The Office of Teacher Certification serves as the entry point to the university for and advises post-baccalaureate, change of career individuals interested in becoming teachers.  This office also processes applications for formal admission to the College of Education, which means admission to the professional phase of teacher education programs, for all undergraduate, post-baccalaureate non-degree, and graduate students pursuing initial teacher certification.  Formal admission to the College of Education is required for all teacher education students to progress into teaching methodology and other specified professional education courses.

The Office of Teacher Certification also recommends for entitlement to the Illinois State Board of Education all undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate students completing a program leading to state certification of teachers, principals, school counselors, and school social workers.

Chicago State University is proud to have prepared all candidates to succeed since we began as a teacher training institution for urban schools in 1867.  Illinois teachers have chosen to attend Chicago State University because of our distinctive reputation of excellence in teaching, contextualized learning, collaborative partnerships with schools and the community, small class sizes, personal mentoring, and rigorous programs.   Chicago State University is one of only 18 of the 50+ Illinois teacher training institutions accredited by NCATE (The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education) and one of the few who has had that distinction since NCATE began awarding national accreditation in 1954.

Please browse our website to find information on our programs, scheduling a transcript evaluation, applying to the programs, and testing.  We look forward to helping you become a highly qualified, well prepared, caring, and successful educator.