how to become a substitute teacher in illinois

Teaching in Illinois is a great option for anyone looking to work as an educator. The Illinois teacher certification process is overseen by the Illinois State Board of Education Division of Educator Licensure. We have outlined the traditional path describing how to become a teacher in Illinois below. For more information on alternative pathways to licensure, see our guide to Illinois alternative teacher certification.

How to Become a Teacher in Illinois

Illinois requires all prospective teachers to hold a bachelor's degree. For traditional-route educators, the bachelor's degree curriculum will include a teacher preparation program. Additionally, anyone wanting to obtain Illinois teacher certification must first fulfill the requirements stipulated by the state's Department of Education. In Illinois, this process is called entitlement.

Illinois issues three types of teacher licenses: Professional Educator License (PEL), Educator License with Stipulations (ELS), and Substitute License. For each of these licenses, candidates may earn endorsements appropriate to the subject area(s) and grade level(s) to be taught. There are three exams that prospective teachers must pass: a basic skills test, the appropriate content area exam(s), and the edTPA. There are also alternative routes to licensure for those who already have a bachelor's degree but have not completed a teacher preparation program.

Teaching and Education Programs

Finding Approved Teacher Education Programs in Illinois

Projected Job Growth

3.8%

Growth in Teaching Jobs in IL through 2026²

One of the first steps toward earning Illinois teacher certification is to complete a state-approved teacher preparation program at an accredited college or university that fulfills the Illinois standards for teacher education. Student teaching field experiences are required as part of the teacher preparation program.

It is imperative that applicants attend a teacher preparation program that has been approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). You can find a list of approved educator preparation programs on the ISBE website. You can also compare key metrics for these state-approved teacher preparation programs by using the sortable table on our Illinois schools page.

Applicants should also look to make sure that the schools considered are regionally accredited. Programs from out-of-state that hold regional accreditation from one of the six regional accreditation agencies may be acceptable for Illinois teacher licensure. Illinois schools are accredited by Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Additionally, accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) is highly regarded. This organization was created by the consolidation of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Teacher Accreditation Council (TEAC). CAEP accreditation is considered a distinguished marker of rigorous standards in the teacher preparation curriculum and process.

Illinois Teacher Education Requirements

Traditional certification programs typically require that students complete at least 15 semester hours in an area of specialization or major in a specific field. Those who attend preparation programs out-of-state must complete 32 semester hours of content coursework. For those who pursue alternative Illinois teacher certification, a bachelor's degree in a content area that aligns with the certification area is required, and the college or university administering the teacher preparation program attended determines whether further study in the content area the candidate intends to teach is necessary. Student teaching and pre-student teaching field experiences are also required as part of the teacher preparation program. Once all coursework requirements are met, the teacher preparation program will notify the Illinois State Board of Education that the candidate is eligible for a license, allowing him or her to apply for licensure. Note that once issued, an Illinois teaching license must be registered online to be valid.

Illinois Teacher Testing Requirements

Illinois State Seal Teaching candidates must pass several tests to be eligible for an Illinois teaching license. At the beginning of the process, before an individual can be admitted to a teacher preparation program, he or she must typically pass the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) or post acceptable scores on the ACT or SAT exams to waive the TAP requirement. The assessments required for licensure after completing a preparation program include applicable content-area tests through the Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS), a basic skills test that assesses skills in reading, writing, and math, and the edTPA. Passing scores on content-area tests are typically required prior to student teaching as part of the candidate's teacher preparation program.

Additional Illinois Teacher Certification Requirements

As in all states, becoming a certified teacher in Illinois requires new teachers to submit to a state and federal background check. Fingerprint-based Criminal History Records Information (CHRI) background checks are run through the Illinois State Police (ISP) and the FBI. All applicants must submit a fingerprint card to proceed with the background check before they turn in their teaching applications.

Illinois Teachers Licensing Application Process

The path to obtaining teaching certification in Illinois is a fairly straightforward process if you are attending an approved teacher preparation program. Once you have completed all the requirements as stipulated by the state's Department of Education, you must apply for a teaching license. The Teacher Certification Office receives the majority of applications in June, July, and August and recommends that candidates submit supporting documents three to four months in advance of their estimated date of employment. The required documents to become a teacher in Illinois are as follows:

Official transcripts showing proof of bachelor's degree
Official transcripts showing proof of completing an accredited teacher preparation program
Passing scores on the required exams
Payment of non-refundable processing fee
Completed application for teacher certification

Candidates must begin their licensure application online through the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS). Supporting documents should be e-mailed to ISBE. Visit the Illinois Department of Education for further details on teaching certification in Illinois.

Illinois Teacher Outlook, Salary, and Jobs

During the 2016-2017 school year, there were an estimated 4,173 public schools in Illinois with a K-12 student population of just over 2 million.³ With an estimated 128,893 public school teachers, this gives Illinois a student-to-teacher ratio of 15:1.³

Projections suggest that there will be 4,320 average annual job openings for elementary school teachers, 2,230 average annual job openings for middle school teachers, and 3,110 average annual job openings for secondary school teachers in Illinois through 2026.² In the state, the average annual salary for elementary school teachers is $62,140, the average annual salary for middle school teachers is $63,860, and the average annual salary for secondary school teachers is $72,370.⁴ The Illinois Education Association (IEANEA) provides further information on the current job market and teacher licensing procedures.

Type	Number Employed	Average Annual Salary
Preschool Teachers	24,120	$31,500
Preschool Teachers, Special Education	960	$57,280
Kindergarten Teachers	4,630	$55,660
Elementary School Teachers	65,630	$62,140
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School	9,670	$63,740
Middle School Teachers	22,230	$63,860
Middle School Teachers, Special Education	3,420	$63,330
Secondary School Teachers	43,720	$72,370
Secondary School Teachers, Special Education	8,440	$69,840
Secondary School Teachers, Career/Technical Education	1,970	$66,840

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics as of May 2018.⁴

Illinois Teacher Interviews

Fourth Grade Teacher, Kristin Kennedy
High School Math Teacher, Elissa Miller
Middle School Math Teacher, Elizabeth Gates
Science Teacher, Terie Engelbrecht
Lead Technology Facilitator, Jon Bergmann

Illinois School District Requirements

If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a teacher in Chicago, review our city page below. On this page, you will find a step-by-step description of how to become a teacher in Chicago public schools as well as information on private and charter schools in the area, becoming a substitute teacher, and contact information for the public school system.

Chicago

Teacher Quote "Don't worry about being the perfect teacher – worry about your growth as a teacher. I have become the most successful when I have picked small things to change (group work, rubrics, assessments) and only focus on one thing at a time." -Elizabeth Gates, Illinois Middle School Math Teacher

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How do I become an elementary teacher in Illinois?

Answer: To become an elementary teacher in Illinois you must earn certification through the state's Board of Education. You need to complete an elementary teaching program as well as a student teaching assignment of 12 to 16 weeks. You must also pass the state's teacher exams on basic skills and teaching standards.

Question: How do I become a kindergarten teacher in Illinois?

Answer: To be a kindergarten teacher in Illinois, you need to get an elementary certificate from the state. You must have a bachelor's degree with a major in early childhood education and have completed a teacher preparation program. You also have to have completed a student teaching experience and pass the Illinois certification exams.

Question: What are the requirements to become a high school teacher in Illinois?

Answer: To become a high school teacher in Illinois, you must have secondary certification. To qualify, you need to have a bachelor's degree with adequate coursework in a teachable subject area and complete a teacher preparation program. You must also have student teaching experience and pass the state's certification tests, including content-area exams in the subject(s) to be taught.

Question: How do you become a substitute teacher in Illinois?

Answer: Illinois offers two different types of substitute teaching licenses – a Short-Term Substitute License, which requires an associate's degree or 60 hours of college credit hours, and a regular Substitute License, which requires a bachelor's degree. Short-Term Substitute Licenses have a limitation of five consecutive days and require license holders to complete a training program. You can read more about substitute teaching requirements on the Illinois State Board of Education's website.

References:
1. Illinois State Board of Education: https://www.isbe.net/
2. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/Projections/LongTerm
3. National Center for Education Statistics, State Nonfiscal Public Elementary/Secondary Education Survey Data, 2016-2017: https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/stnfis.asp
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2018 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Illinois: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_il.htm