Admission Requirements
To be eligible for the ASSET (Learning Behavior Specialist 1) licensure program, students must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, be currently employed as a paraprofessional in a school setting, and have at least two years prior experience as a paraprofessional.
To apply, please submit the following materials to the Office of Graduate Admission:
- A completed College of Education application
- Application fee (40.00)
- Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
- Two letters of reference from professors or employers, one of which must be from the principal at the school at which you are currently employed, providing support for your enrollment in this program.
- Academic writing sample or personal statement (see below)1
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- The admission process also may include an interview with program faculty.
1 Personal Statement: Write a personal statement that discusses your experiences as a paraprofessional. Include information about your years of experience, the student populations you’ve worked with, including grades and content areas, and the responsibilities you’ve assumed as a paraprofessional. How do you feel these experiences have prepared you to work as a special educator? What else makes you highly qualified for the ASSET pathway?
Course Requirements
36 credit hours:
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| BBE 411 | FUNDAMENTALS OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER EDUCATION | 4 |
| SER 402 | INSTRUCTION AND DIFFERENTIATION IN SPECIAL EDUCATION | 4 |
| SER 403 | CLASSROOM AND BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT IN SPECIAL EDUCATION | 4 |
| SER 405 | TEACHING LITERACY TO EXCEPTIONAL LEARNERS | 4 |
| SER 409 | TEACHING STUDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT DISABILITIES | 4 |
| SER 410 | TEACHING MATHEMATICS TO EXCEPTIONAL LEARNERS | 4 |
| SER 419 | TEACHING LITERACY LAB | 4 |
| SER 421 | FORMAL ASSESSMENT IN SPECIAL EDUCATION | 4 |
| SER 440 | SURVEY OF EXCEPTIONAL LEARNERS: PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATION | 4 |
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Apprenticeship Hours
You will complete your apprenticeship hours in the school which you are employed, while taking coursework. Requirements vary by quarter and increase over the course of the year. You must earn a grade of B- or higher in all apprenticeship courses.
14 credit hours:
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SER 511 | SCHOOL-BASED APPRENTICESHIP I | 2 |
| SER 512 | SCHOOL-BASED APPRENTICESHIP II | 1 |
| SER 513 | SCHOOL-BASED APPRENTICESHIP III | 3 |
| SER 514 | SCHOOL-BASED APPRENTICESHIP IV | 4 |
| SER 471 | STUDENT TEACHING IN SPECIAL EDUCATION SEMINAR | 4 |
| Total Hours | 14 | |
Licensure Tests
All individuals licensed by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) are required to complete licensure tests specific to their area of initial teaching licensure.
LBS1 K-21 Endorsement students must complete the following test(s):
- Learning Behavior Specialist I (test #290) – assesses knowledge of the following areas: understanding students with disabilities, assessing students and developing individualized programs, supporting development and learning, working in a collaborative learning community, and foundations and professional practice.
- ON HOLD. EdTPA – an electronic portfolio assessment that includes video clips of instruction, lesson plans, student work samples, analysis of student learning and reflective commentaries.
Registration, testing schedules, and fees for ISBE licensure tests are available on the ISBE website.
Note that the LBS1 licensure program articulated above does not lead to a degree. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) may change state licensure requirements at any time and without prior notice.