Illinois Elementary School Teacher License Requirements

To practice as a elementary school teacher in Illinois, the state licensing board requires board-approved training, a passing score on the State Teaching Certification Exam (Praxis or equivalent) examination. A criminal history background check is also part of the application. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The regulation sits under Illinois's professional licensing framework, which classifies training as "Bachelors Degree in Education".

Upfront cost is $233, with renewal running $141 on a 5-year cycle. Maintaining the license requires 150 hours of continuing education per 5-year cycle, an ongoing cost applicants often underestimate when budgeting the career.

Reciprocity is available: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states. Compared to the profession-wide pattern, the numbers above should be cross-checked against other states before relocating — licensing cost, training hours, and exam requirements vary enough that a different state may cut thousands of dollars and months of training from the path. The state board, not this page, is the final authority; verify every field below with the official regulator before you pay fees or enroll in training.