1. You must hold a valid and current Illinois teaching certificate, such as early childhood, elementary, secondary, special K-12, or special preschool-age 21.
2. You must provide proof of two years of teaching experience on a valid and current teaching certificate, either in Illinois or another state. You will need proof of four years of teaching experience by the time your degree program is completed, in order to earn the principal’s endorsement on your Professional Educators License.
3. You must have taken and passed the Illinois Test of Academic Proficiency if you were not required to pass it to obtain your teaching certificate.
4. To be admitted to a graduate program in educational leadership, many universities require you to pass an interview with full-time faculty members. At National Louis University, for example, faculty use the interview to assess four competencies: facilitation, problem-solving, group dynamics and standards-based content knowledge.
5. On the same day as the interview, you may be asked to work individually on a written response to a scenario, so that faculty may assess your understanding of the nature of the task, application of relevant theory and leadership concepts, writing skills and standards-based content knowledge.
6. You may be asked to submit a teaching and leadership portfolio showing evidence of student growth and learning, as well as significant leadership roles.
7. You must also complete the Miller Analogies Test or GRE unless you have taken them in the past five years. This requirement is waived if you hold a graduate degree.
8. Complete the courses and degree requirements for your degree program.
9. Graduate with your M.Ed. or Ed.S. degree.
10. Take and pass the Principal Content Exam in Illinois, well in advance of completing all your classes, and preferably prior to your last term. Registration and Study Guides can be found at the ICTS website: http://www.il.nesinc.com/
11. Complete the Growth Through Learning Teacher Evaluation modules. http://www.growththroughlearningillinois.org
12. Receive the principal endorsement on your Professional Educator’s License (PEL). This license replaces the Type 75 General Administrative License in Illinois.