Become a Teacher in Illinois

To earn your Illinois teaching credential you will have to complete the appropriate amount of undergraduate coursework and standardized tests, as well as an accredited certification program. You can learn more about types of certifications and certification requirements on the state’s Department of Education website

Learn more about getting your teaching credential on Teach.com.

Illinois has a pathway for those who did not go the traditional teaching route to earn alternative certification.  The Alternative Teacher Certification programs consist of intensive methods/pedagogical coursework, a 2 year residency, and an exam requirement.

Illinois Troops to Teachers Program 

The Troops to Teachers program helps members of the military transition to a teaching career. In order to participate, you must have or earn a four-year college degree.  Participants can receive a stipend to cover certification expenses if they teach in a high-needs school or in a district where a high percentage of students live below the poverty level.

Interstate reciprocity is a program that allows teachers certified in one state to teach in another state. To find out which other state teaching licenses can be used in Illinois, or for more specific questions about your situation, contact the Illinois State Board of Education.

To find out what other state teaching licenses can be used in Illinois, check out our Teacher Certification Reciprocity page on Teach.com.

The Recruitment section of Teach In Illinois website compiles job postings and teaching job initiatives, such as the Troops to Teachers program for returning military personnel.

Learn more about finding a teaching job on Teach.com.

According to 2018 Bureau of Labor Statistics  data, the average teacher in Illinois makes $63,000 to $72,000 per year, depending on grade level taughtIllinois also offers loan forgiveness as an incentive to teach in high demand school districts, like Chicago’s public schools.

Learn more about teacher salaries on Teach.com.

The Teacher’s Retirement System (TRS) for Illinois aims to provide its members with assistance in managing their retirement funds, as well as additional benefits that depend on county and school districts. Teachers who began participating in the TRS before 2011 can retire at age 55 with a minimum of 35 years of service, and at 62 with a minimum of five years of service. Those who began on or after January 1, 2011, must have reached 67 years of age and completed at least 10 years of service to retire with full benefits.

Learn more about benefits for teachers on Teach.com.

The United States Department of Education defines a Teacher Shortage Area (TSA) as a subject matter or grade level within a state in which there is an inadequate supply of elementary or secondary teachers.  The shortage may be caused by teaching positions that are unfilled or are filled by teachers who have temporary certification or teach in an academic subject other than their area of preparation.  According to a report by the US Department of Education, Illinois has the following Teacher Shortage Areas:

Illinois residents are eligible for the Applegate/Jackson/Parks Future Teacher Scholarship, as well as the TEACH Grant, which gives financial aid to students in return for an agreement to teach in a high-need school.

Learn more about how to finance your Master’s degree on Teach.com.

Illinois requires those with a Professional Educator License in teaching to complete 120 hours of Professional Development Units each 5 year cycle or 60 hours if an NBCPTC is held. Learn more about professional development for teachers by visiting the Illinois Board of Education Educator Licensure page.

It is no longer enough to just have years of experience for teaching. After No Child Left Behind and other academic quantification measures, the careers of teachers increasingly depend on their results in the classroom. A master’s degree in the field of education can give you more educational theory and classroom skills, as well as more hands-on student teaching experience with a mentor. After a Master’s program, you have the potential to achieve better results in the classroom and may have more job security and higher pay.

Learn more about the benefits of a Master of Arts in Teaching vs. Master of Education on Teach.com.