Yes, as determined by individual school districts. If you are confidant of an internship in your area of expertise, you are encouraged to apply. Candidates who do not have an internship may still apply; if there is still no internship after the completion of the first 18 credit hours of coursework, candidates may wait for an internship. However, the ITILP cannot recommend an initial teaching license to anyone who has not successfully completed the entire program, including completion of the endorsements and passing the PRAXIS II for each endorsement area. Candidates waiting for an internship may apply to the state for a substitute authorization.

Note: The program will be capped for the first three pilot years. Therefore, applicants who have secured an internship for the following school year may have priority in the selection process.

Do I have to plan to teach in the same area as my bachelor’s degree?

Not according to the letter of the law. However, the spirit of the law is to bring experienced professional knowledge to Iowa's teens. Having a baccalaureate degree and work experience in the area in which you wish to teach will favor your selection. Further, if you wish to teach in an area outside your degree, earning the necessary endorsements may take much more time. Finally, you are more likely to secure an internship in your area of work experience and degree. The Selection Committee will weigh all these factors in choosing candidates for the first three years of the pilot program.

What are the secondary endorsements?

An endorsement is the subject area in which you will be licensed to teach. A list of secondary endorsements can be seen at the Board of Educational Examiners web site http://www.iowa.gov/boee/addition.html. Note: these endorsements will be listed as grades 5-12. Thus, you will use your 5-12 endorsement to teach in a middle school or high school, in grades 7-12.

How do I know what courses I will need to complete the endorsement?

You can get a sense of how much more work you will need to do in your desired endorsement area. Go to http://www.iowa.gov/boee/addition.html and click on the link for the subject area you wish to teach. A form will come up showing you what categories of courses are required. However, this does not tell you what courses you have already taken that can fulfill these categories. You must complete an endorsement analysis to see what courses you still need.

The endorsement analysis process is a requirement for recommendation for the Intern License and is conducted by the Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE). You must be registered in the ITILP system to begin this process. Once you are registered, follow the admission process directions. Upon review of your transcript, the BOEE Licensure Analysts will send you a letter or email, telling you precisely which additional courses you will need to complete the endorsement/s you wish to teach. When you have finished all required coursework for your endorsement/s, the BOEE alerts you and the ITILP so that you can be recommended for the Intern License.

Is there a maximum number of students that the program will take?

Yes. Since this is a pilot program, we will be limited to 20 candidates the first three years. Therefore, some very good candidates may not be admitted the first year but would be asked if they would like to be admitted to the second year of classes. You may wish to consider opetional licensure programs if you need to earn a teaching license in a short time frame.

What is the timeline for coursework and the internship?

Go to the timeline page.

How do I enroll in this program?

Even if you currently meet the legislated requirements, you must meet the additional program requirements and successfully complete all the steps for application, all of which are described on the ITILP home page. Acceptance into the program is not automatic upon the receipt of the application elements. A selection committee will review your materials and decide whether you have met the requirements to advance to the next step, which is an in-depth face-to-face interview, conducted during the last two weeks in May. Once candidates are accepted into the program, they are given the web address for registration for the first course and all the instructions on how to proceed with the program.

In granting admission to the Iowa Teacher Intern License Pathway, consideration is given to the scholarship, health, character, dispositions, and leadership potential of the applicant.
Admission to the ITILP is a privilege rather than a right. Thus, admission is not guaranteed to all who apply.

What is the cost of this program?

At this time, one could expect to pay about $6300.00 for the coursework and required fees leading up to the internship year. During the internship year when the intern is earning a salary for teaching, tuition, fees, and extra costs are approximately $3000. Costs are based on the University of Iowa's undergraduate tuition fee because the U. of I. is responsible for the registrations, course transcripts, and delivery of the online instruction; costs change in accordance with changes in university tuition and state license fees. At this time, the total estimated cost of $8800 - $9300 includes tuition, technology fees, supervision fees, and miscellaneous fees for requirements such as the cost of the Intern License and background checks. The tuition and technology fees are projected costs for 2010-2011, a 10% increase over 2009-2010 costs, if approved by the Board of Regents.

These estimates do NOT include costs for acquiring the endorsement, texts, materials, and travel expenses for face-to-face course hours.

What if I am lacking one of the application requirements?

Wiggle room:

GPA may be a bit lower than minimum, but only because you did not achieve to your ability for whatever reason/s during your undergraduate years. You should have evidence that you are able to achieve college level expectations in grades and work ethic.
Work experience beyond the bachelor’s degree may not be exactly what the degree was in, but you have worked at least 3 years as a professional. A major goal of the program is that you are able to bring your real work experience to the students you will be teaching in that content area.
Work experience: must be a minimum of 3 years, but if you earned a bachelor’s degree later in life, your work experience prior to the degree may be considered.

No wiggle room:

PPST or GRE scores must meet requirements (PRAXIS I: total of 521 on the three subtests, with minimums of 173 on writing and 174 on both math and reading; OR the GRE: total of 900 on two subtests, with minimums of 400 on both verbal and quantitative. If a writing test is taken, minimum score is 3.0).
DCI background check results must show no issues that prohibit working with youth.
FBI background check results must show no issues that prohibit working with youth.
Bachelor’s degree must be from a regionally accredited institution.

What if I have already had courses in the licensure core?

Your transcript will be analyzed to see what courses you have had, and, most importantly, how well you did in them. If you are accepted into the program, your experiences will be considered in this program in terms of how to adjust the course requirements for you. Courses will most likely not be waived, but the expectations within the courses can be adjusted to meet your needs and strengths. Please note: ITILP will not consider applications from those who have recently been unsuccessful in licensure coursework, including methods.

Can my previous coursework in another teacher preparation program be transferred into this one?

No. The ITILP has been designed to provide you with a threaded, highly-articulated program of experiences. There are no discreet courses dedicated to particular topics that can be transferred into this program, nor will these courses transfer to another program. Further, these courses are designed to meet YOUR needs and strengths rather than to be simply a set of objectives and assessments.

Will any of my previous teaching time in a classroom in secondary schools be accepted?

It is likely that ITILP field assignments will be adapted to provide depth and breadth of previous and current field experiences. This will be determined by the instructor.

Do I need to have a minor for the ITILP?

No. However, you may add endorsements to your license.

Is the internship based on the school with the biggest needs?

No. Schools with large needs will certainly be looking for quality, licensed teachers, which includes those who have earned their Intern License by successfully completing the 18 credit hours of coursework, earning the content endorsement, and passing the FBI background check. The intern will sign a contract with the school-in-need that is the best fit for the school and the intern. If the intern does not accept any contracts, then he or she will simply wait to complete the program until an acceptable internship is completed.

What if I cannot find a district in which to do an internship?

You can delay completing the internship by continuing to work or obtain a substitute authorization (requires 18 credit hours of teacher preparation; allows you to substitute for a maximum of 5 consecutive days in the same assignment) and substitute in classes until an internship opens up. Districts will be aware that interns for shortage areas are available (see strategies for finding placements). You may have to consider at least a temporary move to another part of the state to complete an internship in a reasonable amount of time.

What if my internship year assignment is not for a full day?

At this time, there is no state ruling on how many periods per day you must teach to complete the Intern License. The requirement is that you teach all year, that you successfully and fully participate in the mentor program, and that you pass all requirements of the program, including the evaluation of both your portfolio and teaching ability by the school principal and the ITILP supervisor.

Where do I get my content area endorsements fulfilled?

In any regionally accredited institution approved by the Board of Educational Examiners (BOEE) or in an Iowa community college offering BOEE approved courses. The BOEE will inform both the candidate and the ITILP when the endorsements have been completed.

How will I know which Regent institution is teaching which courses?

You won't. This collaborative is set up so that all course design, instruction, evaluation, and recommendations are shared among the three institutions. Rather than taking courses from each institution, candidates will be taking courses from the ITILP.

Since this is a collaborative, which institution’s name will be on my transcript for these courses?

At this time, it will be the University of Iowa. The University of Iowa will be taking care of all registrations, transcripts, and grades. In the future, candidates may be able to designate which Regent institution is recorded on the transcript.