Illinois State Board of Education
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Illinois offers multiple pathways to licensure. To find the route that best suits you, please review the options below.

Option 1: Valid, Comparable Out-of-State License 

If you hold a comparable certificate or license issued by another state, please submit the following:

  • A copy of your valid, comparable out-of-state license  
  • An official transcript showing a bachelor’s degree or higher​ from a regionally accredited institution of higher education 
  • Evidence of passing the applicable content test(s).  
    • Applicants who have successfully completed a test of content at the time of initial licensure in another state are not required to complete a test of content. Please complete and submit ISBE Form 77-41B​PDF Document. Note that you must also submit a copy of your test score to the email address provided on the form.  
    • If you are taking the Illinois content test, register here. Your score will be submitted to ISBE. ​

Option 2: Approved Program in Another State  

If you have completed a comparable approved program in another state, please submit the following. 

  • An official transcript showing a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education  
  • Proof of completing a comparable program in another state. Use I​SBE Form 77-41APDF Document
    • Student teaching or equivalent experience shall be verified on the ISBE Form 77-41APDF Document
    • Completion of coursework *addressing methods of teaching exceptional children, reading methods, content area reading, and methods of teaching English learners shall be verified on the ISBE Form 77-41APDF Document
  • Evidence of passing the applicable content test(s).
    • Applicants who have successfully completed a test of content at the time of initial licensure in another state are not required to complete a test of content. The test used for initial licensure in another state will be verified on the  ISBE Form 77-41APDF Document. Note that you must also submit a copy of your test score to the email address provided on the form.
    • If you are taking the Illinois content test, register here​. Your score will be submitted to ISBE. ​

Option 3: Illinois Educator Preparation Program

If you are completing an educator preparation program at an Illinois institution, please work closely with the institution to ensure their specific requirements are met.

The menus below indicate the Illinois educator preparation program type and corresponding licensure tests.​​

Early Childhood Birth-Grade 2

edTPA waived through 8/31/2029 per PA 104-0128PDF Document​

Validity/Grade Range​
 ILTS Tests
  • ​Self-contained general education from birth-grade 3 prior to 9/1/2020
  • Self-contained general education from birth- grade 2 9/2/2020 or later
 ​
  • Early Childhood Education (206)
  • ONE of the following options:
    • Student teaching completed prior to 8/31/15: edTPA or APT
    • Student teaching completed 9/1/15 or later: edTPA​

Elementary Education Grades 1-6

edTPA waived through 8/31/2029 per PA 104-0128PDF Document​

Validity/Grade Range ILTS Tests
  • Kindergarten-Grade 9 prior to 9/1/2019
  • Grade 1 - Grade 6 9/2/2019 or later​​

Middle Grades 5-8

edTPA waived through 8/31/2029 per PA 104-0128PDF Document​

Validity/Grade Range ILTS Tests
  • Subject-specific courses in grades 5-8. 
 ​
  • Specific Content-Area Test
  • ONE of the following options:
    • Student teaching completed prior to 8/31/15: edTPA or APT
    • Student teaching completed 9/1/15 or later: edTPA

Senior High 5-12 and Secondary Grades 5-12

edTPA waived through 8/31/2029 per PA 104-0128PDF Document​

Validity/Grade Range​
 ILTS Tests
  • Subject-specific courses in grades 5-12 and 9-12
  • Specific Content-Area Test
  • ​ONE of the following options:
    • Student teaching completed prior to 8/31/15: edTPA or APT
    • Student teaching completed 9/1/15 or later: edTPA

Special Grades PK-12

edTPA waived through 8/31/2029 per PA 104-0128PDF Document​

​Validity/Grade Range ILTS Tests
  • ​Subject-specific courses grades K-12
  • Specific Content-Area Test​
  • ​ONE of the following options:
    • Student teaching completed prior to 8/31/15: edTPA or APT
    • Student teaching completed 9/1/15 or later: edTPA

Special K-Age 22 or PK-Age 22 Special Education

edTPA waived through 8/31/2029 per PA 104-0128PDF Document​

Validity/Grade Range ILTS Tests
  • Areas of Learning Behavior Specialist I (LBS I), Blind or Visually Impaired, Deaf and Hard of Hearing
 ​

Early Childhood Special Education Birth-Grade 2

edTPA waived through 8/31/2029 per PA 104-0128PDF Document​

ILTS Tests
​

*View a list of acceptable courses you may take to fulfill this coursework requirements.

* * * This page has been archived. The content on this page may no longer be in effect. * * *

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