Teacher Candidates:

• Bilingual Education (BSEd)
• Science Education (BSEd)
• Elementary Education (BSEd/MEd)
• Math Education (BSEd)
• Reading Specialist (MEd)
• Secondary Education (BSEd/MEd)
• Special Education (BSEd/MEd)

To be certified by the State of Illinois, teacher candidates must receive passing scores on a minimum of three tests prepared by the Illinois Certification Testing System.  It consists of three parts:

1. Basic Skills test (typically required at a time of admissions for teacher preparation)
2. Content-Area test in the major discipline:
   1. Required at the time of admission for MEd secondary education majors
   2. All other programs require the exam prior to student teaching
3. An Assessment of Professional Teaching test, certificate level specific (required prior to issuance of the certificate)

Special Education majors are required to pass a fourth test, the Special Education General Curriculum Test, prior to issuance of the certificate.

Bilingual/Bicultural majors are required to pass a fourth test, the Language Proficiency Test, in the appropriate language.

Teacher candidates should consult their advisor for the appropriate time to take each test.

Advanced Certificates:

• School Counselors
• School Psychologists
• School Prinicipals
• School Social Workers
• Superintendents 

All programs require a test of Basic Skills (if not previously taken for an Illinois certificate) and a Content Exam by the Illinois Certification Testing System.  Check with individual programs for testing requirements.

Out-of-State Certificates
The Illinois test of basic skills is required for all subsequent certificates (early childhood, elementary, secondary, special education, prinicpal, etc.) if you were issued an Illinois certificate based on passing another state's test of basic skills.  Section 25.720

Illinois Basic Skills Test Preparation

ICCB Basic Skills Test Preparation is managed by the Illinois Community College Board.

The BST-Prep's purpose is to assist education students in becoming familiar with the Illinois Learning Standards and to develop the competencies necessary to successfully pass the Basic Skills Test. This study guide is divided into 18 different lessons.  Each lesson provides users with detailed information about each standard and learning activities that will reinforce the concepts being presented.  In addition, there are learning reviews and a post test which closely resembles the Basic Skills Test.

• Individuals will need to select "Register Student" above the Login box.
• Use Loyola's "Institution's Passcode": PRGWIHEP8X
  (This is case sensitive. Best to copy and paste.)
• After registering, you will be assigned a username and password to login and will then be asked to reset  your password when you login the first time.

Other links provided by Western Illinois University:

• Preparing for a Multiple-Choice Exam
• Suggestions for Preparing for the Mathematics Portion
• PFD Boot Camp Online
• Grammar Tutorial

Additional test preparation:

• Study guides and sample tests are available on the ICTS website
• Tips for taking the Basic Skills Test