Educators taking courses courses with a prefix EEND or REND will need to apply to have an endorsement added to their valid Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) directly through the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) by logging into their account and selecting the option to Apply for an Endorsement.
Endorsements included in this category (select endorsement to visit ISBE and view current requirements)
- Bilingual Education Endorsement**
- Director of Special Education Administrative Endorsement
- ESL Endorsement**
- Health Education
- LBSI (Valid for grade range held)
- Reading Teacher
- Safety and Driver Education
- Technology Specialist
**Additional Documentation Required**
Educators seeking an ESL Endorsement in Illinois are required to complete 100 clock hours (or three months teaching experience) in a bilingual or ESL setting. Educators seeking a Bilingual Education Endorsement in Illinois are required to complete 100 clock hours (or three months teaching experience) in a bilingual setting. A tracking log must be retained, along with administrator verification, of all hours or teaching experiences in the appropriate setting. The log and/or administrator verification may be required when applying to add the endorsement through ELIS OR during an audit of educator records.
CATEGORY II: Educators pursuing or completing all required endorsement hours as part of an advanced degree program
Educators enrolled in a degree or focused program should work directly with their respective program advisor/coordinator and the university’s Licensure Officer to have the endorsement added to their PEL once all requirements are met. Please do not apply directly through ELIS.
Endorsements included in this category
- M.S. Educational Leadership with Principal Endorsement or Teacher Leader Endorsement
- M.S. Reading with Reading Specialist Endorsement
- M.S. Teaching & Learning with Bilingual Education or ESL Endorsement
- M.S. Teaching & Learning with Special Education/LBSI PK-Age 21 Endorsement
- Ed.D. Educational Leadership with Superintendent Endorsement
- RTE to Reading Specialist focused program
- Special Education/LBSI PK-Age 21 focused program
- Superintendent focused program
- Teacher Leader focused program
CATEGORY III: Educators seeking to add an alternate grade level OR subsequent concentration
Educators should work directly with the university’s Licensure Officer. Please contact Maureen Hunt at mhunt@stfrancis.edu for transcript evaluation.
Endorsements included in this category
- Elementary education endorsement added to an existing PEL with a Secondary, Middle Grade/School, Special Education or Special Endorsement
- Middle Grade endorsement added to an existing PEL with Elementary, Secondary, Middle Grade/School (5-8 or 6-8), or Special Endorsement
- Secondary education endorsement (Biology, History, Mathematics or English) added to and existing PEL with an Elementary, Middle Grade/School, Special Education or Special Endorsement
For questions regarding ISBE requirements, please refer to ISBE’s website at www.isbe.net or contact your local Regional Office of Education.
