Congratulations!

The Council on Teacher Education has notified the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) that you have successfully completed an approved program. To claim and register your license, please follow the instructions provided below. You will need a credit or debit card to complete the process. 

There are four steps to complete to obtain your license. Follow these step-by-step instructions to guide you through the process:  How to Apply for an Entitlement and Register a PEL.

1. Review your ELIS (Educator Licensure Information System) account to confirm your PEL is in “Completed Program” status and you have all of the subsequent endorsements you expected.
2. Claim your license. You may be required to update the contact information on your ELIS account and/or complete a survey to proceed with claiming your license.
3. Register your license with a Regional Office of Education.
4. Double-check your ELIS account to review your final credentials.

Upon completion of these steps, you will have an active, registered license that can be verified online by school hiring agents across the state. (If your license Status Description is "Pending Review" after completing the steps above, please notify CoTE.)

You will not be eligible for public school employment until you have completed the processes outlined above to claim and register your license. The “Completed Program” status will remain available for approximately 12 months and will be removed by ISBE if left unclaimed. Registration remains available for 6 months and your license will lapse if left unregistered. It is in your best interest to get your license “Issued” as soon as possible so that you will not be subject to any changes in Illinois State Board of Education legislation or policy modifications that may require you to complete additional coursework, assessments, etc. to become licensed.

If you received a student loan while you were in college, you may qualify for loan forgiveness.  See the Federal Student Aid Teacher Loan Forgiveness and Federal Student Aid Public Service Loan Forgiveness resources for additional information. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to email our office or call 217-333-2804. Problems with the ELIS system should be directed to ISBE at (866) 262-6663.

Best wishes in your career as an educator!

The Council on Teacher Education Licensure Staff