Illinois Teacher Certification and Endorsements

Teacher Certification

North Park University's Teacher Certification Program is designed for students who possess an undergraduate degree recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education and wish to return to become certified to teach. Our program is a non-degree program preparing you for Illinois state certification requirements. The Illinois certificate is recognized as a professional credential and is transferable to many other states.

Approvals and Endorsements

In response to the need for Bilingual, English as a Second Language, Middle School, and Special Education teachers, North Park is pleased to offer students the opportunity to gain such training through our endorsement and approval programs. North Park offers approval and endorsement programs on our Chicago campus.

An endorsement is a permanent addition to your teaching certificate that is posted on your actual license. It exists to permit a candidate who possesses an elementary, secondary, or K-12 teaching certificate to teach in areas in which he or she meets a minimum of 18 semester hours in most content work. The endorsement is not a new certificate. It permits you to teach a content area at the same level in which your original teaching certificate was issued. It permits flexibility and marketability.