Certification Information

Illinois State Board of Education - Certificate Renewal Website
www.isbe.net/certification/html/current_prospective.htm

National Board Teacher Certification Process
http://www.nbpts.org/

Registration and Renewal of Teaching Certificates

You must register in the region you are currently teaching. One fee will cover you and all your certificates throughout the state.

• If you have registered and taught in a region (county) previously and are now teaching in a new region, you do not have to pay an additional fee, only register in the new region.

• If you are not teaching, but wish to keep your certificate active, you may register in any county in the state of Illinois.

• If you are substituting on a substitute certificate, you need to pay a registration fee (see below) in every region in which you substitute.

• In order to register your certificate, you need to bring the following items to the Regional Office of Education:

• If you are substitute on a substitute certificate, you need to pay a registration fee in every region in which you substitute. The fee is dependent on the number of years remaining on the life of your certificate. It will be $5.00 for each year.

• If you have allowed your registration to lapse for more than five years, your certificate may be reinstated for one year. During that year you must pay all back fees and complete five semester credit hours in addition to the required professional development in order for it to be valid the following school year.

Application for a New Certificate or Additional Certificates

New Certificate, New Graduate

New graduates from Illinois universities must go online to apply for the new certificate.  Applicants must create an Educator Certification System (ECS) account at www.isbe.net/ecs to complete this process.

You will be issued an Initial teaching certificate. Once you have obtained four years of teaching experience, you will be issued a Standard certificate.

New Certificate, with four years of teaching experience in another state

You must complete the following items from the Regional Office of Education and return them to the Regional Office:

• Completed application

• $30.00 evaluation fee and a $25.00 five year registration fee

• Official transcripts with the seals and degrees stated

• State Approved Program Verification Form

• A letter of teaching experience stating dates taught, grade level taught and if successful, this is to be on letterhead

You will be issued a Standard Illinois Teaching Certificate.

Duplicate Certificates

• $8.00 fee and completed application

Substitute Certificates

• Completed application

• $30.00 evaluation fee and a $20.00 four year registration fee

• Official transcripts stating you have a bachelors degree or more

• Criminal background check form

A temporary employment authorization will be issued upon receipt of these items. The substitute certificate will be issued and mailed to your home in approximately 1 to 2 weeks.

For further information, please call the Regional Office of Education at (309) 734-6822, Monday through Friday, 8:00-4:30. Thank You.