3. The Schools Which Have Programs Which Can Get me There...

In this part of the webquest, you should explore the information on this site which compares the requirements of the various alternative certification programs in the State of Illinois.  Pay especial attention to the schools page and its associated links. You should also email some of the seven peer alt cert students with questions, since they have all had first hand experience with these questions.

Study the various programs and think about these things:

Is there a program that is close enough to my home to make the logistics of taking classwork doable?  If not, would I

     a)be able to relocate near the campus, or

     b)take most of the coursework online?

	Can I afford to do the program from the standpoint of time and money?  How long is the program, and what is the likely tuition cost?
	Will I be able to keep my current job while I am in the alt cert program?
	Am I ready to handle being an inexperienced newcomer in a graduate school and employment world filled with more-experienced teachers?
	How much coursework can I take online?

The alt cert programs have a year-long PAID teaching internship component.  Here is a link to important things to consider about the year-long teaching internship...

After you have done your study here, rate yourself between 1 (it would be difficult or impossible for you to do the alt cert coursework) and 10 (you know without a shadow of a doubt that you can handle and prosper in the alt cert course schedule)  Be sure to record your score, for use later...

Now go on to part 4 in the Quest for the Gold...