Navigating the Illinois State Board of Education Job Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide

Illinois offers diverse avenues for individuals passionate about education to pursue teaching careers. Whether you're a recent graduate, a seasoned professional seeking a career change, or an out-of-state educator, understanding the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) job requirements is crucial. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the licensure process, requirements, and resources available to aspiring and current educators in Illinois.

Pathways to Becoming a Licensed Teacher in Illinois

Illinois provides multiple pathways to becoming a teacher, catering to different backgrounds and experiences. The "How to Become Licensed" section on the ISBE website is a valuable resource for determining the most suitable path for you. This section outlines the various routes to licensure, including traditional teacher preparation programs, alternative pathways for career changers, and reciprocity agreements for out-of-state educators.

Understanding Licensure Options and Requirements

The ISBE offers a variety of licensure options, each with specific criteria. The "Requirements" section of the ISBE website lists all licensure options in Illinois and their corresponding criteria. This includes information on required coursework, examinations, and clinical experiences.

Professional Educator License (PEL)

To serve as a teacher, school support personnel, or administrator in Illinois, whether in public schools or approved non-public programs, individuals must obtain a Professional Educator License (PEL).

Educator Licenses with Stipulations (ELS) in Career and Technical Education (CTE)

Illinois offers two different Educator Licenses with Stipulations (ELS) endorsed in Career and Technical Education (CTE). CTE programs provide instruction for occupations in Agricultural Education; Business, Marketing and Computer Education; Family and Consumer Sciences; Health Science Technology; and Technology and Engineering Education (Industrial).

To qualify for a CTE ELS, applicants must document a minimum of 1,000 hours of experience in the area to be taught. Work experience in an educational setting may be used if the applicant was delivering the instruction and was not the recipient of the instruction. Hours may be obtained from a regionally accredited institution or an accredited trade and technical institution. For endorsements requiring a specific number of semester hours, coursework must be at the 100-level or higher. Remedial coursework will not be accepted.

The CTE ELS is renewable every 5 years with 120 hours of professional development.

Resources for Aspiring Teachers

The ISBE provides several resources to support aspiring teachers in navigating the licensure process:

Directory of Approved Programs: This directory allows you to explore teacher preparation programs offered by various institutions in Illinois.
CTE Licensure Guidance: The ISBE's CTE and Innovation Department has prepared a guidance document, presentation, and recorded webinar on the CTE licensure process, new CTE endorsements, and relevant assignability.

Key Requirements for Teacher Education Programs

Teacher education programs in Illinois are designed to ensure that candidates possess the knowledge, skills, performances, and professional expectations requisite for successful teaching careers.

Performance-Based Assessment (PBA) System

Effective Fall 2002, the Council for Teacher Education implemented the Teacher Education Performance-Based Assessment System (PBA). Teacher candidates will be required to attend the PBA workshop early in their education program. At this workshop, students will be provided with the information necessary to understand the requirements and how to monitor their progress. Failure to complete certain indicators at required times could delay progress in the intended major. The Council for Teacher Education reserves the right to modify performance assessment indicators in response to state and national accreditation mandates to reflect current practice in the teaching profession.

Read also: Guide to Illinois Educator Pay

National Criminal Background Check (NCBC)

All teacher candidates are required to complete a one-time, online NCBC. The NCBC reviews criminal histories to ensure the protection of preK-12 students by verifying the teacher candidate has not been convicted of illegal activity nationally. Results of the NCBC must be reported to the Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center before students may begin any clinical experience. Candidates are required to provide documentation of meeting all State of Illinois, district, and university requirements regarding criminal background checks BEFORE beginning any clinical experiences. Criminal background checks must remain current as of the last day of the clinical experience.

Coursework Longevity

To provide teacher candidates with current information and meet required standards, all undergraduate teacher education courses have a longevity of seven (7) years. Any teacher education program reserves the right not to accept any course older than seven years to fulfill the requirements of their program.

Clinical Experiences

A variety of clinical (pre-student teaching) experiences, as well as student teaching, are included in the teacher candidate's professional preparation. Observations, small and large group instruction, tutoring, field experiences, and student teaching are included in the Clinical Experiences Program. The experiences offered prior to student teaching are integral parts of specific college courses. Clinical experiences are provided in off-campus professional development schools, local schools, campus laboratory schools, agencies, and other approved school and non-school settings. The Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center monitors and documents all clinical experiences. Teacher candidates will show verification of having completed clinical experiences commensurate with attaining local, state, and national standards. Every program has a required set of clinical hours which will be completed in conjunction with specific courses. Of these pre-student teaching clinical hours, 50 hours must be in a diverse setting. Prior to beginning any clinical experience and student teaching, every teacher candidate must complete a National Criminal Background Check (NCBC) through the Cecilia J.

Student Teaching

During the student teaching semester, the teacher candidate will be involved with directing the learning of pupils, participating in school and community activities, and assuming full responsibility for a group of learners supervised by a cooperating teacher. The number of semester hours required for student teaching varies with the teacher candidate’s program of study.

To be eligible for student teaching, candidates must meet the following requirements:

Read also: Illinois Transfer Application

Approval for student teaching by the Director of The Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center. An application for student teaching filed in The Cecilia J. Satisfactory completion of prerequisite courses to STT 399. Meeting all requirements for Gateway 1 - Pre-Student Teaching as stated in the Performance-based Assessment System.
Approval for student teaching will be granted by the candidate’s major department chairperson or school director or designee.

The University will assign student teachers to selected schools or professional development schools (PDS) in Illinois during regular semesters. Personnel of The Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center, in cooperation with the major department or school, secure the student teaching placement(s). Teacher candidates may not self-place and are responsible for their own living arrangements and transportation to and from the student teaching location. Student teachers are assigned only to classrooms that have regularly employed full time and fully qualified teachers.

During the student teaching semester, the teacher candidate works with one or more cooperating teachers who are responsible for teaching a specific group or groups of pupils. These cooperating teachers, along with the University supervisors, have responsibility for guiding and evaluating the work of the student teachers. During this experience, the student teacher becomes a member of the school staff and the community in which they are working.

Any student teacher who is unable to continue their student teaching assignment should consult with the Director of the Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center immediately. The Director of The Cecilia J. Lauby Teacher Education Center, upon the recommendation of the University supervisor, chairperson or director of the student’s major department or school administrator, may remove a student from the assignment.

Student teaching assignments begin and end on the dates indicated on the student teacher’s official notice of assignment. The student teacher is expected to follow the calendar of the school in which they are completing their student teaching assignment including vacations and school holidays. Changes in dates involved in an assignment must receive prior permission of the Director of The Cecilia J.

Entitlement for Licensure

Entitlement for licensure is not an automatic procedure. The Undergraduate Evaluation Office will notify the Illinois State Board of Education when an Illinois State University candidate has completed all major degree requirements and all requirements identified in the Performance-Based Assessment System for all teacher education candidates. The Illinois State Board of Education makes the final decision in awarding of a teaching license.

Requirements for Minors Seeking Work Permits

The ISBE also oversees the issuance of work permits for minors. To obtain a work permit, minors must provide the following documentation:

INTENT TO EMPLOY LETTER: A letter from the prospective employer on letterhead stationery, signed with an actual signature by the employer or agent stating the type of work and work schedule of potential minor.
PROOF OF AGE (ORIGINAL): An original birth certificate issued by the city, county, state, or hospital is preferred. If the original birth certificate is not available, one of the following will be accepted: Baptismal certificate, passport, insurance policy or notice of birth registration.
PARENTAL APPROVAL: A signed written statement from the parent or guardian approving the child’s employment.
MEDICAL STATEMENT (NOTE FROM PHYSICIAN): A signed physician’s statement on the physician’s or health institution’s letterhead or stamp indicating based on an examination performed within one year of the date or work permit application, the child is physically fit to be employed in all legal occupations. Electronic Signature notation acceptable.
PRINCIPAL’S STATEMENT (WAIVED DURING SUMMER MONTHS WHEN SCHOOL IS NOT IN SESSION): A signed principal’s statement on school letterhead, stamp or seal stationery verifying the school-age child is active and in good standing academically at school when school is in session.
PROOF OF A COOGAN OR UTMA ACCOUNT (Blocked Trust Account): Applies to minors applying for a performing, acting, or modeling work permit. Waived for background work.

Reciprocity for Out-of-State Educators

Illinois grants full reciprocity for out-of-state educators. During the initial evaluation for an Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL), all endorsement areas listed on a valid and comparable out-of-state license will be considered. In accordance with Part 25 Rules, out-of-state licenses must be deemed equivalent to the Illinois PEL. Effective January 1, 2026, Illinois will continue to offer reciprocity for all endorsements listed on a valid, comparable out-of-state license; however, ALL applicants must also successfully pass the applicable Illinois content area test(s) to qualify.

Additional Considerations

Application Timeline: Application to ISBE for licensure should occur within one year of notification of completion of all requirements. Failure to do so may result in no longer meeting licensure requirements due to state law changes.
Testing Requirements: To satisfy Illinois licensure requirements and Illinois State University’s Gateway System requirements, all candidates must pass a subject matter knowledge test and a teacher performance assessment (except when waived or eliminated by state legislation).
Second Bachelor's Degree: Students who have already completed one or more non-teaching degrees and now seek admission to a teacher education program are advised to seek admission to the University as a candidate for a second bachelor’s degree. Subsequent transcript analysis may determine that a second degree is not required.
Endorsements: One or more endorsements may be earned along with the completion of the teaching major by taking additional courses and a possible state test.
Dismissal and Appeals: Teacher candidates who fail to comply with teacher education requirements may be dismissed. If a student is dismissed from a teacher education program, they have a right to appeal this decision to the Teacher Education Review Board (TERB)/ Council for Teacher Education.

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