Educator Licensure

Welcome to the ISBE Division of Educator Licensure Website! The following links provide information on the Illinois certification/licensure process for both new and experienced educators. Should you have questions or concerns regarding the certification/licensure process in Illinois, please contact your Regional Office of Education.

Select one of the following links:

Important Notices!

Steps to Obtaining an Educator License in Illinois (12/12)
As of July 1, 2013 deficiency letters will no longer be printed and mailed, but will be sent electronically to your current email address. Please review and update your current email address by accessing your ECS account at: https://sec1.isbe.net/ecs/
(Updated 1/23/13) Effective December 19, 2012–Information Regarding the Use of ACT Plus Writing and SAT in lieu of the TAP
Certification Testing Update (January 23, 2013)
Be advised that beginning December 19, 2012, ISBE may accept ACT Plus Writing (composite score of 22) and SAT (composite score of 1030 on critical reading and mathematics) score reports that are up to 10 years old. The official score report cannot be more than 10 years old (month/year) at the time of the application (ISBE form 73-60 or 73-54) and submission to ISBE and must include a score on a writing component. Click here more information.

In addition, Basic Skills (096 and 300) and Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP 400) scores are also valid for 10 years. The 10-year validity period is determined by the date the test was passed and the date that the fees are processed for the requested certificate or endorsement.

If the Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP 400) or the previous Basic Skills test (300 or 096) was required for entry into an approved Illinois certification program, those scores will be honored beyond the 10 years as long as the individual is entitled by the same institution.

If the Illinois Basic Skills test or TAP was previously passed and was required for the issuance of an Illinois certificate, the TAP test will not be required for any subsequent certificate or endorsement.
Lapsed Certificate Information.
ATTENTION: Effective February 1, 2012, all professional education and content-area coursework required for the issuance of an Illinois certificate, endorsement or approval must have been passed with a grade of no lower than a "C" or equivalent. Grades of "P" (Passing) or "S" (Satisfactory) cannot be honored for certification until verification is provided by the certification officer, the registrar, or the dean of the college of education that these grades are equivalent to a "C" or above.

This form must be completed if any of your endorsement area(s) or professional education courses have grades of "P" (Passing) or "S" (Satisfactory). Please have your college or university complete the Grade Verification Form 73-06 and submit it directly to ISBE, Educator Certification Division.
Policy for Composition of Passing Score Panels for Educator Certification/Licensure Exams (4/10/12)
Basic Skills Test Replaced by ICTS Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP): (1/31/12)
Effective February 1, 2012: Registration opens January 31, 2012. For more information please visit the ICTS Website at http://www.icts.nesinc.com/IL16_whatsnew.asp#TAP
Fees: Please be advised that pursuant to PA 97-0607 signed on August 26, 2011, educator certification fees increased on January 1, 2012. The new fees are as follows:
- $75.00 application fee for each educator certificate
- $50.00 for each subsequent endorsement application
- $10.00 per year registration fee for the course of the validity cycle*
*The registration fee must be paid in its entirety. For example, the registration fee for a certificate with a five-year validity cycle would be $50.00.