Teacher Education Center

Clinical Experiences and Certification Processes (CECP)

Certification for Persons Convicted of a Crime

Students who have been convicted of felonies or any sex, narcotics or drug offenses may be ineligible for certification in the State of Illinois.  If candidates can answer “yes” to any of the following questions, they must contact the director of the Office of Clinical Experiences (Teacher Education Center) prior to Admission to Professional Studies:   

  • Have you ever been convicted of a felony, or any sex, narcotics or drug offense in Illinois or any other state? 
  • Have you ever been named by a state agency responsible for child welfare as a perpetrator in any indicated report of child abuse or neglect if such report was not reversed after exhaustion of any appeal? 
  • Are you in default on an Illinois student loan for which you have failed to establish a satisfactory repayment plan with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission? 
  • Have you ever had a certificate denied, suspended or revoked in Illinois or any other state? 
  • Have you failed to file a tax return with the Illinois Department of Revenue, or failed to pay any tax, penalty, or interest owed or any final assessment of same for any tax as required that was not subsequently resolved to the Department's satisfaction?

In many cases such offenders may become certified as teachers in the State of Illinois if the offense is not one which bars the person from certification and employment in public schools and if the institution has followed certain procedures. According to the Illinois State Board of Education, institutions should have information regarding convictions at the beginning of a student’s career in teacher education.  This allows the institution time to observe the student’s performance and the state time to determine whether the conviction is one which would bar an individual from employment in a public school or from certification.