Curriculum Vitae, C.V., Vita, or Vitae
Internship/
Professional Practice
How can I finance Graduate School?
How do I apply for Graduate School?
Tests for Prospective Graduate Students
Student & Alumni Responsibilities
Student Expectations of Career Center Staff

Interview Questions for Education Majors (PDF)
"Mid-America" Educators' Job Fair
Services for Education Majors (PDF)
"Teacher Insight" Behavioral Interview Themes (PDF)
Teacher Credential Information
Tips on How to Get a Teaching Job
Visit the Teacher Education Center to learn more as you complete you program requirements
The word “credentials” is used often in the field of education to describe a number of different documents used to denote official evaluations and/or proficiencies. Some school districts will ask for your “reference file” or your ” placement file.” These mean the same thing as your credential file.
School districts use "credentials" to describe documents that provide teaching candidates credibility with their school administrators. In the past, most districts, at some point in the application process, would require an "official" (i.e., copied and mailed from the Career Center) credential file from all candidates. This is no longer true!
The Career Center continues to recommend self-managed credential files because in most cases a photocopy of the requested documents, provided by you, will be sufficient for the districts. Many districts, especially in the Chicago area, will require all or most your documentation to be submitted electronically, thus bypassing the need to have the Career Center send your file. For almost all candidates, establishing a credential file in the Career Center is no longer necessary.
Note that in regards to the reference letters/evaluations, quality is more important than quantity. A total of four to six letters (a minimum of three, including the student teaching evaluations) is sufficient for a new teacher’s file.
Transcripts are NOT included in credential files at Illinois State University, BUT certainly will be a part of the documentation you will need to provide when you apply for teaching positions. Prior to the final update of grades, a copy of your "Progress Report" is acceptable to school recruiters. An official copy of transcripts will be required of all candidates but generally only at the point of hire.