Start by contacting the director (Karen Lichtman, klichtman@niu.edu) or assistant director (Kathy Kuschman, kkuschman@niu.edu), and fill out the preliminary review form. This will help us make a course plan for you.
- World Languages and Cultures
- Educator Licensure
- Frequently Asked Questions
Educator Licensure Frequently Asked Questions
You can apply anytime, but there are deadlines every March and October to be placed in schools for observations the following semester. If you're an undergraduate student, meet with us by February of your sophomore year.
If you already have your B.A. degree in a language, you will need three to four semesters of clinical courses, education courses, methods courses and student teaching.
Native speakers must satisfy the same requirements as other students, including coursework that is the equivalent of a B.A. in the language. The department works with native speakers to ensure that their language coursework is a meaningful part of their teacher preparation.
The admissions requirements can be found on the preliminary review form (PDF).
With careful planning, you can complete a language B.A. and student teaching in four years (eight semesters). Some students may need to take summer courses or an extra semester for student teaching.
If you already have your B.A. in a language from NIU or another school and are returning to get your teaching license, you'll probably need three to four semesters. The three-semester plan works best spring-fall-spring. The last semester is full-time student teaching.
An advantage of our program is that you'll be licensed to teach all grade levels, PreK-12.
Currently, students are required to pass the Foreign Language Content Area Test in your target language before student teaching, the Oral Proficiency Interview with a target score of Advanced Low before student teaching, and the Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) during student teaching.
See the forms and resources section for the course checklist for your language. The first page shows the B.A. coursework in your target language. The second page of the checklist shows the education courses, clinicals and methods courses.
You'll need to sign a FERPA release form, have a criminal background check each time you're placed in a new school district, get a TB (tuberculosis) test when applying to student teach, and complete training on school safety.
All placements are arranged by NIU within 60 miles of your address. For your final clinical/student teaching placement, you may request a particular geographic area and level (middle or secondary school). Talk to us if transportation to schools will be an issue.
Each state has different requirements on how to transfer an Illinois license to that state. You may have to take an additional test or additional coursework in order to transfer your license out of state, but it will transfer.
Contact Us
World Languages and Cultures
Watson Hall 111
815-753-1501
askfl@niu.edu