Illinois Alternative Teacher Certification Process and Programs
Alternative teacher preparation programs, also known as non-traditional programs, are designed for those who have a bachelor’s degree outside of education and typically lead to the award of a certificate or master’s degree. If you don’t hold a bachelor’s degree, visit our guide to traditional route teacher certification in Illinois. If you do have a bachelor’s degree, continue reading to learn more about alternative educator licensure pathways approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Table of Contents
- Illinois Alternative Certification Requirements
- Types of Alternative Teaching Licenses
- Testing Requirements
- Licenses From Another State
- Schools With Alternative and Master’s Programs
- Fastest Alternative Certification Programs
- Additional Resources
Requirements for Alternative Certification
Individuals who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in a subject other than education may complete an alternative certification program. Alternative teacher preparation programs in Illinois commonly lead to the award of a certificate or master’s degree.
Types of Alternative Teaching Licenses in Illinois
Illinois recognizes one main pathway to alternative teacher licensure in core content areas. For those wishing to teach career and technical education subjects, there is a separate provisional pathway. You can read more about these options below, or visit the ISBE website for further information.
Provisional License Alternative Route
To be accepted to an approved alternative teacher certification program in Illinois, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree. Candidates must then be accepted to an approved teacher preparation program and apply for an educator license with stipulations as a provisional alternative educator. Typically, teacher candidates must pass any applicable content-area exams before beginning a teacher residency or student teaching. After completing the teacher preparation program and licensure requirements, candidates must be recommended by their college or university for a license.
Provisional Career and Technical Education License
Illinois teaching candidates who have completed at least 8,000 hours of work experience in one of the career and technical content areas recognized by the ISBE may apply for a Provisional Career and Technical Education license. A candidate must be recommended for this type of license by the school district in which the candidate will be employed. The candidate must complete professional development hours to maintain active licensure status. To move to a Career and Technical Educator License, which has fewer stipulations, candidates must also have at least 60 semester hours of college credit.
Testing Requirements for Illinois Alternative Certification
Illinois uses its own battery of tests, known as the Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS), which is administered by Pearson. The ILTS tests prospective teachers’ knowledge of their content area(s) and grade-level teaching standards. The previously required performance-based assessment, known as the edTPA, has been suspended through August 2025 for all grade levels and subjects.
Transferring Teaching Licenses From Another State
Teachers who already hold a teaching certificate or license in another state may apply for a Professional Educator License (PEL) in Illinois. Candidates must have at least a bachelor’s degree and must provide a copy of the comparable out-of-state teaching certificate. Candidates also must have passed content area exam(s) equivalent to Illinois’ teacher candidate exams. To learn more about teaching certificate reciprocity, see our reciprocity resource or visit the ISBE website.
Schools With Alternative and Master’s Programs in Illinois
To qualify for teacher certification, you must complete an approved teacher preparation program. Alternative route teacher licensing programs typically lead to a certificate or master’s degree. The not-for-profit, school-based alternative certification programs below have been approved by the ISBE for the preparation of teachers.
| State-Approved School | Accreditation | Program Type(s) | Alt. Teacher Program Enrollment4 | Alt. Teacher Prep Prog. Completers4 | Alt. Licensing Exams Pass Rate4 | Net Price5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aurora University | — | Master’s | — | — | — | $17,563 |
| Chicago State University | — | Certificate, Master’s | — | — | — | $8,637 |
| Concordia University Chicago | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $17,363 |
| DePaul University | — | Certificate, Master’s | — | — | — | $33,319 |
| Dominican University* | — | Alternative, Master’s | 74 | 5 | N.Av. | $18,685 |
| Eastern Illinois University | CAEP | Certificate | — | — | — | $13,551 |
| Erikson Institute | AAQEP | Master’s | 23 | 20 | 100% | N.Av. |
| Governors State University | CAEP | Certificate, Master’s | — | — | — | $9,998 |
| Greenville University | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $21,366 |
| Lewis University | — | Master’s | — | — | — | $20,022 |
| Loyola University Chicago | CAEP | Master’s | — | — | — | $37,731 |
| McKendree University | — | Master’s | — | — | — | $20,869 |
| National Louis University* | CAEP | Alternative, Master’s | — | — | — | $14,769 |
| North Park University | — | Certificate, Master’s | — | — | — | $19,320 |
| Northeastern Illinois University | CAEP | Certificate, Master’s | — | — | — | $14,831 |
| Northern Illinois University | CAEP | Certificate, Master’s | — | — | — | $14,397 |
| Northwestern University | — | Master’s | — | — | — | $28,344 |
| Quincy University | — | Master’s | — | — | — | $16,599 |
| Relay Graduate School of Education | — | Master’s | — | — | — | — |
| Rockford University | — | Master’s | — | — | — | $23,417 |
| Roosevelt University* | — | Alternative, Master’s | — | — | — | $22,856 |
| Saint Xavier University* | — | Alternative, Master’s | 42 | N.Av. | N.Av. | $13,326 |
| University of Chicago | — | Master’s | — | — | — | $36,584 |
| University of Illinois at Chicago* | — | Alternative, Master’s | — | — | — | $12,614 |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | — | Master’s | — | — | — | $13,517 |
| University of St. Francis | — | Master’s | — | — | — | $16,761 |
| VanderCook College of Music | — | Master’s | — | — | — | $25,764 |
| Western Illinois University* | — | Alternative, Master’s | — | — | — | $15,361 |
| Wheaton College | — | Master’s | — | — | — | $27,474 |
- — indicates none or not applicable.
- N.Av. indicates data was not available or pass rates were omitted for confidentiality.
- *Schools with an asterisk offer programs that can include paid classroom placements, subject to qualifications and experience. Students may be responsible for securing their own placement. Contact programs for further information.
Fastest Alternative Certification Programs
The following schools have the fastest programs to qualify for teacher certification in Illinois based on the shortest possible time to completion. The shortest alternative certification programs are often the most affordable because they require fewer credit hours. Check with programs to verify program costs and funding opportunities.
- Aurora University (12 months)
- Dominican University (12 months)
- Erikson Institute (12 months)
- Loyola University Chicago (12 months)
- McKendree University (12 months)
- North Park University (12 months)
- Northeastern Illinois University (12 months)
Additional Resources
- Approved Illinois Alternative Teacher Preparation Programs: Directory of approved teacher education programs in Illinois.
- Illinois Education Association (IEANEA): Guide to certification written by the largest statewide teacher association in Illinois.
- Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE): Provides certification guidelines, testing requirements, and classroom resources.
Related Articles
- Alternative Teacher Certification Guide
- How to Become a Teacher in Chicago
- Illinois Traditional Teacher Certification Guide
- Teacher Certification Reciprocity Guide
References:
1. Illinois State Board of Education: https://www.isbe.net/
2. Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP): https://caepnet.org/provider-search
3. Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP): https://aaqep.org/accredited-programs
4. US Department of Education 2021 Title II Report: https://title2.ed.gov/Public/Home.aspx
5. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/