Illinois offers multiple pathways to licensure. Choose from the options below or use this interactive tool to determine your best route to licensure in Illinois.
Option #1 - Reciprocity: Did you complete an approved out-of-state educator prep program & become licensed in that state? Is your out-of-state license current? Use this checklist to transfer your teaching license into Illinois.
Option #2 - ISBE Form 80-02: Did you complete an approved out-of-state program but did not become licensed in that state? To qualify, you must:
have a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education
student teaching or equivalent experience
completion of coursework addressing methods of teaching exceptional children, reading methods, content area reading, & methods of teaching English learners
licensure tests: All test scores are valid indefinitely. There are different required tests depending on the teaching area. If out-of-state test scores were completed, copies of the test scores must be submitted with the ISBE 80-02 form.
Option #3 - Illinois Educator Preparation Program: Please work closely with the institution to ensure their specific requirements are met. Here is a tool you can use to find which Illinois institutions offer approved preparation programs.