Section 25.100  Teaching Endorsements on the Professional Educator License

 

Appendix E provides a list of the available endorsements and shows for each endorsement the related endorsements that were issued before July 1, 2013. Any semester hours of credit presented toward fulfillment of the requirements of this Section shall be posted on the candidate's official transcript and may be taken in on-line or electronically-mediated courses, provided that college credit is provided for the coursework by a regionally accredited institution of higher education.  All professional education and content-area coursework that forms part of an application for licensure, endorsement, or approval must have been passed with a grade no lower than "C-" or equivalent and be posted on the individual's official transcript in order to be counted towards fulfillment of the applicable requirements.  If the Governor declares a disaster due to a public health emergency under Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, Illinois educator preparation providers shall be exempt from the "C-" or higher provision when entitling candidates for licensure if the candidates are already enrolled in an educator preparation course.

 

a)         Secondary Education Science and Social Science Endorsements

 

1)         Content-specific endorsements (e.g., science − biology, social science − economics) shall be required in conjunction with some endorsements, as shown in Appendix E.  Except in the case of world language, a licensee shall be authorized to teach all the subjects encompassed by a particular endorsement, regardless of the content-specific endorsement or endorsements received in conjunction with that endorsement.  However, a licensee may not teach honors courses, as defined by the employing district, or Advanced Placement courses in a subject for which the licensee does not hold the content-specific endorsement.  For example, a secondary science teacher with a content-specific endorsement for science − biology may not teach honors physics or chemistry unless that teacher holds a content-specific endorsement in science − physics or science − chemistry.

 

2)         At least 12 semester hours must be in the specific science or social science area sought (e.g. biology or political science), and 6 semester hours must be taken in at least one other science or social science area (as applicable to the endorsement sought.) Applicants for a science endorsement must complete coursework in both the biological sciences (biology, ecology/environmental science) and physical sciences (chemistry, earth & space science, physics.)

 

b)         Science and Social Science Endorsements Issued Prior to July 1, 2004.  The provisions of subsection (a) do not apply to endorsements in a particular content area available prior to July 1, 2004 that were not exchanged for the endorsement currently available.  Individuals holding these endorsements shall teach only the specific content encompassed by the endorsement issued.  For instance, an individual who holds an endorsement in biology (rather than "sciences" with a content-area endorsement in science − biology) shall teach only biology and no other science content.  An individual who wishes to teach other subjects in the same field or grade levels shall be required to apply for the relevant new endorsement in keeping with Section 21B-40 of the Code and meet the applicable requirements of this Section.

 

c)         Endorsements at Time of Issuance of the Professional Educator License

 

1)         Pursuant to Section 21B-25 of the Code, each PEL shall be specifically endorsed by the State Board of Education for each content area and grade-level range for which the holder of the license is qualified to teach and for which application has been made.

 

2)         The PEL issued shall be endorsed in keeping with the program completed and the related content-area test passed by the candidate and for any other subject in which the individual:

 

A)        meets the requirements of subsection (d), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j) or (k); or

 

B)        has accumulated 18 semester hours of college credit demonstrably related to the subject area, either as a subset of an approved program at an Illinois institution or from one or more regionally accredited institutions of higher education and has passed the applicable content-area test.

 

d)         Endorsements with No Tests

 

Certain endorsements or content-specific endorsements listed in Appendix E have no corresponding content-area test (see Section 25.710).  The provisions of this subsection (d) shall apply to the issuance of these endorsements and content‑specific endorsements.

 

1)         For an applicant who is receiving an Illinois PEL endorsed for a teaching field, the institution that offered the approved program completed by the applicant shall indicate that the applicant has met the standards applicable to the endorsement or the particular content‑specific endorsement, except that the requirements of subsection (h) shall apply to the issuance of endorsements in safety and driver education.

 

2)         An applicant prepared out of state, or an applicant who is already licensed in Illinois and is seeking to add a new endorsement or a content-specific endorsement in one of these subjects, other than an endorsement in safety and driver education, shall present evidence of completion of 18 semester hours of coursework (subject to further limitations as set forth in this Section) in the area covered by the endorsement or content-specific endorsement sought.

 

3)         An applicant prepared out of state or an applicant who is already licensed in Illinois and is seeking to add a new endorsement in safety and driver education shall be subject to the requirements set forth in subsection (h).

 

e)         Addition of Endorsements to Currently Held PELs

An individual who holds a valid PEL shall apply for additional endorsements using the ELIS and pay the fee required under Section 21B-40 of the Code.

 

1)         When an applicant qualifies for an endorsement, its issuance shall be reflected on ELIS.

 

2)         Subject of Endorsement

 

A)        An endorsement will be issued for any subject in which the individual:

 

i)          holds a valid PEL with an early childhood, elementary, middle grades, secondary, or special teaching endorsement and meets the requirements of subsection (d), (f), (g), (h), (i), (k), or (l); or

 

ii)         for other content areas not referenced in subsection (e)(2)(A)(i), holds a valid PEL with an early childhood, elementary, middle grades, secondary, or special teaching endorsement and:

 

●          has accumulated 18 semester hours of college credit demonstrably related to the subject area, from one or more regionally accredited institutions of higher education; and

 

●          has passed the applicable content-area test.

 

B)        Individuals who hold one senior high science or social science endorsement may add additional senior high endorsements in the same subject (i.e., science or social science) by completing 12 semester hours of content specific coursework or by passing the applicable content-area test. 

 

C)        An individual who holds a PEL endorsed for an area outside of teaching shall receive any of the teaching endorsements identified in this Part by:

 

i)          passing the tests required by Section 25.720;

 

ii)         completing a State-approved program in the subject area sought or a comparable program, as defined in Section 25.425(a), offered out of state;

 

iii)        completing a student teaching experience that meets the requirements of Section 25.620; and

 

iv)        completing applicable subject area requirements outlined in this Section.

 

f)         Requirements for Reading Teacher and Reading Specialist Endorsements

Special provisions shall apply to the issuance of endorsements for reading teachers and reading specialists. A reading teacher is a teacher whose assignment involves teaching reading to students. A reading specialist is a teacher whose assignment involves the provision of technical assistance or professional development to other teachers and may also include teaching reading to students.

 

1)         Reading Teacher

This endorsement shall not be issued alone as an individual's first teaching credential. An individual who holds an Illinois PEL and who receives an endorsement for some teaching field other than reading shall be eligible to receive this additional endorsement on that license when the individual presents evidence of:

 

A)        having passed the applicable content-area test (i.e., reading teacher or reading specialist) required by Section 25.720; and

 

B)        having completed 18 semester hours of graduate or undergraduate coursework in reading (as posted on the individual's official transcript), including a practicum, at one or more regionally accredited institutions of higher education, provided that all the following areas were addressed:

 

i)          foundations of reading;

 

ii)         content-area reading;

 

iii)        assessment and diagnosis of reading problems;

 

iv)        developmental and remedial reading instruction, support, materials, and resources; and

 

v)         literature appropriate to students across all grade ranges.

 

2)         Reading Specialist

 

A)        Each candidate for the reading specialist endorsement shall present evidence of two years of teaching experience either on an educator license in an Illinois school or on a comparable out-of-state certificate or license valid for teaching at any of the grade levels of early childhood, elementary, middle, secondary, or special K-12.  Each candidate shall be eligible to receive the reading specialist endorsement on the PEL when that candidate presents evidence of having completed the teaching experience required under this subsection (f)(2)(A).

 

B)        Each candidate shall hold a master's degree or higher awarded by a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

 

C)        Each candidate shall have completed a K-12 reading specialist preparation program approved pursuant to Subpart C, or a comparable program, as defined in Section 25.425(a), offered out of state, that includes clinical experiences with five or more students at both the elementary (i.e., kindergarten through grade 8) and secondary levels and leads to the issuance of a master's or higher degree, provided that a person who holds one master's degree shall not be required to obtain a second one.  For purposes of the clinical experiences, a candidate shall work with at least one student enrolled in elementary grades and at least one student enrolled in secondary grades and may work with students one on one or in a group.  Each candidate shall have been recommended for the endorsement by the institution offering the program.

 

D)        Each candidate for a PEL endorsed for reading specialist shall meet the requirements set forth in Section 25.25.

 

g)         Requirements for Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle Grades, and Bilingual Education Endorsements

 

1)         The requirements of Section 25.97, rather than the requirements of this Section, shall apply to credentials and assignments in the elementary grades.

 

2)         The requirements of Section 25.99, rather than the requirements of this Section, shall apply to credentials and assignments in the middle grades, except that Section 25.99 shall be read in conjunction with this Section with respect to reading teacher, reading specialist, gifted education teacher, gifted education specialist, and library information specialist assignments in the middle grades.

 

3)         The requirements of 23 Ill. Adm. Code 1.780, 1.781, and 1.782, rather than the requirements of this Section, shall apply to credentials and assignments in the areas of bilingual education and English as a Second Language.

 

4)         The requirements of Section 25.96, rather than the requirements of this Section, shall apply to credentials and assignments in ECE.

 

h)         Requirements for Safety and Driver Educator Endorsements

An endorsement in safety and driver education shall be issued when the applicant provides evidence of having completed 18 semester hours of college credit in the field, distributed as follows:

 

1)         3 semester hours in injury prevention or general safety;

 

2)         9 semester hours in driver education that include:

 

A)        driving task analysis (introduction to driver education);

 

B)        teaching driver education in the classroom;

 

C)        teaching the laboratory portion of the driver education course, including on-street teaching under the supervision of a qualified driver education teacher, advanced driver education, and emergency evasive driving maneuvers; and

 

3)         6 semester hours chosen from at least two of the following areas:

 

A)        first aid;

 

B)        psychology of adolescents or young adults;

 

C)        any safety-related issue relevant to driver education;

 

D)        advanced driver education in the use of simulation and multiple car programs;

 

E)        health and wellness;

 

F)         care and prevention of injuries;

 

G)        issues related to alcohol or drug abuse; or

 

H)        driver education for students with disabilities.

 

i)          Requirements for Gifted Education and Gifted Education Specialist Endorsements

Special provisions shall apply to the issuance of endorsements for gifted education teachers and gifted education specialists. A gifted education teacher is a teacher whose assignment involves teaching gifted students. A gifted education specialist is a teacher whose assignment involves the provision of technical assistance or professional development to other teachers and may also include teaching gifted students.

 

1)         Gifted Education Teacher

This endorsement shall not be issued alone as an individual's first teaching credential.  An individual who holds an Illinois PEL endorsed at any of the grade levels of early childhood, elementary, middle, or secondary, or for special teaching, shall be eligible to receive this additional endorsement on that license when that individual presents evidence of:

 

A)        having passed the applicable content-area test required by Section 25.720; and

 

B)        having completed 18 semester hours of undergraduate or graduate coursework in gifted education (as posted on the individual's official transcript), including a practicum, at one or more regionally accredited institutions of higher education, provided that all the following areas were addressed:

 

i)          characteristics of the field of gifted education as it pertains to gifted children, including their cognitive, creative, and affective development;

 

ii)         the wide range of ways in which a child is gifted; issues and practices in identifying and serving gifted children; and the manner in which assessment data shape decisions about identification, learning progress, and outcomes; and

 

iii)        theoretical and research-based data necessary for the development of programs, curriculum, and instructional sequences for gifted children, especially those serving gifted students from diverse populations.

 

2)         Gifted Education Specialist

Each candidate for the gifted education specialist endorsement shall hold a PEL endorsed at any of the grade levels of early childhood, elementary, middle, or secondary, or for special, and have at least two years of teaching experience on that license, or on a comparable out-of-state certificate or license, involving the education of gifted students.

 

A)        Each candidate shall hold a master's degree or higher degree awarded by a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

 

B)        Each candidate shall have completed a gifted education specialist preparation program for PK-12 approved pursuant to Subpart C, or a comparable program, as defined in Section 25.425(a), offered out of state, that aligns to the standards set forth at 23 Ill. Adm. Code 27.480 (Gifted Education Specialist).  The program shall include clinical experiences with five or more students in both prekindergarten through grade 8 and grades 9 through 12 and lead to the issuance of a master's or higher degree, provided that a person who holds one master's degree shall not be required to obtain a second one. For purposes of the clinical experiences, a candidate shall work with at least one student enrolled in prekindergarten through grade 8 and at least one student enrolled in grades 9 through 12 and may work with a student one on one or in a group. The clinical experience shall also include coaching or mentoring one or more teachers on the topic of gifted education.  Each candidate shall have been entitled for the endorsement by the institution offering the program.

 

C)        Each candidate shall be required to pass the content-area test for gifted education specialist.

 

D)        An individual who qualifies for the gifted education specialist endorsement may receive the endorsement on a PEL for assignment in any of grades PK-12.

 

j)          Requirements for Dual Credit Endorsements

A dual credit endorsement, as described in Section 20 of the Dual Credit Quality Act [110 ILCS 27], shall be added to the PEL of qualified instructors who request the endorsement in ELIS and submit evidence of qualification in a format specified by the State Board.

 

1)         Qualified instructors must hold a qualifying master's degree and have completed 18 semester hours of graduate coursework appropriate to the subject being taught, as defined in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 1009.30(a)(2)(A)(i) and 1501.313(a)(2)(A).

 

2)         Endorsements are valid for teaching dual credit courses in grades 11 and 12.

 

3)         Dual credit endorsements are available in the following content areas:

 

A)        Biology.

 

B)        Calculus.

 

C)        English Compositions.

 

D)        English Literature.

 

E)        General Math.

 

F)         History.

 

G)        Psychology.

 

H)        Speech.

 

I)         Statistics.

 

4)         Dual credit endorsements are not required to provide instruction for dual-credit courses.

 

k)         Requirements for Elementary Mathematics Specialist Endorsements

Special provisions shall apply to the issuance of endorsements for elementary mathematics specialists. An elementary mathematics specialist is a teacher whose assignment involves the provision of technical assistance or professional development to other teachers, supporting the improvement of mathematics teaching and learning, and may also include teaching mathematics to students in grades 1 through 6.

 

1)         Each candidate for the elementary mathematics specialist endorsement shall present evidence of two years of teaching experience, either on an educator license issued by the State Board of Education or on a comparable out-of-state certificate or license valid for teaching at any of the grade levels of early childhood, elementary, middle, secondary, or special K-12.

 

2)         Each candidate shall hold a master's degree or higher awarded by a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

 

3)         Each candidate shall have completed a grade 1-6 elementary mathematics specialist preparation program approved pursuant to Subpart C, or a comparable program, as defined in Section 25.425(a), offered out of state.

 

4)         Each candidate for a PEL endorsed for elementary mathematics specialist shall meet the requirements set forth in Section 25.25.

 

5)         As part of an elementary mathematics specialist program, each candidate must complete 18 semester hours of coursework in mathematics (as posted on the individual's official transcript), including fieldwork and a practicum, at one or more regionally accredited institutions of higher education, provided that all the following areas were addressed in the coursework:

 

A)        mathematical content knowledge;

 

B)        mathematical practices;

 

C)        development of mathematical understanding in elementary education;

 

D)        elementary mathematics pedagogy and assessment; and

 

E)        leadership and adult learning.

 

6)         Each candidate shall be required to pass the content-area test for elementary mathematics specialist.

 

l)          World Language Endorsements

 

1)         Individuals who hold one world language endorsement may add additional world language endorsements by passing the applicable content-area test, holding the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy that coincides with the endorsement sought, or by achieving working fluency or higher on the Global Seal of Biliteracy that coincides with the endorsement sought.

 

2)         Individuals who hold a bilingual education endorsement may add a world language endorsement in the same language by passing the applicable content-area test, by holding the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy in the target language, or by achieving working fluency or higher on the Global Seal of Biliteracy in the target language.

 

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 7729, effective May 9, 2024)