Illinois Teacher Certification Renewal

Steps to renewing your certification

• Illinois Teacher Certification Renewal
The following are the procedures for Illinois Teacher Certification Renewal.


Illinois Initial Certification Renewal:
The Initial Illinois Certification is valid for 4 years and is, in fact, non-renewable. In order to continue holding an Illinois Teaching Certification, you must qualify and apply for a Standard Teaching Certification. You will need to verify 4 years of teaching experience and complete one of the following professional development options (This is not a comprehensive list of options. These are simply the most popular options.)


• Earn an advanced degree such as a Master's degree or Doctorate degree.
• Complete an approved Induction and Mentoring program.
• Become NBPTS certified.
• 12 semester hours of graduate-level coursework.
• Earn a 12 hour professional development certification.
• Learn of more options by visiting the Illinois State Board of Education website or call either of the certification offices:
  
  

  Springfield Certification Office:
  (866) 262-6663 or (217) 782-4321
  Chicago Certification Office:
  (312) 814-2220
  
  
  Illinois Standard Certification Renewal:
  The Illinois Standard Certification is valid for 5 years and is renewal with the completion of one of the previously mentioned professional development options.
  
  
  Illinois Master Teacher Certification:
  The Master Teacher Certification is valid for a period of 10 years. In order to move from a Standard Illinois Teacher Certification to a Master Certification, the candidate must earn a National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification. Visit the NBPTS website for more information.

Learn about the requirements of another state by clicking on one of the state certification links to your left.