteed. Consult an approved teacher preparation program in Illinois for assistance. An Illinois-approved teacher education program must recommend candidates from other states.
   
   
9. I still have more questions! Where can I go to get more information?

• Go to the Illinois State Board of Education Web site at www.isbe.state.il.us/certification/default.htm  
• Contact your local Regional Office of Education at www.isbe.state.il.us/regionaloffices/pdf/roedirectory.pdf  
• Contact a Professional Development Advisor through Gateways to Opportunity by calling (888) 548-8080 or explore the website at www.ilgateways.com.
  

Now, more than ever, to meet the needs of working professionals, there are innovative teacher preparation programs that offer more choices, support, greater flexibility, and some financial assistance.

Compiled by:
Gateways to Opportunity Professional Development Staff at INCCRRA,
The Ounce of Prevention Fund,
and members of the Professional Development Advisory Council

April 2007
Revised May 2007