North Central College - Naperville, IL
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Teacher Certification

If you've already earned a bachelor's degree, you may take the courses needed to qualify for the following certification in Illinois public schools:

For more information on becoming a teacher in Illinois, visit the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) website.

How to Apply

Completion
How long will it take to complete the teacher certification program at North Central College? The short answer is "it depends." It depends on the type of certification you're seeking and how many additional courses beyond the professional education "core" may be required. For this reason, we strongly encourage prospective students to apply and send us official copies of all their undergraduate transcripts for an official evaluation of undergraduate credit. The official evaluation will provide a list of all the courses you would need to complete our program.

Visit Campus for an Individual Appointment
To schedule an individual appointment to meet with a counselor, call the Office of Admission at 630-637-5800.

Program Format
The academic calendar at North Central College consists of three 10-week terms (fall, winter, and spring), a three-week D-Term, an eight-week summer term, and consecutive four-week summer sessions. The unit of credit at North Central is the credit hour, which is equivalent to one semester hour of credit. North Central's program does not offer evening or online courses.  All courses are taught on campus in Naperville.  The program does not lead to a degree. 

Tuition and Fees
Full-time students are billed on a per-term basis; for the 2011-2012 academic year, this rate is $9,831 per term plus a $20 technology fee and $60 student activity fee.  Part-time students are billed on a per credit hour basis; for the 2011-2012 academic year, this rate is $716 per credit hour plus a $20 technology fee. Tuition rates for subsequent academic years are announced each April.

Financial Aid Opportunities
You may qualify for the following: 

  • Federal Stafford Loan 
  • Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate students 
  • Federal Perkins Loan
  • Federal Work Study

Financial aid awards are based on full-time enrollment (eight- credit hours minimum) unless otherwise noted in the award letter. Minimum enrollment of four credit hours (half time) is required to receive financial assistance. Concurrent enrollment at other institutions will not be considered in determining your enrollment status for financial aid awarded through North Central. Students who want to apply for financial aid through North Central will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and request Financial Aid Transcripts from previously attended schools, whether or not they received financial aid.

Courses at a Community/Junior College
Since this is not a degree program, you can be dually enrolled at North Central College and at a community/junior college. However, only Psychology 100 and nine additional credit hours in professional education courses can be taken at a community/junior college. You are not limited in the number of general education or non-professional courses you need to complete the program as long as they are equivalent to a North Central College course.

You can see course substitution guides for a number of Illinois community/junior colleges at course substitution guides to help choose an equivalent North Central College course. Some links to several schools in the vicinity of North Central College: College of DuPage, Elgin, Harper, Joliet, Moraine Valley, Waubonsee.  Contact the Office of Admission at 630-637-5840 or grad@noctrl.edu with questions about courses at other community colleges.