To teach in Illinois public schools, you need a Professional Educator License, commonly called a PEL, issued by the Illinois State Board of Education. The path you take depends on where you completed your training: an Illinois preparation program, an out-of-state program, or an alternative route for career changers who already hold a bachelor’s degree. Here’s what each route requires and how to move through the application process.
What the PEL Requires
Regardless of which path you follow, every PEL applicant needs a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university, completion of a state-approved educator preparation program, student teaching or equivalent classroom experience, and a passing score on the relevant Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) content area test for your subject or grade level.
You also need coursework covering four specific topics: methods of teaching exceptional children, reading methods, content area reading, and methods of teaching English learners. Illinois preparation programs typically build these into their curriculum, but if you trained out of state, you may need to verify or complete them separately.
Path 1: Illinois Preparation Programs
If you’re completing your educator preparation at an Illinois college or university, your institution will guide you through most of the requirements. Work closely with your program’s licensure office because each school has its own internal timelines and checkpoints. When you finish, the program will recommend you for licensure through the state’s online system.
Illinois previously required the edTPA, a performance assessment completed during student teaching. That requirement has been waived through August 31, 2029, under state law (Public Act 104-0128). Your institution may still require it as part of its own program, but the state will not hold up your license for it.
Path 2: Out-of-State License Holders
If you already hold a valid teaching license in another state, Illinois offers a reciprocity path. You can transfer your license and receive a PEL endorsed in a comparable subject area. You’ll need to submit proof of your out-of-state license, official transcripts, and documentation showing you completed a state-approved preparation program (ISBE Form 80-02).
One helpful detail: if you passed a content knowledge test as part of your initial licensure in another state, Illinois does not require you to retake a content test. You will still need to show that your coursework covered those four required topic areas (exceptional children, reading methods, content area reading, and English learners). If it didn’t, you’ll need to complete the missing coursework before your PEL is issued.
If you trained out of state but never obtained a license in that state, you can still apply. Expect to meet the full set of requirements, including passing the appropriate ILTS content test.
Path 3: Alternative Route for Career Changers
If you hold at least a bachelor’s degree but didn’t go through a traditional teacher preparation program, Illinois has an alternative licensure pathway designed for you. You’ll enroll in an approved alternative route program, which combines an intensive course of study in teaching methods with a one- or two-year classroom residency.
During this residency, you receive an Educator License with Stipulations endorsed as an Alternative Provisional Educator (ELS-APE), which allows you to work as a paid teacher of record or co-teacher. The program assigns you a mentor teacher and pairs classroom experience with coursework you complete simultaneously. At the end of your first year, your program coordinator and school principal evaluate whether you need a second year of residency or are ready to be recommended for the full PEL.
To find programs near you, search the ISBE Directory of Approved Programs and filter by “Alternative” under the program format options. Each provider lists its specific offerings, costs, and residency structure.
ILTS Content Area Tests
The ILTS exam you need depends on your endorsement area. There are dozens of content tests, ranging from Elementary Education (Grades 1-6) and Early Childhood Education to specialized subjects like Mathematics, English Language Arts, Science: Biology, Science: Chemistry, and many others. If you’re pursuing a world language endorsement, you’ll take a Target Language Proficiency test for that specific language.
You can find the full list of available tests and register through the ILTS website (il.nesinc.com). Study guides and practice materials are available there as well. Plan to schedule your test early, since some testing windows fill up and you’ll need a passing score before your license can be issued.
How to Apply Through ELIS
All PEL applications go through the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS), the state’s online portal. Here’s the process step by step:
- Create an ELIS account. Go to the ELIS portal on the ISBE website and set up your profile.
- Complete the application. Fill out the PEL application within ELIS, selecting your endorsement area and uploading any required documentation.
- Pay the application fee. The fee is $100 if your Illinois preparation program recommends you directly (called “entitlement”), or $150 for non-entitlement applicants and those applying from out of state. Have a credit card, debit card, or prepaid card ready.
- Submit official transcripts. Your college or university must send transcripts directly to ISBE, either by email to transcripts@isbe.net or by mail to ISBE’s Springfield office. If you mail them yourself, they must arrive in the original sealed envelope from the institution. Transcripts you open and send on your own will be rejected as unofficial.
- Submit supporting documents. Use the Professional Educator License Checklist on the ISBE website to confirm you’ve included everything: program completion verification, test scores, and any additional forms for your specific situation.
- Register your license after approval. Once ISBE issues your PEL, you must go back into ELIS and register it, paying any applicable registration fees. Your license is not valid for employment until registration is complete.
ISBE provides step-by-step video tutorials under the “ELIS How-to Demonstrations” section of their website if you get stuck at any point in the process.
Costs to Expect
The PEL application fee is the largest upfront cost: $100 through entitlement or $150 otherwise. Adding endorsements later costs $50 each. Beyond the application, budget for ILTS exam fees, which vary by test, and any transcript request fees your college charges. If you’re going the alternative route, the preparation program itself will have tuition costs that vary by provider.
After You Get Your PEL
Your PEL is issued with one or more endorsements that specify which subjects and grade levels you’re qualified to teach. If you want to add endorsements later, you can do so by passing the relevant ILTS content test and paying the $50 endorsement fee through ELIS. You’ll also need to stay current with Illinois license renewal requirements, which involve completing professional development hours during each renewal cycle.