Mandated Disclosures
NIU provides information about the performance of our teacher candidates on state-mandated licensure tests. We also make available an estimate of the additional costs incurred by candidates as they complete licensure programs. Please find this information below.
Obtaining a first professional certificate or license in any profession takes a great deal of training and education. There are some very real costs associated with it as well. Becoming a teacher requires multiple expenditures throughout your program of study, and we want you to be aware of them to help you plan and achieve your goal of becoming a teacher.
The total costs are not trivial, but they are a required part of the overall expense of joining the profession. While we cannot predict all contingencies (having to take a test multiple times, needing more than one criminal background check, etc.), to the best of our ability, these are the estimated costs associated with becoming a teacher in Illinois:
| Time Frame | Requirement | Expected Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Sophomore Year | One criminal background check (CBC) (ISBE-mandated) | $75 (average fee, although these fees vary widely) |
| One tuberculosis test (TB test), at University Health Services | $17 (if you opt for your own insurance plan or use student insurance; costs higher if obtained elsewhere) | |
| Junior Year | Illinois State Board of Education, content test (paid to Pearson/NCS) | $135, computer-based administration |
| Two criminal background checks (CBC) (ISBE-mandated) | $75 (average fee)/total: $150 | |
| One tuberculosis test (TB test), at University Health Services | $17 | |
| Senior Year | Illinois State Board of Education, additional content test for additional endorsement area or second field (paid to Pearson/NCS) | $135, computer-based administration |
| One tuberculosis test (TB test), at University Health Services | $17 | |
| Teacher Performance Assessment (TBD) | TBD | |
| One criminal background check (CBC) (ISBE-mandated) | $75 (average fee) | |
| One physical (from provider of your choice) | $30-$70 (average fee) | |
| End of Program | Teaching license registration fee | Once you have graduated and/or completed your program, you will have to pay the ISBE $100 to activate your teaching license. |
| Total Costs | $716 over three years | |
If you have any questions about these costs, please speak to your program advisor, to the Financial Aid Office, or to the University Office of Educator Licensure and Preparation.
Note: While we have included four criminal background checks in our estimates, some programs are structured so that students may be required to have as many as 10, adding an additional $390. All costs for CBCs are estimates only and vary widely by placement sites.
Data reported for academic year 2023-2024.
Measures 1 and 2: Completer Effectiveness and Satisfaction of Employers
Completer effectiveness and employer satisfaction are measured by performance evaluations of graduates in their first year of employment.
96% of initial and advanced NIU graduates employed in Illinois public schools were rated at proficient or higher by their employers in their first year of teaching.
| Performance Evaluation | Initial (Undergraduate) | Advanced (Graduate) |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | 27.55% | 47.7% |
| Proficient | 67.35% | 50% |
Measure 3: Candidate Competency at Completion
Upon program completion, 515 candidates received endorsements linked to professional educator licenses issued.
Candidate competency at completion is measured by performance on state tests.
Candidate Performance on Required Licensure Tests
| First Attempt | Best Attempts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N | N Pass | % Pass | N | N Pass | % Pass | |
| Statewide | 16,349 | 12,217 | 75% | 16,248 | 14,392 | 89% |
| Northern Illinois University | 757 | 601 | 79% | 722 | 676 | 94% |
The passing score for all Illinois Content Area Tests is 240. The table below indicates the average scores for candidates at NIU and at the state level.
| Program Level | Passing Score | NIU Average | State Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 240 | 261 | 252 |
| Initial | 240 | 261 | 249 |
| Advanced | 240 | 262 | 257 |
Measure 4: Ability of Completers To Be Hired
Candidate placement in Illinois public schools:
- Initial programs: 75.6% placed; 59.2% in high need areas
- Advanced programs: 81.3% placed; 53.5% in high need areas
Latest Summary Data for Candidates in Licensure Programs
For specific information regarding each licensure program, please see the Illinois Educator Preparation Profile (IEPP). The IEPP has been developed as a tool for "accountability, continuous improvement, and transparency to strengthen teacher preparation statewide in the long term." To that end, in the IEPP, information is organized across four scored domains: Candidate Selection and Completion; Knowledge and Skills for Teaching; Performance as Classroom Teachers; and Contribution to State Needs. A domain may have up to four indicators, each of which has a minimum standard and a state target on a 100-point scale.
The public portal of the IEPP can be located at Illinois Educator Preparation Profile (ISBE).
Third Party Comments
Northern Illinois University is hosting an accreditation visit by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) on February 4-6, 2026. Interested parties are invited to submit third-party comments to the evaluation team. Please note that comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of professional education programs offered and should specify the party’s relationship to the provider (i.e., graduate, present or former faculty member, employer of graduates).
We invite you to submit written testimony to:
CAEP
1140 19th Street NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036
Or contact: callforcomments@caepnet.org
Such comments must be within the specified period and based on the core tenets of CAEP accreditation standards of excellence, which recognize that:
- In CAEP’s performance-based system, accreditation is based on evidence that demonstrates that teacher candidates know the subject matter and can teach it effectively so that students learn. In the CAEP system, EPPs must prove that candidates can connect theory to practice and be effective in an actual P-12 classroom.
- A professional education provider that is accredited by CAEP is expected to be involved in ongoing planning and evaluation; engaged in continuous assessment and development; ensure that faculty and programs reflect new knowledge, practice, and technologies; and be involved in continuous development in response to the evolving world of education and educational reform.
- Comments must address substantive matters related to the quality of professional education programs offered, and should specify the respondent’s relationship, if any, to the institution (i.e., graduate, present or former faculty member, employer of graduates). Copies of all correspondence received will be sent to the university for comment prior to the review.
Contact Us
Office of Educator Licensure and PreparationWilliston Hall 320
815-753-0846
TeacherCertification@niu.edu