After completing high school, you may want to consider becoming a classroom teacher
in an elementary school, junior high school, or high school in the state of Illinois.
To begin becoming a teacher, it is necessary to enroll into an accredited college
and to obtain a 4-year BA degree while there
How To Become a Teacher in Illinois:
- To become a classroom teacher in the state of Illinois, start with earning a 4-year
BA degree at your favorite college or university.
- After a BA degree is earned, the state of Illinois requires that you pass an Illinois Approved Certification Preparation Program
that will include testing and coursework requirements.
- A teaching certificate
can be issued after you have passed your Illinois Approved Certification Preparation
Program and that training provider has requested that you be approved for a teaching
certification. You can get more information and apply for the certification
here.
- You will also need to contact an advisor at at the Department of education’s
Certification office.
Springfield Certification Office:
(866) 262-6663 or (217) 782-4321
Chicago Certification Office:
(312) 814-2220
Alternative Certifications
- Illinois also has an alternative teaching certificate program for those who have
their BA degree and work experience or extra studies in the area of education. This
alternative teaching certificate can result in being employed while finishing whatever
is necessary to complete to meet the certification preparation requirements.
The state of Illinois has almost 880 different school districts to choose from.
The Chicago Public School District is among the largest in the United States. The
Illinois State Board of Education hosts an online job board that can show many examples
of actual teaching jobs that are available today in the state of Illinois.