Reading Specialist Certification Applicaton

Do you qualify? Read about the qualifications for the Reading Teacher Endorsement.

The Reading Teacher Endorsement is designed for teachers who teach reading in a setting other than a self-contained classroom.  This endorsement can be obtained on an early childhood, elementary, secondary, or special certificate. 

An individual may have his or her official college transcripts evaluated for the Reading Teacher  Endorsement by completing the necessary paperwork at the local Regional of Education, which will send the packet to the ISBE for review. After a period of up to two months you will receive a notification from the ISBE notifying you of which competency areas have yet to be met.  The ISBE requires 24 credits of courses that demonstrate competencies in the following areas: Foundations of Reading, Content Area Reading, Assessment and Diagnosis of Reading Problems, Developmental and Remedial Reading Instruction and Support, Developmental and Remedial Materials and Resources, and Literature Appropriate to Students Across the Grade Levels.

After a candidate has completed the required courses for the Reading Teacher Endorsement (24 credit hours), he/she will follow the steps to apply for the endorsement.

  1. Take and pass the Reading Teacher Test (177).  Check the ISBE website for test information.
  2. Submit ISBE form 73-52 (Application for Endorsement), official transcripts of all pertinent coursework, and a $30 application fee to your Regional Office of Education.

Note: To be official, the ISBE requires that transcripts must be submitted in the sealed envelope from the college or university or be sent directly by the institution. Transcripts received that are not in a sealed envelope from the university or sent directly from the university will be considered unofficial and cannot be used for evaluation purposes.

 

Contact Us

Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Gabel Hall 147
815-753-8556
815-753-8563 (fax)
CIDepartment@niu.edu 

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