Field Experience Requirements (Observations, Practica, Internships, Student Teaching)
Research in teacher education suggests that field experiences in classroom community settings can offer pre-service teachers a context for understanding the link between theory and practice. At NLU, we believe that when teacher candidates apply what they are learning in our classrooms to real life experiences in classrooms with students, they are more effective, more confident and better prepared when they graduate.
According to state and local requirements, as well as NLU’s commitment to ensuring safe and healthy pre-clinical and clinical experiences, NLU requires all candidates who engage in school-based learning have an Illinois State Police Criminal Background Fingerprint Check, a TB test, and a Certificate of Completion with the Department of Children and Family Services Mandated Reporter Training. Upon completion of these requirements, providing there is “no record” from the background check, a negative TB test, and a Certificate of Completion, candidates are eligible to be placed in a school.
Listed below are more details about these requirements.
- Teacher candidates are asked to please collect copies of the Illinois State Background check, TB test (Mantoux Method), and Certificate of Completion for Mandated Reporter in their entirety before submitting them to their Academic Advisor (for M.A.T. programs) or Field Specialist (for Undergraduate Programs). Please note that students are responsible for submitting to schools or districts considering placement and for all field observation hours at the request of a school. Students should carry all originals when visiting schools.
- Criminal background checks must be completed by the due dates required for your program. Please use the NLU UCIA Criminal Background Check. Candidates cannot begin any field experience without a “passed” background check. Many students use Accurate Biometrics for fingerprinting. Locations and fingerprinting times are posted on the Accurate Biometrics website. Candidates are responsible for all fees and the results must be sent to the students’ email or home address. NOTE: Some school districts may require their own background check prior to student teaching. This may be in addition to the background check that you do for NLU. Chicago Public Schools has one process for field experience applications and another for student teaching applications.
- A candidate may not be placed in any school if the background check determines that he or she has been convicted of criminal behavior that, by law, automatically prohibits him or her from attaining Illinois licensure. The offenses that automatically prohibit licensure include first degree murder, any Class X felony, juvenile pimping, soliciting a juvenile prostitute, exploitation of a child, obscenity, child pornography, criminal sexual assault, aggravated sexual criminal assault, criminal sexual abuse, aggravated criminal sexual abuse, some offenses set forth in the Cannabis Control Act, and some crimes defined in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act. The NLU Policies and Procedures for Submission of Background Check for Licensure can be found here.
- In the event that a background check comes back with evidence of criminal history, Academic Advisors or Student Success Coaches will assist the student in choosing an alternative course of study. There is no guarantee that courses will be transferable between programs and no financial reimbursement will be given.
- In some cases, a school district may require record of an additional physical examination by a licensed physician or evidence of health insurance. The teacher candidate will be responsible for providing this documentation.
Candidates for Illinois state educational credentials must pass the applicable content test(s) before student teaching or entering an internship or residency.
Many student teaching field placements are linked with practicum hours for two quarters (fall/winter or winter/spring). All candidates for initial teacher licensure must successfully complete a student teaching experience of a minimum of 11 weeks in the classroom at an assigned school.