Illinois State Licensure

All candidates earning an Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) license are responsible for following the procedures indicated below.

ISBE Professional Educator License (PEL) Qualifying Requirements

• Qualifying Information for Licensure
• State of Illinois Testing Requirements
• State of Illinois Course Grade Requirements‌ (PDF)

ISBE Professional Educator Licensure Process

• Teacher Preparation Internship Experience
• Review of Teacher Candidates
• Criminal Background Checks: Criminal background checks are required prior to initial field or practicum/internship experience in the schools.
• Educational Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA): This performance-based assessment is embedded in the pre-service teaching experience and successful completion is a state requirement for licensure. Visit Loyola's password protected edTPA web site.

Checklist for Completing Illinois Professional Educator Licensure

Undergrad (PDF)
Graduate (PDF)

Application forms for all our Illinois State Licensure Programs and subsequent endorsements are located on the enrolled SOE Student Community Sakai site. 

School of Education Licensure Passage Rates

SY19‐20 through SY21‐22

States With Reciprocity Agreements 

Obtaining your Professional Educators License (PEL) through Loyola's School of Education teacher preparation programs is essential if you wish to teach in CPS or other public school districts in Illinois. All of our licensure programs are approved through the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Upon completion of your academic program and with your ISBE requirements in in place (content tests and edTPA), your Illinois teaching licensure is entitled directly to you via the University's licensure officer. Mandatory licensure meetings are held each Spring term for Juniors, Seniors, and MEd teacher preparation students. 

Once entitled, you will be qualified to teach in schools in Illinois as well as in every other US state except Alaska, Iowa, and Minnesota. (Please visit the state licensure websites below to find current requirements.) States with signed reciprocity agreements with Illinois are listed here. 

For the requirements of our other licensure programs (School Counselor, School Psychologist, Principal Preparation, Superintendent Certificate, or School Social Worker), please visit the related area of study pages for current information.