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Graduate Programs

At NLU, we are proud of our strong tradition in teacher preparation, as highlighted on our Teacher Preparation Programs at NCE page. Each MAT program includes an assigned Graduate Advisor who will be a key partner in helping you successfully navigate program requirements and achieve your goals. Be sure to schedule an appointment with your advisor during your first term and stay in regular contact throughout your program. Your advisor is your best resource for answering the many questions that may come up, and if they don’t have the answer, they’ll connect you with someone who does.

This page is designed to provide students in the MAT Teacher Preparation programs with the handbooks you need throughout your program.

MAT Program Handbooks

MAT Alternative & Residency Licensure Program Handbooks

National Louis University requires that all candidates in programs that include time spent in an Illinois school pass an Illinois State Police background check, a TB test, and a Certificate of Completion with the Department of Children and Family Services Mandated Reporter Training. Find the most current forms on the Office of Field Experience website. Deadlines can be found on the OFE site, along with FAQ’s.

Field Experience

SONIA

GoReact

Video Release Form

Competency Appraisals for Practicum and Student Teaching

Competency Appraisals will be completed in Sonia (Field Experience software).

Many Education programs require a content test in the area of licensure to qualify for the PEL (Professional Education License).  The content test must be passed prior to beginning a Student Teaching or Practicum 2 Placement (see your Advisor/Coach for deadline).  Please see your Advisor/Coach for the test number and exact deadlines by program and term. 

Visit the ILTS website to register and for more information.

Upon receiving the good news of passing the content exam, please make sure your score is reported to NLU.  You can do this by selecting NLU as your university at the time that you register for the exam.  Note: Official scores will be sent to you approximately two-four weeks after taking the test. If you are in need of a test retake, ILTS requires a 14-day waiting period. This means waiting 14 days after the date of your last test to retake it.

NLU has also partnered with Mometrix, a leader in test preparation to provide their preparation materials to current NLU students free of charge. You can now access all of Mometrix’s study books, practice questions, and flashcards for the ILTS tests related to your licensure area in Mometrix eLibrary for study guides and flashcards. To access these materials: Open the Mometrix link, then enter your NLU sign-in information in the Portal. Once in, simply search for the ILTS content test study materials for your program area.

As you prepare for Content Testing please seek the following resources. Please visit the Learning Support. They can provide writing, reading, and math test support. For additional support resources we offer, contact your Advisor.

If you are in the MAT Early Childhood Education, MAT Elementary Education, MAT Middle Grades Education, MAT Secondary Education programs, or MAT Special Education you are working toward the Professional Educator License (PEL) in the state of Illinois.

The Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS)

ELIS is the system that the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) uses to house all information pertaining to educator licensure in Illinois.  The ELIS account is required for each educator in the state and must be created prior to admission to NLU.

Admission to the Licensure Program

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) requires that each institution of higher education (IHE) determine a set of requirements in order for a student to be admitted to the Licensure Program at their institution.  This is different from acceptance/admission to the university.

Issuance of the Professional Educator License

Licenses are issued by a process known as entitlement. This means that NLU will move your Professional Educator License status from Pre-Completion to Completed Program in your ELIS account. Students should not apply directly with the state for the license. This will prevent NLU from being able to entitle the license and will delay the issuance of the license.

During the last quarter of your program, you will be sent instructions for applying for entitlement through NLU. Information regarding this can be found here: https://www.nl.edu/licensure/ and specific instructions and the application can be found here: https://www.nl.edu/licensure/instructions/. Please note that this application should not be completed until the last term of the student’s program.

Students often wonder how long it will take to be entitled for the license once the last quarter of the program is complete. Unfortunately, this can take some time as there are many factors that determine eligibility for the license. Some of these factors are as follows:

  • Final grades must be posted;
  • The degree must be conferred;
  • All tests/assessments must be passed and posted to the ELIS account including content test(s)

Once all requirements are met for licensure, NLU will be able to entitle the student for the license in their ELIS account. The student will then be sent additional information for applying for the license, paying appropriate fees, and registering the license in Illinois.

A subsequent endorsement is not a new license, but rather an addition to an existing one, allowing a teacher to teach in a different subject area or grade level. Subsequent endorsements allow teachers to expand their skills and qualifications, potentially leading to new career opportunities or the ability to teach a wider range of students. To obtain a subsequent endorsement, educators typically need to complete specific coursework, pass relevant content tests, and sometimes meet other requirements set by the state education agency (like the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). To see if this is right for you, reach out to your Advisor. 

 

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