As the second highest producer of teachers in Illinois, NIU is a leader in preparing and graduating future educators.
NIU first opened its doors in 1899 as the Northern Illinois State Normal School, solely to prepare college-educated teachers. NIU has since grown into a world-class university that attracts students from around the globe while still serving the northern Illinois region. Throughout our history, educator preparation has remained at the core.
NIU has 37 nationally recognized licensure programs to prepare students for a career in education. We are one of the largest licensure programs among Illinois universities, recommending more than 500 candidates for licensure each year.
Our Office of Educator Licensure and Preparation (UOELP) plays an integral role in the success of these students. UOELP serves NIU educator licensure candidates across all teacher, school support and administrative preparation programs, as well as alumni seeking additional endorsements, out of state verification or support for continuing licensure requirements.
The office provides support to licensure program faculty, program coordinators, advisors and placement coordinators who rely on licensure guidance, quality and compliance assurance, and data reporting.
In the 2024-25 academic year, UOELP:
- Expanded NIU’s district partnership network to nearly 600 partner districts, strengthening placement capacity across diverse educational settings
- Managed and distributed nearly 2,000 instructional tuition waivers for cooperating professionals and partner districts
- Processed more than 600 professional development evidence of completion forms to support educator license renewal
Antoinette Jones
“UOELP plays a vital role in every stage of an educator’s journey at NIU—from admission to their licensure program, to their first clinical experience, to their final recommendation for the Professional Educator License,” Antoinette Jones, executive director for Educator Licensure and Preparation said. “We support more than 30 educator licensure programs across the College of Education, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the College of Health and Human Sciences, and the College of Visual and Performing Arts, all of which contribute to NIU’s longstanding reputation for high quality educator preparation.”
UOELP is responsible for ensuring full compliance with Illinois State Board of Education licensure requirements and Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accreditation standards. The office coordinates partnerships with school districts that host NIU candidates for clinical experiences and student teaching. UOELP also oversees entitlement recommendations, testing and licensure processes for candidates and alumni, and supports graduates seeking out of state and international licensure through verification and documentation services.
“Our work ensures that candidates, alumni and school partners have the guidance, resources and support they need to succeed. Ultimately, our mission is to strengthen the educator pipeline and help NIU’s future teachers and school professionals enter the field confident, prepared and ready to make a difference,” Jones said.
As we prepare to observe 2026 Teacher Appreciation Week May 4-8, we celebrate the ongoing efforts of this office, and all areas of NIU that support the success of future educators.
