Please note: This information was last updated in 2023. Check with your state for the most recent information.

Illinois

Contact Information

Address:
Illinois State Board of Education
555 West Monroe Street, Suite 900
Chicago, IL 60601

and
100 N. 1st Street
Springfield, IL 62777

Phone:
(312) 814-2220 (Chicago)
(866) 262-6663 (Springfield)

Note: The Educator Certification Division responds only to phone calls. Please call (217) 557-6763 or contact your Regional Office of Education https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Educator-Licensure.aspx

Illinois Department of Education: https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Licensure.aspx

Certification Requirements

Teacher Licensure Needed: Yes

Master's Degree Needed: No

Library Media Content Test Needed: Yes – Library Media Content Test/Library Information Specialist (175/220) with a minimum passing score of 240.

Other Testing Needed: Yes, Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS - http://www.il.nesinc.com) and edTPA

Description: Once you hold a Professional Educator License (PEL) or Educator License with Stipulations endorsed in a teaching field, you can add additional content area endorsements. These endorsements can be added at any grade level even if the underlying teaching endorsement on the PEL is a different grade range. The PEL serves as a foundation to which any teaching endorsement can be added after applicable coursework and testing are completed.

1. Completed 18 semester hours of coursework in the areas of library administration, organization (cataloging and classification), reference, and selection of materials for elementary or secondary levels. All grades for the endorsement coursework must be "C-" or higher, and coursework must be at the 100-level or higher from a regionally accredited college or university.
2. Pass the required Library Information Specialist (175/220) test. All test scores are valid indefinitely.

For additional information: https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Subsequent-Teaching-Endorsements.aspx

Evaluation Process for Licensure:

The criteria for eligibility for individuals who hold a valid and comparable certificate are:

• Pass an Illinois content-area test unless they have passed a certification test that would be applicable to a subject area of endorsement.
• Pass the test of Basic Skills and appropriate subject-matter knowledge test.

Note: Acceptance of content tests in other states will be determined by ISBE.

Reciprocity: Yes. Illinois offers full reciprocity for all endorsements listed on a valid, comparable out-of-state license. To add subsequent endorsements to your Professional Educator License (PEL) via reciprocity, to apply for the endorsement create and use your ELIS account and provide a copy of your valid, comparable out-of-state license. https://www.ecs.org/teacher-license-reciprocity-state-profiles/