Secondary School Teacher / Illinois
2026 data Illinois board official source

Illinois Secondary School Teacher License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

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Instructs students in grades 7-12. Requires state teaching certificate.

What the Illinois data shows for Secondary School Teachers

Becoming a licensed secondary school teacher in Illinois means clearing a defined set of hurdles: board-approved training, a passing score on State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent), plus a background history check once the applicant turns 18. Illinois regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Bachelors Degree plus Subject Certification".

Upfront cost is $233, with renewal running $141 on a 5-year cycle. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 150 hours of continuing education are due every 5-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

For secondary school teachers, the reciprocity picture is: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
45/100
Secondary School Teacher · Illinois

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training N/A
N/A
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee F
$233
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden B+
$28/yr
$141 every 5 years
Continuing Education F
30.0 hrs/yr
150 hours every 5 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Illinois

Education / Training Hours
Bachelors Degree plus Subject Certification
Not specified
Exam Requirement
State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent)
Required
Initial License Fee
$233
Renewal Fee
$141
Renewal Cycle
Every 5 years
Continuing Education
150 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Required
Minimum Age
18 years

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Secondary School Teacher All Illinois licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Illinois licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Secondary School Teacher in Illinois? ▼
Illinois's requirements cover, the State Subject Area Exam (Praxis II or equivalent) exam, and an initial fee of $233. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Secondary School Teacher in Illinois? ▼
Illinois licenses secondary school teachers who complete its requirements and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Illinois licensing board.
Can I transfer my Secondary School Teacher license to Illinois from another state? ▼
Secondary School Teacher licenses generally reciprocate as follows: State-specific — NASDTEC agreements between some states. Interstate licensing compacts cover many professions and can further ease a move between states. The Illinois licensing board can confirm the current rules for your credential.
Does Illinois require a background check for Secondary School Teacher licensing? ▼
Illinois does require a background check before issuing a secondary school teacher license. What counts as disqualifying, and how it's reviewed, is up to the state licensing board.
What are the continuing education requirements for Secondary School Teacher in Illinois? ▼
Licensed secondary school teachers in Illinois must complete 150 hours of continuing education every 5 years. The renewal fee is $141.

Related Guides

What to do with this secondary school teacher license

Secondary School Teacher in Illinois, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a secondary school teacher-wide, 50-state comparison.

  • See how Illinois's secondary school teacher requirements compare to every other state before relocating. Secondary School Teacher in every state
  • Confirm whether your out-of-state secondary school teacher license transfers under an interstate compact before starting a new application. Reciprocity guide
  • See how Illinois's overall licensing burden compares to other states, not just this one profession. Illinois overview

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Illinois licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.