Licensure

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)  outlines the process to licensure for a range of applicants: 

• Illinois college students preparing for a teaching career
• College students trained (but not licensed) in another state 
• Illinois educators seeking new endorsements
• Educators licensed in another state
• Educators trained in another country
• Career changers

ISBE "Pathways to Teaching" 

Licensure Renewal for Licenses Due in 2024 Begins April 1

Includes the Professional Educator License (PEL), the various Career and Technical Educator (CTE) licenses, the Substitute (SUB) license, and the Paraprofessional (PARA) license.

EVERY licensed individual should verify through their Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) account if they hold a license that is only registered until June 30, 2024.

• Educators with a PEL and/or CTE license that expires July 1, 2024 have until August 31, 2024 to complete any Professional Learning (PL) required for renewal and pay all registration fees. 
• Educators working under an administrative license on a PEL that expires July 1, 2024 must complete the annually required Administrator Academy by June 30, 2024. Additionally, all Professional Development Hours (PDHs) required for renewal must be completed. ISBE allows for an extension of August 31 to complete PDHs only.

You should pay the registration fees to renew your PEL via your personal ELIS account between April 1 and August 31, 2024.

NOTE: Under the ACTION CENTER in ELIS, if you do not have a hyperlink to renew your PEL in your ELIS account, please refer to link the FAQ document to troubleshoot the issue.

If you did not renew your license by August 31, 2024, your license has lapsed. You are no longer be eligible to work in an Illinois public school until your license is reinstated. To reinstate the license, you must complete nine semester hours of coursework in the appropriate content area(s) OR pay a $50 penalty fee, in addition to submitting any required PD, prior to reinstating and paying registration fees.

You can find numerous tutorials and how-to videos that will help you navigate the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS). 

Find ELIS Resources from ISBE

An official transcript is required for licensure. To be considered official, a transcript must arrive at the North Cook ISC in a sealed, unopened envelope, just as you received it from your college or university. The college or university also can send transcripts directly. Transcripts should be email to either Izabela Kuczek (ikuczek@ncisc.org) or Nancy Palomo (npalomo@ncisc.org) or mailed to: 

NCISC 
1001 E. Touhy Ave., Suite 200
Des Plaines, IL 60018

Out-of-Country Degree

If the degree was earned out of the US, you need to have your transcript evaluated by one of ISBE approved foreign transcript evaluation agencies (a "course by course" evaluation is best). Official evaluation should be sent directly to either Izabela Kuczek (ikuczek@ncisc.org) or Nancy Palomo (npalomo@ncisc.org) or mailed to: 

NCISC 
1001 E. Touhy Ave., Suite 200
Des Plaines, IL 60018