State Board modifies system for retirees’ teaching certificates

At one time you could put in a request on line for an exemption for the entire life of the current renewal cycle.  The Certification Board found that no one can predict the future and retirees would return to their positions, but would not change their status, thereby getting around any renewal requirements. 

So, the State Board modified the system to allow only exemptions for the current year and any year in the past. Meaning, if your cycle is from 2008 – 2012, and it is now FY 2010, you can request exemption for 2008, 2009 and 2010, but 2011 and 2012 will remain active, until those years come and you request another exemption.

Two suggestions for retirees:

1. go into your account and request exemption each year, or
2. wait until the last year of your cycle, and then request exemption for all previous years.

And the other side of this coin, as soon as someone renews and is given a new cycle, the status is always put to Active (as default). Source: ISBE