Renewing the Standard

Teachers no longer have to:

• develop Certificate Renewal Plans,
• submit Claims for Credit, or
• request approval from an LPDC for activities.

Teachers must:

• complete professional development activities,
• maintain evidence of completion,
• request approval for CPDU related travel from their ROE or LPDC, if applicable;
• submit a Statement of Assurance.

Avenues for meeting the professional development requirements are:

1. Acquiring 8 semester hours in approved education related program
2. Garnering 24 units of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) at 5 contact hours each,
3. Accruing 120 Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDUs) comprised of coursework and other activities,

   (Standard and Master Certificate holders using CPDUs must meet Corey H requirements. Special education teacher must devote 50% of CPDU activities to special education. Regular education teacher must devote 20% to special education.)

4. Completing the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards process,
5. Earning a subsequent certificate or endorsement in an education field from an accredited institution of higher education. You do not need to be teaching that area,
6. Becoming “Highly Qualified” in an additional field as specified by ESEA/No Child Left Behind,
7. Completing four semester hours of a graduate level course on assessment of one’s own performance in relation to Illinois Professional Teaching Standards,
8. Achieving advanced degrees,
   1. a. When a certificate holder earns a master’s degree in education related field in one certificate renewal cycle, the holder has met all requirements for that renewal cycle and CPDUs and/or semester hour requirements are reduced by one-third for all future cycles;
   2. b. When a certificate holder earns additional master’s degree in education related field in one certificate renewal cycle, CPDUs and/or semester hour requirements reduced by two-thirds for future cycles;
   3. c. Standard Teaching Certificate holders with a master’s degree earned prior to July 1, 2004 must complete 120 CPDUs or 8 semester hours during their first recertification cycle and the reduction becomes effective for all future cycles.
   4. d. When a certificate holder earns a doctorate degree in an education related field in one certificate renewal cycle, the holder has met all requirements for that renewal cycle and CPDUs and/or semester hour requirements are reduced by two-thirds. Upon renewal of 1st certificate(s), all subsequent certificates become valid for 10 years.

At the conclusion of the certification cycle, certificate holders must submit to their ROE or LPDC the following:

• ISBE Form 73-98, Assurance of Completion of Professional Development for Renewal of Standard/Master Certificates;
• ISBE Form 73-10, Certificate Registration Form; and
• the appropriate registration fee.

If a Standard Teaching Certificate holder teaches less than five full years, then the professional development requirements are prorated for each of the years taught. For instance, a teacher who teaches only one year is obligated to complete only 20% of the requirements.