Endorsement Requirements

SXU Requirements for Middle Grade Endorsements – for grades 5-8 on a Type 03 or Type 10 Certificate; for grades 6-8 on a Type 09 Certificate

• 6 semester hours of ISBE approved middle school education:
  • Middle School Curriculum
  • Early Adolescent Development
• Minimum 18 semester hours of college level coursework in the endorsed area (*see exceptions below).
  • Earned at any accredited 2 year or 4 year college or university
  • Minimum of 9 semester hours earned at the 200 level or above from an accredited 4-year institution
  • Earned with a minimum grade of 'C'
  • Documented on official transcripts submitted to the Office of Teacher Education for verification and submission to ISBE
• Exceptions*:
  • Bilingual Education: 18 hours covering 5 designated topics; Passing score on appropriate ICTS Language Proficiency Test
  • English as a Second Language: 18 hours in 5 designated areas
  • Mathematics: 3 hours in middle grade math methods, 15 hours in 4 of 7 designated mathematics topics
  • Physical Education: 18 hours of specific coursework.
  • Reading Teacher: 24 hours covering 6 designated topics; Passing score on Reading Teacher or Reading Specialist Content Area Certification Test
  • Technology/Computer Specialist: 24 hours and a passing score on Technology Specialist Content Area Certification Test

SXU Requirements for Secondary Level Endorsements – for grades 9–12 on a Type 09 or Type 10 Certificate

• Minimum 24 hours of college level coursework in the endorsed area (**see exceptions below).
  • Earned at any accredited 2 year or 4 year college or university
  • Minimum 12 semester hours at the Upper Division level from a 4-year institution (e.g. at SXU, courses numbered 300 and above are upper division).
  • Earned with a minimum grade of 'C'
  • Documented on official transcripts submitted to the Office of Teacher Education for verification and submission to ISBE.
• Passing score on the appropriate subject-area ICTS Content-Area Certification Test
• Exceptions**:
  • Bilingual Education: 18 hours in 5 designated areas; Passing score on appropriate ICTS Language Proficiency Test
  • English as a Second Language: 18 hours in 5 designated areas
  • Health Careers: 24 hours; Passing score on the appropriate subject-area ICTS Content-Area Certification Test; Licensure in specific health field
  • Reading Teacher: 24 hours covering 6 designated topics; Passing score on Reading Teacher or Reading Specialist Certification Test
  • Social Science and Science Designations
    Social Science Designations - History, Geography, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology and Anthropology
    • Science Designations – Biology, Chemistry, Earth & Space Science, Environmental Science, Physics
    • First Designation
      • Minimum 32 hours in social science or science courses, including 12 hours in designation & coursework covering 2 other designations
    • Additional Designation: 12 hours in the additional designation, and passing score on appropriate ICTS Content Area Certification Test for the designation