Teacher Certification and Certificate Renewal Changes

Recent changes in teacher certification rules make the completion of graduate work OPTIONAL. A teacher no longer must obtain a master’s degree or 18 credits of graduate coursework. The new system provides more flexibility and addresses concerns expressed by teachers, administrators and districts.

Here is a summary of improvements make to the certification process:

Beginning September 1, 2013 requirements to advance from a Provisional Certificate to Professional Education Certificate a teacher will need:

• At least 3 years of successful teaching and at least one of the following options (earned over the preceding 5 years):
  • Six college semester credit hours, or
  • 180 clock hours of state continuing education in approved professional development (PD) activities, or
  • Annual district-provided PD pursuant to section 1527 of the Revised School Code, or
  • A combination of semester credit hours, state continuing education hours, or district provided PD (30 hours of state continuing education hours or district provided PD are equivalent to 1 semester credit hour)

Allows following options for renewal (after 5 years) of a Professional Education Certificate:

• Six college semester credit hours, or
• 180 clock hours of State Continuing Education, or
• Annual district provided professional development pursuant to section 1527 of the Revised School Code, or
• A combination of state continuing education hours, district provided PD, and/or semester credit hours (30 clock hours of state continuing education or district provided PD are equivalent to 1 semester hour).

Establishes requirements for the optional third tier Advanced Professional Education certificate:

• Applicant must currently hold Professional Education certificate (see above),
• Applicant holds national board certification or has completed a teacher leader training or preparation program approved by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction,
• Applicant has received 5 consecutive effective or highly effective ratings on the annual teacher evaluation in the most recent 5-year period pursuant to section 1249 of the Revised School Code.

Also establishes renewal requirements of the Advanced Professional Education certificate:

• 5 consecutive effective or highly effective annual evaluation ratings and completion of one of the following:
  • 6 college semester credit hours, or
  • 180 clock hours of state continuing education, or
  • Annual district provided PD, or
  • A combination of semester credit hours and state continuing education hours, or district provided PD