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• Hold a PEL endorsed in physical education in any grade range
• Complete ISBE Form 73-42
  

• Hold a license endorsed in PK-22 special education or LBSI grades 6-12 (secondary education LBSI)
• Complete coursework addressing career and technical programming for students with disabilities
• Complete one of the following:
  
  • A course in guidance and counseling
  • A course in career and technical education
  • One year of cumulative work experience outside the field of education

• Have two years of teaching experience
• Hold a license endorsed for LBSI PK-22 or secondary education
• Have completed at least 16 semester hours of college coursework, which shall at least include each of the areas identified in subsections (A) through (D) and may include one or more of the areas identified in subsections (E) through (H) of this section:
  
  • Survey of the exceptional child
  • Diagnosis of, and characteristics of the student with, all the disabilities encompassed by the Learning Behavior Specialist I (LBSI) credential
  • Adaptations or modifications of the general curriculum to meet the needs of students with disabilities encompassed by the LBSI credential
  • Career and technical programming for students with disabilities
  • Methods appropriate for teaching children with all disabilities encompassed by the LBSI credential
  • Guidance and counseling
  • Educational and psychological diagnosis
  • Career and technical education​
    

Early Childhood Special Education (ECT) Approval

Valid: For the life of the PEL.

Renewable: With the PEL

Pre-K Setting Only

• Hold a PEL with a teaching endorsement with an LBSI or SCG3 endorsement
• Complete coursework in the following areas:
• Early childhood special education assessment
• Methods of instruction in early childhood special education
• Development of language in the young child
• Child, family, and community relationships

Early Childhood Special Education (ECT) Short-Term Emergency Approval

Valid: 3 full fiscal years.

Renewable: No.

Approval will no longer be available for application after June 30, 2026.

Pre-K Setting Only

• Complete the remaining two of the four areas of coursework in Early Childhood Special Education to receive Early Childhood Special Education Approval

Content Knowledge Pathway (Non-PEL Holders) – Early Childhood Education Short-Term Approval

Valid: 3 full fiscal years.

Renewable: No.

Approval will no longer be available for application after June 30, 2026.

Approval isn’t available for Safety and Driver’s Education & Special Education areas.

• Hold a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or a bachelor’s degree in any area plus 32 semester hours of Early Childhood coursework from a regionally accredited institution
• Pass the Early Childhood Education Content Test
• Submit ISBE Form 83-88
• District must also maintain a weekly mentoring and coaching log, and submit the log annually to its ROE/ISBE, using ISBE Form 83-82

• Complete an approved educator preparation program
• Complete the edTPA
• 1 year of experience on the STA plus a proficient or higher evaluation rating will waive student teaching

Short-Term Approval for Teachers at All Grade Levels – Early Childhood Education

Valid: 3 full fiscal years.

Renewable: No.

Approval will no longer be available for application after June 30, 2026.

Approval isn't available for Safety and Driver's Education & Special Education areas.

• Hold a valid PEL endorsed in a teaching field​
• ONE of the following:
• 9 semester hours of coursework in Early Childhood Education
• A passing score on the Early Childhood Education Content Test
• Submit ISBE Form 73-96​

• Complete the remaining coursework and/or Early Childhood Content Test to receive the endorsement on the PEL​​

English as a Second Language (ESL) Special Education Approval – Early Childhood Education

Valid: For the life of the PEL.

Renewable: With the PEL.

• Hold an Early Childhood Special Education Approval or Endorsement
• Complete coursework in the following areas:
• ESL/bilingual foundations
• ESL methods
• Bilingual assessment

Bilingual Special Education Approval – Early Childhood Education

Valid: For the life of the PEL.

Renewable: With the PEL

• Hold an Early Childhood Special Education Approval​ or Endorsement​
• Complete coursework in the following areas:
• ESL/bilingual foundations
• Bilingual methods
• Bilingual assessment
• Pass the appropriate TLP test for the designation language or complete a degree in which the medium of instruction is in the target language

Short-Term Approval for Paraprofessionals​

Valid: 3 fiscal years

Renewable: No

Short-Term Paraprofessional Approvals are available for application until June 30, 2025, and may not be renewed.​

• High school diploma (or equivalent), or higher​
• At least 19 years of age to serve students in prekindergarten through grade 12.​
• While working on the approval, educator must be fulfilling requirements for the full license.​

1. Option 1:
• Hold a PEL with an LBSI endorsement OR
• Hold a LBSI Approval with no expiration date OR
• Hold an Early Childhood Special Education Approval or Endorsement
  
• Complete coursework in the following areas:
• ESL/bilingual foundations
• ESL methods
• Bilingual assessment
2. Option 2:
• Hold a PEL with an ESL endorsement
• Complete coursework in the following areas:
• LBSI characteristics
• LBSI methods
• Psychological diagnosis for exceptional children
3. Option 3:
• Hold a PEL with a School Support Personnel endorsement (with the exception of school nurse)
• Complete coursework in the following area:
• Bilingual assessment

1. Option 1:
• Hold a PEL with an LBSI endorsement OR
• Hold a LBSI Approval with no expiration date OR
• Hold an Early Childhood Special Education Approval​ or Endorsement​
  
• Complete coursework in the following areas:
• ESL/bilingual foundations
• Bilingual methods
• Bilingual assessment
• Pass the appropriate TLP test for the designation language or complete a degree in which the medium of instruction is in the target language
2. Option 2:
• Hold a PEL with a bilingual endorsement
• Complete coursework in the following areas:
• LBSI characteristics
• LBSI methods
• Psychological diagnosis for exceptional children
3. Option 3:
• Hold a valid (not expired) ELS-TBE with a bilingual educator endorsement
• Complete two years of successfully teaching experience
• Complete coursework in the following areas:
• LBSI methods
• LBSI characteristics
• Survey of the exceptional child
• ESL/bilingual foundations
• Bilingual assessment
4. Option 4:
• Hold a PEL with a School Support Personnel endorsement (with the exception of school nurse)
• Pass the appropriate TLP test for the designation language or complete a degree in which the medium of instruction is in the target language
• Complete a course in the area of bilingual assessment​​
  

This approval allows the holder to serve students with hearing loss.

• ONE of the following:
  
• Have completed 60 semester hours of college credit from one or more regionally accredited institutions of higher education
• Hold an associate degree issued by a regionally accredited institution of higher education
• Have achieved a passing score on the ACT WorkKeys (a 4 or higher on both Workplace Documents and Math Assessments) or ParaPro test (offered by Educational Testing Service [ETS]) and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent
• Have achieved a passing score on the written examination administered by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent
  
• Have passed the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters Test of English Proficiency and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent
  
• Have achieved Level 2 or higher on the Interpreter Skills Assessment Screening and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent
  
• Transliteration Skill Certification at Level 3 or above

This approval allows the holder to serve students with hearing loss.

• ONE of the following:
• Have completed 60 semester hours of college credit from one or more regionally accredited institutions of higher education
• Hold an associate degree issued by a regionally accredited institution of higher education
• Have achieved a passing score on the ACT WorkKeys (a 4 or higher on both Workplace Documents and Math Assessments) or ParaPro test (offered by Educational Testing Service [ETS]) and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent​
• Have achieved a passing score on the written examination administered by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent
• Have passed the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters Test of English Proficiency and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent
  
• Have achieved Level 2 or higher on the Interpreter Skills Assessment Screening and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent
  
• Plus ONE of the following:
  • Attained a rating of Level 3.5 or above on the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA)
  • Maintained a valid certification from the RID
  • Maintained a valid Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) Basic Certification or higher issued by a state that is a licensed user of the BEI system.

This approval allows the holder to serve students with hearing loss. It is available to individuals who have applied for the Sign Language Interpreter Approval, but do not yet qualify.

• ONE of the following:
• Have completed 60 semester hours of college credit from one or more regionally accredited institutions of higher education
• Hold an associate's degree issued by a regionally accredited institution of higher education
• Have achieved a passing score on the ACT WorkKeys (a 4 or higher on both Workplace Documents and Math Assessments) or ParaPro test (offered by Educational Testing Service [ETS]) and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent
• Have achieved a passing score on the written examination administered by the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent
• Attained a rating of at least Level 3.0 on the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA)​
  

• ​​ONE of the following:
• Have completed 60 semester hours of college credit from one or more regionally accredited institutions of higher education
• Hold an associate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education
• Have achieved a passing score on the ACT WorkKeys (a 4 or higher on both Workplace Documents and Math Assessments) or the ParaPro test (offered by Educational Testing Service [ETS]) and hold a high school diploma or its equivalent
• Hold a National Intervener Credential/Certificate (NICE)​​​
  

Short-Term Approval for Paraprofessionals

​Valid: 3 fiscal years

Renewable: No

*Short-Term Paraprofessional Approvals are available for application until June 30, 2025, and may not be renewed.​

• High school diploma (or equivalent), or higher​
  
• At least 19 years of age to serve students in prekindergarten through grade 12.​
  
• While working on the approval, educator must be fulfilling requirements for the full license.​
  

• Hold a PEL with a teaching endorsement OR hold one of the ELS-CTE licenses and have one year of teaching experience
  
• Have completed 240 hours (6 weeks full-time) of work experience OR hold professional certification in the content area sought 
• Experience may be verified on the applicable 73-23A or 73-23B form​
• Submit ISBE Form 83-87

• To add an additional endorsement on one of the ELS-CTE licenses: Accumulate 1,000 hours work experience (experience teaching on the approval may be used)
• To earn a new ELS-CTE license: Accumulate 2,000 hours of work experience (experience teaching on the approval may be used)

• Hold a bachelor’s degree in a teaching content area or a bachelor’s degree in any area plus 32 semester hours of content area coursework from a regionally accredited institution
• Pass the applicable licensure content test
• Submit ISBE Form 83-88
  
• District must also maintain a weekly mentoring and coaching log, and submit the log annually to its ROE/ISBE, using ISBE Form 83-82

• Complete an approved educator preparation program
• Complete the edTPA (edTPA waived through 8/31/2025 - PA 103-0488)
• 1 year of experience on the STA plus a proficient or higher evaluation rating will waive student teaching

• Hold a valid PEL endorsed in a teaching field​
  
• ONE of the following:
• 9 semester hours of coursework in the applicable content area
• A passing score on the applicable content area test
  
• Submit ISBE Form 73-96​
  

• Complete the remaining coursework and/or content test to receive the endorsement on the PEL​​
  

• Master’s degree in Social Work
• Professional Certification from IDFPR or National Certification in Social Work
• Pass the School Social Worker Content Test
• Submit ISBE Form 83-86

• Complete a School Social Worker approved program
• 1 year of experience on the STA plus a proficient or higher evaluation rating will waive internship requirements

• Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology
• Professional Certification from IDFPR or National Certification in Speech Language Pathology
• Pass the Speech Language Pathologist Content Test
• Submit ISBE Form 83-86

• Complete a Speech Language Pathologist approved program
• 1 year of experience on the STA plus a proficient or higher evaluation rating will waive internship requirements

• Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology
• Professional Certification from IDFPR or National Certification in Psychology
• Pass the School Psychologist Content Test
• Submit ISBE Form 83-86

• Complete a School Psychologist approved program
• 1 year of experience on the STA plus a proficient or higher evaluation rating will waive internship requirements

• Master’s degree in Counseling
• Professional Certification from IDFPR or National Certification in Counseling
• Pass the School Counseling Content Test
• Submit ISBE Form 83-86

• Complete a School Counselor approved program
• 1 year of experience on the STA plus a proficient or higher evaluation rating will waive internship requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing
• Professional Certification from IDFPR or National Certification in Nursing
• Pass the School Nurse Content Test
• Submit ISBE Form 83-86​
  

• Complete a School Nurse approved program
• 1 year of experience on the STA plus a proficient or higher evaluation rating will waive internship requirements​
  

• Hold a (PEL) with a teaching endorsement OR an ELS-TBE
• Complete coursework in the following five areas:
• Anatomy and pathology of eye conditions
• Functional vision assessment and learning media assessment
• Basic assistive technology
• Methodology in teaching students who are blind and visually impaired
• Basic orientation and mobility
• Pass the Teachers of Students Who are Blind and Visually Impaired Content Test
• Evidence of proficiency in Braille, signed off by the hiring-district's State-Approved Director of Special Education on ISBE Form 83-90
• Submit ISBE Form 83-90

• Complete a Blind and Visually Impaired Educator Preparation Program

• Hold a (PEL) with a teaching endorsement OR an ELS-TBE
• Complete coursework in the following five areas:
• Assessment and developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
• Language and literacy
• Audiology
• Impact of hearing loss on academic, behavior, speech language, and aural habilitation skills
• Methodology in teaching students who are deaf and hard of hearing
• Evidence of proficiency in Sign Language, signed off by the hiring-district's State-Approved Director of Special Education on ISBE Form 83-90​
• Pass the Teacher of Students Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing Content Test
• Submit ISBE Form 83-90

• Complete a Deaf and Hard of Hearing Educator Preparation Program

• Hold a PEL with a teaching endorsement with an LBSI or SCG3 endorsement
• Complete 2 of the 4 areas of coursework in Early Childhood Special Education
• Early childhood special education assessment
• Methods of instruction in early childhood special education
• Development of language in the young child
• Child, family, and community relationships
• Pass the Early Childhood Special Education Content Test
• Submit ISBE Form 83-90

• Complete the remaining two of the four areas of coursework in Early Childhood Special Education to receive Early Childhood Special Education Approval

This approval allows the holder to serve K-12 students with the following disabilities, regardless of the teaching license held: learning disabilities, social emotional disorders, cognitive disability, physical disabilities, autism, and traumatic brain injuries.

• Hold a PEL endorsed for teaching OR an ELS-TBE
• Complete the survey of exceptional children course and at least one of the other three areas of coursework required for the LBSI endorsement:
• General characteristics of children with disabilities within the LBSI scope
• General methods for teaching children with disabilities within the LBSI scope
• Psychological assessment of children with disabilities within the LBSI scope
• Submit ISBE Form 73-86

• To obtain the LBSI K-21 endorsement, complete the remaining LBSI coursework areas
• Passing the Learning Behavior Specialist I content test​​​