Elementary Education Subsequent Teaching Endorsement: What It Is and How It Can Advance Your Career

An Elementary Education Subsequent Teaching Endorsement is an add-on credential for teachers who already hold an Illinois Professional Educator License in another area—such as early childhood, secondary, or special education—and want to expand their license to teach elementary grades. Like other subsequent endorsements, it's not a new license but an addition to an existing one, letting a teacher broaden their licensure without completing an entirely new initial certification program. National Louis University offers this endorsement through its National College of Education.

What Is an Elementary Education Subsequent Teaching Endorsement?

Teachers with an Illinois Professional Educator License in early childhood, secondary, or special education can get an extra endorsement in elementary education. To do this, they must take specific courses focused on elementary education. Since they already have a teaching license and know how to teach, these courses will concentrate on what they need to know to teach elementary school students. This includes how to teach reading and math to elementary students, manage an elementary classroom, and design a curriculum for elementary students. They won't have to take the same general teaching courses they've already taken, just the ones that are specific to elementary education. This way, they can learn what they need to know to be a great elementary school teacher without repeating what they already know.

National Louis University offers an Elementary Education Subsequent Teaching Endorsement through its National College of Education, allowing teachers with an existing PEL endorsed in early childhood education, secondary education, or special education to add elementary education by completing the required professional coursework.

Why Pursue an Elementary Education Subsequent Endorsement?

Teachers often pursue this extra certification to expand their career options. They might want to teach different age groups or move to a new area where there aren't as many jobs in their original field. Some high school or special education teachers might find they really like working with younger kids, so they get certified to teach elementary school. On the other hand, some teachers who work with really young kids might want to teach older elementary school students, so they get certified for that too. This way, they can choose what age group they want to work with and have more flexibility in their career.

Adding an elementary teaching endorsement can open up many job opportunities for teachers. Since elementary teaching is one of the biggest fields in terms of available positions, this endorsement can make a teacher eligible for many more jobs. This is important for a few reasons. For one, it can provide more job security right away. But it also gives teachers more flexibility in their careers over the long term. For example, if a teacher wants to move to a new school district or even a new state, an elementary teaching endorsement can make it easier to find a job. This is because elementary positions may be more available in certain areas than positions in the teacher's original area of licensure. So, this endorsement can be really valuable for teachers.

Key Questions About This Endorsement

Do I need to be a licensed teacher already to pursue this endorsement?

This is an extra endorsement, which means it's added to a teacher's existing Illinois Professional Educator License. If you're a teacher looking to get your first license in elementary education, you would need to go through a different program, like a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education or a Master's degree in Elementary Education, known as an initial licensure program.

Which existing licenses qualify a teacher to add this endorsement?

In Illinois, teachers holding a PEL endorsed for early childhood education, secondary education, or special education are generally eligible to add a subsequent elementary education endorsement by completing the required professional coursework.

How much coursework does this endorsement typically require?

Endorsement requirements are usually more focused than a full licensure program. This is because the candidates already have the basic teacher training. To know exactly which courses are needed, check with the institution offering the endorsement. The requirements can vary depending on the candidate's original licensure area and the courses they've already taken.

Can I combine this endorsement with others? Many teachers earn multiple endorsements as they move forward in their careers. For instance, they might get an endorsement to teach elementary school and also get certified in ESL/Bilingual or special education. This lets them teach a wider range of students and qualify for more jobs. This lets teachers work with different types of students and access more opportunities. They can teach elementary school and also work with students learning English or with special needs. This makes them more versatile and able to help more students.

Career Impact

With this extra endorsement, teachers can teach elementary school in addition to the grade level they're already licensed for. Since elementary education is a big part of the K-12 teaching workforce, this endorsement can really open up more job opportunities for teachers. This is especially helpful for teachers in areas where jobs are scarce in their original licensure area, or for those who want to move to different districts or states with different hiring needs. It gives them more flexibility and makes them more attractive to potential employers. By adding this endorsement, teachers can increase their chances of getting hired and having a successful career in education.

For teachers already in the Pine School District, this endorsement can be especially helpful. It can open up new job opportunities within the district, like moving into an elementary school position, without having to switch employers. Plus, it can help teachers who want to specialize in elementary education move into roles like instructional coaching or curriculum development, which can be a great way to advance their careers over time.

Elementary Education Subsequent Teaching Endorsement at National Louis University

National Louis University has a special program for teachers who already have a teaching license in Illinois. This program is called the Elementary Education Subsequent Teaching Endorsement. It's for teachers already working with young children, high school students, or kids with special needs who want to teach elementary school too. To do this, they need to take some extra classes to learn how to teach elementary school students. Once they finish these classes, they'll be qualified to teach elementary school. This is a great way for teachers to build their skills and work with different age groups.