Becoming a licensed teacher involves several important steps, from entering your teacher education program to completing student teaching and qualifying for an Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL).
The following requirements apply to students pursuing initial teacher licensure at Eastern Illinois University. Some teaching programs have additional requirements. Review your Degree Audit regularly and work closely with your academic advisor to stay on track.
When you enroll at EIU, declare the major that corresponds to the teaching license you plan to earn.
See the EIU Registrar's website for instructions on declaring or changing your major.
Attend an Admission to Teacher Education meeting as early as possible in your studies at EIU.
When should you attend?
First-time freshmen: Before completing 29 semester hours.
Transfer and post-baccalaureate students: Within 30 days of your first enrollment at EIU.
At the meeting, you will:
Complete the University Admission to Teacher Education application.
Establish your account in the Illinois State Board of Education's Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS).
Bring a laptop, tablet, or smartphone to complete the required online forms.
Your ELIS account will be used throughout your teaching career, including applying for and renewing your Illinois teaching license.
Selection to Teacher Education is the point at which EIU formally reports your entry into a teacher preparation program to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
To qualify for selection, you must:
Declare an appropriate teaching major (Step 1).
Complete the Admission to Teacher Education process (Step 2).
Complete at least 29 semester hours, including accepted transfer credit.
Earn a minimum 2.65 cumulative GPA based on at least 15 semester hours completed at EIU.
Post-baccalaureate candidates must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.65 or have completed a master's degree with a GPA of at least 3.00.
Selection occurs at the end of the semester in which you meet these requirements.
Before enrolling in certain professional education courses, you must meet the university's academic and eligibility requirements.
General requirements
Complete Steps 1–3 above.
Maintain a minimum 2.65 cumulative EIU GPA. Post-baccalaureate students must maintain a 2.65 GPA in undergraduate courses and a 3.00 GPA in EIU courses numbered 4750 and above.
Complete the required Criminal History Background Check. Background checks completed for other institutions or organizations do not satisfy EIU's requirement.
Complete the required Speech and Hearing Check.
Required general education coursework
Earn a grade of C or better in:
ENG 1001G, ENG 1002G, and CMN 1310G (or approved equivalents), totaling at least 9 semester hours.
At least 3 semester hours of college-level mathematics.
Required introductory education course
Earn a grade of C or better in the course required for your teaching program:
Early Childhood, Elementary, and Middle Level Education: ELE 2050
Early Childhood Special Education and Special Education: SPE 3201 or SPE 3220
Physical Education: KSR 2000
Music Education: MUS 2440
Art Education: ART 2400
Career and Technical Education: CTE 2000
All other teacher education programs: SED 2000
Consult your academic advisor to confirm when you are eligible to enroll in professional education courses.
Formal admission confirms that you have met the additional coursework requirements for continuing in your teacher education program.
To qualify, you must complete Steps 1–4 above and earn a grade of C or better in the following courses for your program:
Early Childhood and Elementary Education: ELE 3100 or ELE 3225
Middle Level Education: MLE 3110 and MLE 40001
Early Childhood Special Education and Special Education: SPE 4800 and SPE 4820
All other teacher education programs: SED 3330 and either SED 4330 or an approved departmental teaching methods course
Your academic advisor can help you determine when these courses should be completed.
Student teaching is the culminating clinical experience in your teacher preparation program. You must receive approval from both your academic department and the university before beginning student teaching.
Application requirements
Submit the electronic Student Teaching Application one year before your planned student teaching semester.
Complete any additional departmental application or approval process by the deadlines established by your program.
Academic requirements
Maintain a minimum 2.65 cumulative GPA.
Maintain a minimum 2.65 GPA in your major.
Earn a grade of C or better in all courses used to meet graduation requirements.
Complete all professional education courses required by your program.
Some programs require higher GPAs or have additional academic requirements.
Other requirements
Document recent participation in professional organizations, professional meetings, or appropriate activities involving children and youth ages 3–18.
Submit a professional portfolio if required by your department.
Satisfy any additional student teaching criteria established by your program.
Complete and submit required health and clearance documentation, including tuberculosis (TB) screening, mandated reporter training, and the criminal history background check required by your student teaching district.
Work with your academic advisor and program faculty to confirm that all requirements are satisfied before your student teaching semester.
After successfully completing your teacher preparation program and graduation requirements, you may be eligible for EIU to recommend you to ISBE for an Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL). This recommendation is called entitlement.
To qualify for entitlement, you must:
Complete your approved teacher preparation program and all graduation requirements.
Maintain a minimum 2.65 cumulative GPA, or the higher GPA required by your program.
Earn a grade of C or better in all required professional education courses.
Complete and submit EIU's Application for Entitlement.
Pass all Illinois licensure examinations required for your teaching license.
Important: Licensure examinations are required for licensure, but not necessarily for graduation. Completing your degree and receiving your teaching license are separate processes.
Once EIU has confirmed your eligibility and submitted your entitlement, you must complete the applicable ISBE requirements to receive your license.
Your academic advisor and teacher education program faculty are your primary resources for program-specific requirements and course planning.
For questions about university-wide educator preparation requirements, contact:
Dr. Stephen Lucas, Exectuvie Direcor - Educator Preparation, Licensure, and Assessment - selucas@eiu.edu
You can also explore additional information and resources on the EIU Educator Preparation website.