Prior to beginning teaching, Chicago corps members are required to pass Illinois state certification exams. Chicago corps members who are placed in Indiana schools must also take the Praxis exams in addition to the Illinois state exams. Accepted applicants assigned to Chicago will be provided with further information regarding these exams once they are accepted.
Corps members begin their first year of teaching on a provisional alternative certificate. Upon successful completion of the first-year requirements, university coursework, and a performance-based portfolio, corps members teaching in Chicago receive their Initial Alternative Certificate, which is valid for four years. After teaching their first year, corps members teaching in Indiana will transfer their Illinois certificate to Indiana, which will be valid for four years. Chicago corps members can also choose to continue coursework for an additional year to obtain a master's degree, an option that 60 percent of corps members pursue. The cost of the certification program is partially covered by the AmeriCorps education award that corps members currently receive after their first year of teaching. In addition to the first year’s AmeriCorps award, elementary teachers currently pay approximately $2,000, taken out of their paychecks incrementally throughout their first year of teaching. High school teachers currently pay $3,000 through a payment plan worked out with the university.
| Costs to Begin Teaching |
|---|
| Testing: $200-350 |
| Processing: $25 |
| Up-front Certification Program Cost: $200 (for books and course materials) |
| Costs to Maintain Emergency Credential |
|---|
$2,000-3,000 plus one year's AmeriCorps education award |
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