Illinois Teacher Requirements

Requirements For Obtaining an Illinois Teacher License

• Bachelor’s degree or greater is required in order to be an Illinois teacher
• Completion of a state-approved Illinois teacher education program
• Completion of the ICTS exams and the APT test
• Criminal background check
• Proper application forms with the ELIS

Exams Required for an Illinois Teacher

• ICTS Basic Skills Exam
• ICTS Content Area Exam
• Assessment of Professional Teaching test

Renewal Requirement for an Illinois Teacher

• Complete 120 development hours of study over five years before renewal

About Illinois Teacher Rules

You can attain a Professional Educator License from the Illinois State Board of Education. The PEL is the official certification provided to teachers in the state. It is valid for five years, although you will need to move from an initial PEL to a standard PEL after having four or more years of teaching experience. The ISBE provides online help for people looking to attain their licenses.

Attaining Your PEL

You must have a bachelor’s degree or greater from an accredited college or university. You also need to complete a state-approved teacher education program. Such a program will help you understand how to educate children and what instructional strategies may work.

You can spend one or two semesters studying how to teach students at one of various colleges or universities in the state. The timeframe will vary surrounding the program you will complete.

You must complete the ICTS Basic Skills Exam and the suitable ICTS Content Area Exam for your subject and grade level. The Assessment of Professional Teaching test is also necessary for some certifications.

The state requires a Criminal History Records Information background check on each teaching candidate. The check goes through the Illinois State Police and the FBI. However, a fingerprint card is necessary for the application process.

You will submit all the information for your application through the Illinois Educator Licensure Information System. You can then register your PEL in the county or region where you will teach.

Teacher Education Needs

The studies necessary in your teacher preparation program will vary. You will likely require fifteen semester hours or more of study in your specialization field before you can become a teacher in Illinois. You would require thirty-two hours of study if you are outside of Illinois. Finally, you will be eligible to receive your license if you meet the necessary teacher education standard.

Much of the work involved in the teacher preparation program involves lesson planning and identifying how you can implement those lessons in the classroom. In addition, you will work alongside a mentor teacher to help you understand the work that goes into handling students.

Upgrading to a Standard PEL

Your initial PEL will be good for four years. You can apply for a standard PEL when you have four or more years of teaching experience. The standard PEL will be valid for five years and can be renewed. Continuing teacher education efforts may be necessary.

You will be subject to regular performance evaluations. Also, you must have satisfactory reports each year to qualify for your standard PEL. You may also participate in professional development hours.

Tests Used In Illinois

The Illinois Certification Testing System provides the tests for all teachers in Illinois. The first test for teachers to complete is the ICTS Basic Skills Exam. The test focuses on math, writing, grammar, and reading. You must attain a score of at least 240 on each section of this test.

The next test is the ICTS Content Area Exam. The test is for the specific subject matter you will teach. The state provides multiple exams in many segments, including social sciences, foreign languages, and physical science.

The Assessment of Professional Teaching test is also a necessity for some people. The APT test is for general education standards if you plan on teaching children in specific grade levels or ranges. Furthermore, the test is a pedagogical exam that reviews how well you can handle various situations in the classroom. Therefore, the questions you’ll come across will vary surrounding the specific grade levels you will serve.

Professional Development Hours

You need to renew your standard PEL every five years. Furthermore, you will require 120 professional development hours during that timeframe.

You can complete your professional development hours online or through in-person education within Illinois. However, any actions you utilize must be endorsed by the state.

Some of the courses you may complete when managing your renewal effort include:

• Developing a curriculum
• Managing students with mental disabilities
• How to interact with students with learning disorders
• The use of rubrics in evaluating students
• Language acquisition studies
• Online education activities, including promoting safety for testing purposes

You can choose whatever one of these courses you wish, although anything you complete must be done through a certified program. You can also contact your school or district to see what is available and how you can register for different programs for your continuing education needs.

Furthermore, the ISBE will help you with managing your renewal needs.

Certification Options

You can receive your certificate for teaching in one of five segments:

• Early childhood – from birth to third grade
• Elementary – kindergarten to ninth grade
• Secondary – sixth to twelfth grade
• Special – a focus on a specific subject for all people from kindergarten to twelfth grade
• Special Education – a basic certificate for general education for people with special needs; this is for all students from preschool age to the age of twenty-one

You may specify which section you wish to qualify for when attaining your certificate. However, your studies should reflect the age group you will target in your studies.

Who Registers the Document?

Your license for teaching in Illinois must be registered through a regional superintendent of schools. Furthermore, the administrative office where you confirm your teaching position should manage the certification. It must be registered for at least six months, or else it will lapse out of the system and you would have to reinstate your certificate. As a result, this would require a new process that may entail additional training or education to confirm your ability to handle various studies.