Short-term Emergency Certificate in Special Education
This certificate is available to teachers who hold early childhood, elementary, secondary, special and transitional bilingual certificates. Forms will be processed for individuals who are currently certified teachers and who have been admitted to the M.S. in Special Education program to pursue and seeking the LBS I certification. State guidelines are available online.
Individuals holding the Short Term Emergency Certificate are eligible to serve students with the following disabilities: learning disabilities, social emotional disorders, mental retardation, physically handicapped, autism, and traumatic brain injury.
Admissions Process
Applicants must complete the Application for Short-Term Emergency Certificatation in Special Education. The form must be signed by the requesting teacher, employing district official, college/university official authorized to affix institution seal, and the regional superintendent.
The following documentation must be provided by the requesting teacher:
- Copy of the applicant's valid Illinois teaching certificate (early childhood, elementary, secondary, special or transitional bilingual).
- Official transcripts showing completion of coursework in survey of exceptional children and at least one of the other three areas for approval (characteristics, methods and assessment). See below for the list of recommended courses.
- Applicant's plan of study identifying enrollment in a teacher education institution and coursework to be completed to qualify for an unlimited LBS-1 approval or certificate within the three-year validity period of the requested certificate.
The following documentation must be provided by the employing district (public or non-public):
- Detailed description of the duties/responsibilities to be performed by the candidate - not a generic job description.
- Description of the disabilities, type of classes and age ranges of the population served by the facility.
- Description of supervision including the name, social security number, and the position title of the supervisor and the frequency of supervision.
- Description of the candidate's training, education and/or prior work experiences relevant to the special population including transcripts of all college level special education coursework and letters of prior teaching experience involving students with disabilities.
- Description of the facility's efforts to locate a fully qualified individual including a copy of postings for the position.
The following documentation must be provided by the college/university:
- Verification by the Certification Officer that the applicant is enrolled in a preparation program leading to an unlimited LBS-I approval or certificate and that the applicant's educational plan can be completed within the three-year validity period of the requested certificate.
The applicant must submit ISBE Form 73-86 and the appropriate documentation as outlined above through the Regional Office of Education with a $30 application fee.
The Illinois State Board of Education will review the materials submitted and issue a certificate or deficiency statement as is appropriate. Should the request be disapproved, a detailed listing of all deficiencies will be generated.
Note: In order for the certification adviser to sign the applicant Form 73-86, the applicant must complete TLSE 540 - Foundations of Special Education. This class covers the foundations and characteristics of special needs students. The other required class may be selected from:
- An assessment course such as ETR 434 - Assessing Students with Special Needs or ETR 534 - Dynamic Assessment for Students with High-Incidence Disabilities.
- Categorical course work is not accepted for the Short Term Emergency Certificate. (At this time NIU does not offer a single LBS I methods or LBS I characteristics course).
When the applicant is ready to have the information verified by the university certification officer, the student should submit all documents and a letter outlining their future plans including a plan of study, courses that they have taken, and courses in which they're currently
enrolled.
Additional Information
