Licensure, Endorsements, & Credentials
Licensure Programs at the College of Education
The Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) is required to teach in public schools in Illinois. We offer pathways to earn the PEL at the undergraduate and graduate level.
ISBE Test of Basic Skills: The Illinois’ basic skills requirement for teacher licensure has been eliminated. If you have specific questions, please contact the UIC Council on Teacher Education at cte_uic@uic.edu or 312-355-0714.
Bachelor’s programs that lead to licensure
- BA Urban Education – Elementary Education (teaching grades 1–6 with an option to add grades 5–8)
Master’s programs that lead to licensure
- MEd Early Childhood Education (teaching children ages 0–8)
- MEd Science Education (teaching high school science)
- MEd Special Education
Alternative licensure programs (no degree, license only)
*This program is currently prioritizing experienced early childhood staff in Chicago community agencies.
Endorsements at the College of Education
Endorsements allow licensed educators to specialize or expand their expertise in different subject areas, grade levels, and more. Learn more on our endorsements page. The following programs allow students to add endorsements to the license.
Non-degree programs (for licensed teachers only)
- ESL or Bilingual Endorsement is offered to non-degree students who already have a PEL through UIC Extended Campus . This includes the option to earn the endorsement (5 courses) fully online starting in Fall 2020.
- Early Childhood Special Education Endorsement is also offered through Extended Campus.
Bachelor’s programs that offer endorsements to the PEL
Master’s programs that offer endorsements to the PEL
- MEd Early Childhood Education
- MEd Educational Studies*
- MEd Language, Literacies and Learning*
- MEd Science Education
- MEd Special Education
Doctoral programs that offer endorsements to the PEL
- EdD Urban Education Leadership*
- Illinois P-12 Principal Endorsement
Programs with a * indicate you must already have a PEL to obtain the endorsements listed, as the program by itself does not lead to licensure.
Credentials at the College of Education
Credentials are a recognition of knowledge, skills, and experience that are awarded by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). Unlike endorsements, some credentials can be earned without obtaining an Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL).
Students should note that credentials are not a substitute or an alternative to a teaching license.
Bachelor’s programs that offer credentials
- BA Human Development & Learning
- Illinois Gateways Level 5 Early Childhood Education Credential
- Illinois Gateways School Age and Youth Development Credential (Coming in 2020)
Master’s programs that offer credentials
- MEd Early Childhood Education
- Illinois Gateways Level 5 Early Childhood Education Credential
- Illinois Early Intervention Developmental Therapist Credential
Full list of teacher prep programs at UIC
Teacher prep programs at UIC are offered through the College of Education as well as through the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (LAS).
UIC’s Council on Teacher Education (CTE) oversees all the teacher prep programs across UIC, including licensure and endorsements for both colleges. Visit the CTE programs page to see the full list and faculty contact for each licensure and endorsement program at UIC.
If UIC does not offer the specific licensure or endorsement program you are looking for, be sure to search the Illinois State Board of Education’s (ISBE) Directory of Approved Programs for educator licensure in Illinois.
Teaching Certificates vs. License
In 2013, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) changed its credentialing terms for educators from a certificate to a license. So what used to be called a “teaching certificate” in Illinois is now a Professional Educator License (PEL).