Early Childhood Education Subsequent Teaching Endorsement: What It Is and How It Can Advance Your Career
Early Childhood Education Subsequent Teaching Endorsement: What It Is and How It Can Advance Your Career
If you hold an Illinois Professional Educator License in another grade level band, such as elementary, secondary, or special education, and you also wish to add Early Childhood Education (preschool– grade 2) to your teaching license, then you can apply for a subsequent teaching endorsement (add-on) in this area. The subsequent teaching endorsement is an ‘add-on’ to your existing Illinois Professional Educator License and is not a separate teaching license in itself. Instead, the subsequent teaching endorsement allows you to add another teaching grade level band to your existing teaching license. National Louis University offers the Early Childhood Education Subsequent Teaching Endorsement through the National College of Education.
What Is an Early Childhood Education Subsequent Teaching Endorsement?
An Early Childhood Education Subsequent Teaching Endorsement allows teachers already licensed to teach other age groups and subject areas to also teach young children. Because they already have a teaching license, candidates for subsequent teaching endorsements take less coursework than those seeking an initial license to teach early childhood education. However, this additional coursework is targeted to what is different about teaching the youngest learners, in other words, children from birth through grade 2.
The endorsement for Early Childhood Education Subsequent Teaching Endorsement is being offered through National Louis University’s National College of Education. These subsequent teaching endorsements are designed for teachers who have already been in the classroom, have prior teaching experience, and have completed the requirements for their existing Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL). The subsequent teaching endorsements build on the teacher’s prior experience and existing licensure, providing the candidate with the knowledge, skills, and field experience needed to become an effective teacher of young children.
Why Pursue an Early Childhood Education Subsequent Endorsement?
The Early Childhood Education Subsequent Teaching Endorsement is an add-on to a teacher’s current license that will allow them to become a more versatile teacher. For example, someone who currently teaches in the Elementary School (K-5) could become licensed to teach in the Early Childhood Education setting (Birth through Grade 2) and be considered for other openings within the district for Early Childhood programs. As a teacher with other endorsements, the person wcouldapply for openings within the district that west fit their skill set.The
Early Childhood Education Subsequent Teaching Endorsement can improve teachers’ chances of being hired, as teaching young children is often considered a ‘shortage area’. Some school districts even offer additional incentives to teachers who earn subsequent teaching endorsements, including this one.
Key Questions About This Endorsement
Does a teacher need to be a licensed teacher to pursue this endorsement?
Yes – a subsequent teaching endorsement is in addition to the existing teaching license that the candidate already holds. Those seeking to become teachers of young children in early childhood education programs and schools would pursue an initial licensure program, i.e., a B.A. degree in Early Childhood Education or an M.A.T. degree in Early Childhood Education.
What grade levels does this endorsement typically cover?
In Illinois, the Early Childhood Education (ECED) endorsement covers teaching birth through grade 2. This is because Illinois has different types of licenses and endorsements for teaching children of different ages. Therefore, teachers seeking to add an endorsement for teaching young children would need to check the requirements for the state where they reside.
Can I combine this with other endorsements?
Many teachers receive subsequent endorsements for teaching in different grade bands, and others are already licensed to teach different subject areas and are also in the process of becoming licensed to teach students who are speakers of other languages and students with disabilities.
Career Impact
By obtaining an Early Childhood Education Subsequent Teaching Endorsement, teachers become eligible to teach in the early childhood grades (birth through grade 2), in addition to the grade level/subject matter that they are already licensed and teaching. This is particularly important, given the persistent shortage of teachers in the early childhood grades in many states, and the variety of career options that such a teacher could have, including the possibility of relocating to a different area of the state or country to teach young children. In addition, teachers who have added an Early Childhood Education Subsequent Teaching Endorsement to their original teaching license are eligible to teach children of a variety of ages, including in a pre-K program.
For teachers currently working within a school district, it can also provide opportunities to transfer to a position that instructs young children and may come with an additional stipend. In addition, an individual with an early childhood endorsement can be considered for various leadership roles within a school, including serving as a mentor to newer early childhood staff.
Early Childhood Education Subsequent Teaching Endorsement at National Louis University
The National College of Education at National Louis University offers an Early Childhood Education Subsequent Teaching Endorsement for the already-licensed teacher. The subsequent teaching endorsement is tailored to the already-licensed teacher based on their prior work experience and existing teacher licensure(s).
