Teacher Education Center

Clinical Experiences and Certification Processes (CECP)

General Student Teaching Information

To secure a student teaching assignment you must fulfill and maintain the Requirements for Student Teaching and for Admission and Retention in Professional Studies as stated in the University Undergraduate Catalog.

Students must do their student teaching in their major field.

Consult your departmental advisor concerning:

  • Courses required prior to student teaching in major fields.
  • Your eligibility for student teaching, including required major and cumulative GPA’s.
  • General Education coursework needed in your entitlement program.

Undergraduate students must go to the Student Service & Referral Center, Moulton 107, and pick up an Application for Certificate(s) during advanced registration for student teaching. Complete the Application for Certificate(s) and return it to the Student Service & Referral Center. (Graduate students receive the application directly from Clinical Experiences and Certification Processes.)

If you find you will not be able to participate in student teaching during the coming school year, notify the Office of Clinical Experiences immediately.

Except in rare circumstances, students are not placed in their home district or district in which they are currently residing. Location of the student teaching assignment is based upon the instructional program, district and cooperating teacher availability, and University Supervisor availability. The Office of Clinical Experiences may not be able to honor your preference(s) of geographical location(s). Final decision regarding placement rests with your major department in cooperation with the Office of Clinical Experiences.  

Students are responsible for their own housing and transportation during student teaching.  A commute of 1 hour or more may be necessary. 

Student teachers should not be employed, take additional coursework, or be involved in an intercollegiate sport while participating in student teaching.

Students and their families must not contact any school or school official regarding a student teaching assignment until after the student receives the official letter of notification of his/her assignment from the Office of Clinical Experiences. Each student will be expected to call or write immediately to the school in which he/she will do his/her student teaching experience. Details concerning this will be included in the student’s notification letter.

The exact time for sending the notification of student teaching assignments varies according to different schedules followed by the school districts. If a student teacher has not heard of his/her assignment at least two months prior to the beginning date of the student teaching assignment, please contact the Office of Clinical Experiences.

Some student teachers will receive letters instructing them to make arrangements for an interview at a particular school. If you receive one of these letters, make your arrangements immediately. All districts do not require interviews. An interview is not the same as a confirmed placement. In some instances, public school personnel will contact students personally regarding an interview.

Students may be required to provide a copy(ies) of their Official Transcript to be sent to school officials in the District where they are being considered as a student teacher applicant.  Students should go to 107 Moulton and order a copy of their transcript (two copies for K-12 majors) to be sent to Clinical Experiences and Certification Processes (CECP), Campus Box 5440 after grades are posted for the fall semester.  The cost is $6.00 per transcript.

Student Teaching assignments are invalid if students become ineligible for student teaching because of low grade point average, non-admission to Gateway 3, lack of prerequisites, removal of departmental approval, etc.

Read all mail received from the Office of Clinical Experiences. Some letters will instruct you to follow definite procedures. Letters are sent to your home address, so inform appropriate people of this so that they know where to contact you and /or forward your mail.

Please update address information on ICampus.

Students must make sure they have completed all Gateway 2: Admission to Student Teaching requirements prior to registering for student teaching.  Students can check their teacher ed requirements on their ICampus Portal. 

Students who have answered "yes" to any of the certification questions on the Assessment of Legal and Ethical Conduct form must confer with the Assistant Director of Clinical Experiences and Certification Processes, 56 DeGarmo Hall.

Students who are not citizens should confer with the Assistant Director of Clinical Experiences and Certification Processes, 56 DeGarmo Hall or any Regional Superintendent of Schools, regarding needed official documents that must be included with the application for State of Illinois Teaching Certificate.

All candidates for teaching certificates in Illinois must pass the Illinois Basic Skills test, the appropriate State of Illinois content area test, and the Assessment of Professional Teaching Test.  Please go to the following web site for study materials and registration information.  www.icts.nesinc.com.    Informational booklets are also available in the Clinical Experiences Office or in any Regional Office of Education.