Teachers must register their teaching certificates in the county in which they teach. Teachers are highly encouraged to create a username and a password on the Educator Certification System in order to monitor their certificate(s).
Illinois has a three-tiered certification system:
1. Initial Certificates:
Initial teaching certificates are issued to teachers who have recently completed approved teacher preparation programs or to out-of-state certified applicants who have less than four years of teaching.
Initial certificate holders, whether employed in public or nonpublic schools, must meet the requirements to move from Initial to Standard certification. To do so, you must accrue four years of teaching and complete one of the professional development options. Letters of teaching experience indicating nature and duration of teaching experience must be on school district letterhead and signed by the Superintendent or designee. The letter should include either the IEIN or Social Security Number. All proof of employment letters must be original documents and are to be submitted to the Regional Office of Education. More information and forms may be found here. Checklist and information on "Moving from Initial to Standard" distributed by the Will County Regional Office of Education.
2&3. Standard/Master Certificates:
Master certificates are issued to those with National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification. Standard/Master certificate holders employed on either type certificate in Illinois public schools must complete professional development to "renew" the certificates, which allows registration. The requirements for continuing professional development apply to individuals who hold Standard or Master 04 Early Childhood, 03 Elementary, 09 Secondary or 10 Special Teaching Certificates and who are employed in Illinois public schools during the five (Standard) or ten (Master) year validity cycle of those certificates. More information and forms may be found here. Checklist and information on Standard and School Personnel Registration distributed by the Will County Regional Office of Education.
Administrative Certificates:
Administrative certificates also have renewal requirements. Individuals employed on an administrative certificate for any period of time during their certificate's validity period must complete professional development requirements in order to be eligible to renew their certificate. More information and forms may be found here. Checklist and information for Administrative Certificate Renewal distributed by the Will County Regional Office of Education.
School Service Personnel:
Effective July 1, 2008, Illinois implemented renewal requirements for individuals who are employed in positions requiring School Service Personnel certificates in Illinois public schools. (If you are not employed in an Illinois public school, you are only required to pay the registration fee to renew your certificate.) More information and forms may be found here. Checklist and information on Standard and School Personnel Registration distributed by the Will County Regional Office of Education.
Paraprofessional Approval
Paraprofessional and teacher aide are terms used to refer to paid instructional assistants supervised by a certified teacher. Non-instructional assistants, such as personal care assistants and translators, are not considered paraprofessionals or teacher aides. All paraprofessionals (teacher aides) must have a Statement of Approval from the Illinois State Board of Education. You may apply for a Statement of Approval at your regional office of education. Qualifications for paraprofessional approval may be found at www.isbe.net. Information for WorkKeys testing offered by Joliet Junior College.
