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How to become a certified teacher in Illinois. Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution required. Primary exam: Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) - Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP). Government fees: $700–$735. Substitute requirements: Bachelor's degree (for Substitute Teaching License); or a valid Illinois PEL or ELS. Verified 2026-03-21. Data verified 2026-03-21. Source: LicenseMap (getlicensemap.com).
Teacher / Substitute Teacher · Illinois
Everything you need to become a certified teacher or substitute teacher in Illinois. Education, exams, fees, and application steps — verified against Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Last verified: 2026-03-21
Degree Required
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
Primary Exam
Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) - Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP)
Total Gov Fees
$700–$735
Initial Cert
5 years
| Minimum Education | Bachelor's degree |
| Degree Required | Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution |
| Teacher Prep Program | Required |
| Student Teaching | Required |
| Background Check | Required |
| Fingerprinting | Required |
| GPA Requirement | 3.0 cumulative or 3.0 in content area (for some programs) |
| Minimum Age | 20 |
| Citizenship | U.S. citizen or authorized to work in the U.S. |
basic skills
Passing score: 240 composite score
Basic skills assessment covering reading, language arts, writing, and mathematics. ACT Plus Writing score of 22 or SAT score of 1110 may be accepted in lieu of TAP.
content knowledge
Passing score: 240 (varies by subject area)
Subject-specific content knowledge exam required for the endorsement area.
pedagogy
Passing score: Varies by subject area (typically 32–39 depending on handbook)
Performance-based assessment of teaching effectiveness completed during student teaching. Required for initial PEL in Illinois.
Illinois issues the PEL as the standard teaching license. It is the primary license required to teach in Illinois public schools. Valid for 5 years and renewable.
Issued to educators who have met some but not all requirements for the PEL, or who are in alternative certification programs. Includes provisional, alternative provisional, and visiting international educator endorsements.
Minimum Education
Bachelor's degree (for Substitute Teaching License); or a valid Illinois PEL or ELS
Certificate Required
Substitute Teaching License or Short-Term Substitute Teaching License
Background Check
Required
Permit Fee
$50
Validity
5 years
Illinois requires a Substitute Teaching License to serve as a substitute. The standard Substitute Teaching License requires a bachelor's degree. A Short-Term Substitute Teaching License (for 5 or fewer consecutive days) requires 60 semester hours of college credit. Both require a background check. Holders of an active PEL or ELS may substitute without an additional license.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application FeePEL application fee | $100 |
| Fingerprint FeeIllinois State Police and FBI fingerprint processing fee | $60 |
| Exam Fees (Total)Includes TAP ($120), ILTS Content Area ($120–$155), and edTPA ($300). Varies by endorsement area. | $540–$575 |
| Initial Certificate | $100 |
| Renewal FeePEL renewal fee | $50 |
| Substitute PermitSubstitute Teaching License fee | $50 |
| Total Government FeesIncludes application, fingerprinting, and exam fees. Actual total depends on specific exams required. | $700–$735 |
Graduate from an Illinois-approved or CAEP/AAQEP-accredited teacher preparation program.
Pass the TAP (basic skills), ILTS content area test, and edTPA.
Fee: $540–$575
Submit fingerprints for Illinois State Police and FBI background checks.
Fee: $60
Create an account on the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) and submit the PEL application with official transcripts, test scores, and entitlement from the preparation program.
Fee: $100
After receiving the PEL, register it with the Regional Office of Education (ROE) in the county where you will be employed.
Registration with the ROE is required before you can be employed as a teacher.
Illinois offers multiple alternative certification pathways through the Educator License with Stipulations (ELS). Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree, pass the ILTS content area test, and enroll in an approved alternative preparation program. The alternative provisional educator endorsement allows teaching while completing requirements. Programs like Teach For America and Golden Apple Accelerators provide structured pathways for career changers.
Available Programs:
CE Required
Yes
Hours per Cycle
120
Renewal Cycle
5 years
Illinois requires 120 Professional Development Hours (PDH) or the equivalent for renewal of the PEL every 5 years. One semester hour of college credit equals 15 PDH. Continuing Professional Development Units (CPDU) are also accepted. Teachers must also maintain compliance with district-level professional development requirements.
Reciprocity Type
Case-by-case
Interstate Agreement
NASDTEC Interstate Agreement
Illinois evaluates out-of-state licenses on a case-by-case basis. Applicants must hold a valid, comparable license from another state, pass the ILTS content area test for their endorsement, and complete a background check.
Additional requirements: Out-of-state applicants must pass the ILTS content area test, complete an Illinois-specific background check, and may need to pass the TAP basic skills test. U.S. Constitution and Illinois Constitution coursework may be required.
Unique to Illinois: Illinois is notable for requiring that teaching licenses be registered with the Regional Office of Education in the county where the teacher will work. The state also has a unique requirement for coursework covering the U.S. Constitution, Illinois Constitution, and flag protocol. Illinois uses its own testing system (ILTS) and was an early adopter of the edTPA performance assessment.
Explore requirements for other professional licenses in Illinois.
How this state compares to 50 others for this profession
Timeline
#1 of 51
Salary
#17 of 51
Cost
#50 of 51
Processing
#1 of 51
Based on May 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021)
Entry Level
$51,160
25th percentile
Median
$64,160
+3% vs. national avg ($62,340)Experienced
$81,720
75th percentile
Wage Distribution (Annual)
61,000 employed in this state
Note: BLS category covers elementary school teachers only. Secondary, special education, and other teaching specializations have separate SOC codes with different wage data.
Source: BLS OEWS – Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (May 2024)
National employment projections for 2024-2034
Projected Growth
0%
Below AverageNew Jobs
-500
over 10 years
Annual Openings
103,200
per year (avg.)
1.4M currently employed nationwide (2024)
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034 (September 2025)
Government fees and exam costs to obtain your initial license
Note: These are government licensing fees only. Education/training program costs (tuition, books, etc.) are not included as they vary widely by institution.
Source: ISBE Educator Licensure
Estimated total: 216–234 weeks
Timeline estimated from licensing requirements on this page.
Source: ISBE Educator Licensure
4–12 weeks
Estimated processing time
Source: ISBE Educator Licensure
Study guides for Praxis Core and subject-specific teacher exams.
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Illinois requires completion of a state-approved teacher preparation program to earn your teaching certificate. Explore approved programs and alternative certification routes.
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