Transferring your teaching license from Pennsylvania to Illinois
Both Pennsylvania and Illinois participate in the NASDTEC interstate agreement, which standardizes how states evaluate out-of-state teaching credentials. Educators relocating from Pennsylvania can generally expect a streamlined review process, though state-specific content exams or coursework may still be required.
See 1,917 open teaching jobs in Illinois →Your current credential (Pennsylvania)
- Issuing authority
- Pennsylvania Department of Education
- License type
- Instructional I Certificate (6 years)
- Reciprocity policy
- Pennsylvania participates in NASDTEC. The state evaluates out-of-state certificates and typically requires the Praxis subject assessment for the certification area.
Illinois certification
- Issuing authority
- Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)
- License you'll earn
- Resident Educator License (4 years)
- Typical timeline
- 12–18 months for traditional program; 3 years for alternative licensure
- Illinois reciprocity policy
- Illinois participates in NASDTEC; however, all ILTS exams are typically still required. Extensive documentation needed.
Exams typically required in Illinois
Out-of-state applicants are usually asked to demonstrate content-area knowledge on Illinois's preferred exams, even when basic-skills testing is waived through reciprocity. Plan for one or more of the following:
- Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP)Basic skills assessment
- ILTS Content Area AssessmentSubject matter knowledge for your area
- edTPAPerformance assessment during student teaching
Steps to transfer your license
- Verify your Pennsylvania credential is current. Illinois will request a verification of your active Instructional I Certificate from Pennsylvania Department of Education.
- Apply through Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). The application packet typically includes official transcripts, prior teaching service verification, and a fingerprint-based background check.
- Sit for any Illinois-specific exams. Most states honor out-of-state content-area exams when scores meet their cutoff, but Illinois may require an additional jurisprudence or state-specific assessment.
- Apply to Illinois districts that match your endorsement. We're currently tracking 1,917 active openings — browse Illinois teaching jobs to start identifying districts.