How to Become a Teacher in Illinois

Illinois certification requirements, step by step

Each requirement below is stated as Illinois State Board of Education publishes it, with the governing source cited.

1. 1

   Complete an ISBE-approved educator preparation program

   Earn a bachelor's degree and complete a state-approved educator preparation program (EPP) that includes student teaching and leads to entitlement for licensure. Illinois centers credentialing on the Professional Educator License (PEL) issued through ELIS. Program entitlement from an approved EPP is the traditional door, not a generic transcript of education electives.

   Source: isbe.net

2. 2

   Pass required ILTS content tests

   Take and pass the Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) content-area tests required for your license endorsement. Illinois does not use Praxis as its primary testing system. ILTS content tests map to specific endorsements on the PEL, including middle grades, secondary subjects, special education, and bilingual education.

   Source: isbe.net

3. 3

   Apply through ELIS

   Submit your application through the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS). Application fees range from $100 to $150 depending on license type; confirm the current schedule at submission. ELIS also handles registration, renewal, and endorsement management.

   Source: isbe.net

4. 4

   Register your Professional Educator License (PEL)

   Once issued, register your Professional Educator License in ELIS to activate it for employment in Illinois public schools. Unregistered licenses may not satisfy district hiring systems. The PEL is valid for five years; employed holders at 50% FTE or greater complete 120 professional development hours per renewal cycle.

   Source: isbe.net

Illinois centers educator credentialing on the Professional Educator License (PEL) issued through the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS). Unlike states that maintain separate provisional and professional tiers with distinct names, Illinois emphasizes program entitlement from approved EPPs combined with Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) content-area verification. The ELIS portal handles applications, registration, renewal, and endorsement management, making it the operational hub for both candidates and employing districts.

Renewal policy ties professional development obligations to employment status. PEL holders working at 50% FTE or greater must complete 120 professional development hours during each five-year cycle, aligning in-service growth with active practice. Candidates who earn a PEL but are not yet employed should understand how registration and renewal timelines interact once they enter the workforce, because unregistered licenses may not satisfy district hiring systems.

A significant policy shift effective January 2026 establishes full reciprocity for out-of-state educators, subject to content test requirements under ISBE rules. This change positions Illinois among states actively reducing barriers for experienced teachers while preserving subject matter checks through ILTS where applicable. Traditional candidates should coordinate ILTS registration with their EPP's entitlement timeline to avoid delays between program completion and licensure issuance.

Application fees through ELIS typically fall between $100 and $150 depending on license type, and candidates should verify current fee schedules at submission. Illinois does not use Praxis as its primary testing system; ILTS content tests map to specific endorsements on the PEL, reflecting the state's granular endorsement structure for middle grades, secondary subjects, special education, and bilingual education.

Required exams and fees

Illinois uses ILTS. Fees and cut scores appear only when published by the cited source (as of August 2026).

Full Illinois exam requirements →

Moving a license to Illinois

Illinois offers full reciprocity for out-of-state educators effective January 2026, with content test requirements applied per ISBE rules.

Official Illinois reciprocity guidance