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Licensure Fee Online Payment Option

The Office of Licensure and School Leadership is pleased to announce phase one of an ongoing licensure enhancement project. During this first phase, the Office of Licensure and School Leadership will begin accepting online payments through our "Pay Now" button for applicants and license holders to pay upfront for licensure related requests. A list of fees can be found on the Fee Schedule for Licensure (Word).

Individuals taking advantage of this online payment option will be redirected to a third-party online payment vendor outside of the Commonwealth of Virginia network. Credit card payments are processed by Elavon's secure hosted payment website. The Office of Licensure and School Leadership will not have access to credit card information submitted on this third-party site. Once your payment has been processed via the Elavon website, you must print a copy of your receipt and include it with your application or request. Mail all documentation to the address below:

Virginia Department of Education
Office of Licensure and School Leadership
PO Box 2120
Richmond, VA 23218

Applications and/or requests will not be processed until the application and/or request and receipt has been received in the mail. Applications and/or requests are processed in the order they are received.

If you have questions, please call 804-692-0157.

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The Office of Licensure and School Leadership is pleased to announce phase one of an ongoing licensure enhancement project. During this first phase, the Office of Licensure and School Leadership will begin accepting online payments through our "Pay Now" button for applicants and license holders to pay upfront for licensure related requests.

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Traditional
Bachelor degree
Teacher education program - G.P.A 2.7
Praxis- general & content
Internship

Lateral entry
Bachelor degree
Courses-content & general
Not required to complete student teaching or clinical experience

CTE positions- 2-year degree.

Initial probation period 1-3 years
Renew every five years
Background checks

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*No GPA required
*Bachelors required
*Alternate pathways for certification
*Multiple exams (state exam and basic skills exam.

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Teaching in Illinois is a great option for anyone looking to work as an educator. The Illinois teacher certification process is overseen by the Illinois State Board of Education Division of Educator Licensure. We have outlined the traditional path describing how to become a teacher in Illinois below. For more information on alternative pathways to licensure, see our guide to Illinois alternative teacher certification.

How to Become a Teacher in Illinois

Illinois requires all prospective teachers to hold a bachelor's degree. For traditional-route educators, the bachelor's degree curriculum will include a teacher preparation program. Additionally, anyone wanting to obtain an Illinois teacher certification must first fulfill the requirements stipulated by the state's Department of Education. This process is called entitlement.

Illinois issues three types of teacher licenses: Professional Educator License (PEL), Educator License with Stipulations (ELS), and Substitute License. For each of these licenses, candidates may earn endorsements appropriate to the subject area(s) and grade level(s) to be taught. There are three exams that prospective teachers must pass: The Basic Skills Test, the appropriate content area exam(s), and the edTPA. There are also alternative routes to licensure for those who already have a bachelor's degree but have not completed a teacher preparation program. For information on teacher requirements in Chicago, read more on our How to Become a Teacher in Chicago page.

Finding Approved Teacher Education Programs in Illinois

Projected Job Growth

-1.3%
Growth in Teaching Jobs in IL through 2024²
One of the first steps toward earning Illinois teacher certification is to complete coursework through a state-approved teacher preparation program at an accredited college or university that fulfills the Illinois standards for all teachers. Student teaching field experiences are also required as part of the teacher preparation program.

First and foremost, it is imperative that applicants attend a teacher preparation program that has been approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). You can find a list of approved educator preparation programs on the ISBE website. Applicants should also look to make sure that the schools considered are regionally accredited. Programs from out-of-state that hold regional accreditation from one of the six regional accreditation agencies may be acceptable for Illinois teacher licensure. Illinois schools are accredited by Higher Learning Commision (HLC).

Additionally, accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is highly regarded. This organization was created by the consolidation of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Teacher Accreditation Council (TEAC). CAEP accreditation is considered a distinguished marker of rigorous standards in the teacher preparation curriculum and process.

See our list of CAEP accredited schools in Illinois.

Illinois Teacher Outlook
The Illinois Department of Employment Security projects 1,583 average annual job openings for elementary school teachers, 593 average annual job openings for middle school teachers, and 1,098 average annual job openings for secondary school teachers through 2024. ³ Since the Illinois K-12 educator workforce is expected to decline over the next several years, the majority of these openings will come from replacement positions. ³ According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, excluding special education, there are about 139,600 elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers in Illinois. ⁴ In the state, the average annual salary for elementary school teachers is $59,680, the average annual salary for middle school teachers is $66,480, and the average annual salary for secondary school teachers is $69,300. ⁴ The Illinois Education Association (IEANEA) provides further information on the current job market and teacher licensing procedures.

Illinois Teacher Education Requirements

Traditional certification programs require that students complete at least 15 semester hours in an area of specialization or major in a specific field. Those who attend preparation programs out-of-state must complete 32 semester hours of content coursework. For those who pursue alternative Illinois teacher certification, a bachelor's degree in a content area that aligns with the certification area is required, and the college or university administering the teacher preparation program attended determines whether further study in the content area the candidate intends to teach is necessary. Student teaching and pre-student teaching field experiences are also required as part of the teacher preparation program. Once all coursework requirements are met, the teacher preparation program will notify the Illinois State Board of Education that the candidate is eligible for a license, allowing him or her to apply for licensure. Note that once issued, an Illinois teaching license must be registered online to be valid.

Illinois Teacher Testing Requirements

Teaching candidates must pass several tests to be eligible for an Illinois teaching license. At the beginning of the process, before an individual can be admitted to a teacher preparation program, he or she must pass the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) or post acceptable scores on the ACT or SAT exams to waive the TAP requirement. The assessments required for licensure after completing a preparation program include applicable content-area tests, the Basic Skills Test, and the edTPA. Content-area tests are typically required prior to student teaching.

Additional Illinois Teacher Certification Requirements

As in all states, becoming a certified teacher in Illinois requires new teachers to submit to a state and federal background check. Fingerprint-based Criminal History Records Information (CHRI) background checks are run through the Illinois State Police (ISP) and the FBI. All applicants must submit a fingerprint card to proceed with the background check before they turn in their teaching applications.

Illinois Teachers Licensing Application Process

The path to obtaining a teaching certification in Illinois is a fairly straightforward process if you are attending an approved teacher preparation program. Once you have completed all the requirements as stipulated by the state's Department of Education, you must apply for a teaching license. The Teacher Certification Office receives the majority of applications in June, July, and August and recommends that candidates submit supporting documents three to four months in advance of their estimated date of employment. The required documents to become a teacher in Illinois are as follows:

Official transcripts showing proof of bachelor's degree

Official transcripts showing proof of completing an accredited teacher preparation program

Passing scores on the required exams

Payment of non-refundable processing fee

Completed application for teacher certification

Candidates must begin their licensure application online through the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS). Supporting documents should be e-mailed to ISBE. Visit the Illinois Department of Education for further details on teaching certification in Illinois.

Teacher Quote "Don't worry about being the perfect teacher - worry about your growth as a teacher. I have become the most successful when I have picked small things to change (group work, rubrics, assessments) and only focus on one thing at a time." -Elizabeth Gates, Illinois Middle School Math Teacher

Illinois Teacher Salary and Jobs

Data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2016.⁴
Illinois Teacher Interviews

Illinois School District Requirements

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a teacher in Chicago, review our city page below. On this page, you will find a step-by-step description of how to become a teacher in Chicago public schools as well as information on private and charter schools in the area, becoming a substitute teacher, and contact information for the public school system.

Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Teacher in Illinois

Question: How do I become an elementary teacher in Illinois?

Answer: To become an elementary teacher in Illinois you must earn certification through the state's Board of Education. You need to complete an elementary teaching program as well as a student teaching assignment of 12 to 16 weeks. You must also pass the state's teacher exams on basic skills and teaching standards.

Question: How do I become a kindergarten teacher in Illinois?

Answer: To be a kindergarten teacher in Illinois, you need to get an elementary certificate from the state. You must have a bachelor's degree with a major in early childhood education and have completed a teacher preparation program. You also have to have completed a student teaching experience and pass the Illinois certification exams.

Question: What are the requirements to become a high school teacher in Illinois?

Answer: To become a high school teacher in Illinois, you must have secondary certification. To qualify, you need to have a bachelor's degree with adequate coursework in a teachable subject area and complete a teacher preparation program. You must also have student teaching experience and pass the state's certification tests, including content-area exams in the subject(s) to be taught.

Teaching and Education Programs
References:
1. Illinois State Board of Education: https://www.isbe.net/
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: http://www.projectionscentral.com/projections/longterm
3. Illinois Department of Employment Security: http://www.ides.illinois.gov/LMI/Pages/Employment_Projections.aspx
4. US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2015 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Illinois: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_il.htm

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Illinois Teacher Certification and Licensing Guide 2019

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Teaching in Illinois is a great option for anyone looking to work as an educator. The Illinois teacher certification process is overseen by the Illinois State Board of Education Division of Educator Licensure. We have outlined the traditional path describing how to become a teacher in Illinois below.

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*Must have bachelor degree
*Certification required for public or charter schools (no certificate needed for private)
*CBEST exam (must get passing score)
*Certification program by CTC
*600 hours of in-class experience
*Renew every five years

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New York:

Levels - (a) B-6th, (b) 7-12, (c) MS Extension - Add 78 to B6

Different paths -

Traditional
Undergraduate Ed. Degree (30 credits of specialization)
Student-Teaching (2 separate placements 7-12)
3 years to get Masters
Hours of professional development to renew license

Alternative Cert (Transition)

Teacher-Assistant Route

Parochial Route-
Principal signs off
Teacher skills test, Math test, Reading/Writing

Special ED. -
Literacy addition
Language additions

Testing:OTI:NYSED

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Certification Test Requirements

About the Certification Exams

New York State certification requirements typically include one or more assessments from the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) program . The test requirements for each certificate title can be found through the Search Certification Requirements webpage. Certificates may require the:

Exceptions to the Test Requirements

Please note that individuals who are eligible for certification through the "Endorsement of a Certificate" pathway or the "National Board Certification" pathway are not required to take and pass tests. For the one-year Conditional Initial certificate, individuals need to take and pass all tests required for the Initial certificate except the edTPA.

Examination Safety Nets

Information regarding safety nets for Content Specialty Tests (CSTs), the Educating All Students test (EAS), and the edTPA can be found on the Exam Safety Nets webpage.

Test Registration and Preparation

Individuals can register for certification tests through the NYSTCE website . This website includes resources for all NYSTCE tests and information about test fees, schedules, locations, test design and frameworks, score reports, alternative testing arrangements, and study guides. The Office of Teaching Initiatives edTPA webpage provides information about the edTPA.

Reporting and Submitting Scores

NYSTCE test scores are automatically reported to the TEACH system on the specified score report date, even if individuals have not applied for certification yet. Individuals must request to have their edTPA scores sent to the New York State Education Department.

When registering for tests, please make sure to provide the name, date of birth, and the last five digits of your social security number that is listed in your TEACH account. If your information does not match TEACH, you must submit a formal request to have your information changed.

Last Updated: May 5, 2020

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New York State certification requirements typically include one or more assessments from the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE) program . The test requirements for each certificate title can be found through the Search Certification Requirements webpage.