Teaching License from Illinois to Idaho: Does It Transfer? (2026)
A teaching certificate transfers from Illinois to Idaho by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Idaho State Department of Education (SDE) - Educator/Teacher Certification, verify your Illinois license, and meet Idaho's endorsement requirements. An applicant who holds a current, valid out-of-state certificate (issued under the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement on completion of a state-approved program) transfers without retaking Idaho content exams; an applicant qualifying instead through a recent CAEP/AAQEP institutional recommendation must document the content-area testing required by the preparing institution.
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Verdict
Licensure by endorsement
Moving from Illinois to Idaho is an application, not a transfer: Idaho reviews your Illinois certificate and issues an Idaho certificate of its own. The tests and requirements below are what Idaho still asks — gather them before you apply, because gaps are what slow a review.
What changes, Illinois → Idaho
| Illinois (current) | Idaho (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $150 ($150 PEL application fee for out-of-state (and out-of-country) applicants, assessed electronically in ELIS; license registration fees are additional and required before employment) | $75 ($75 application fee payable to the Idaho Department of Education; a separate Background Investigation Check (fingerprint) processing fee is additional) |
| Processing time | Not stated on the reviewed ISBE application page | Not stated on the official out-of-state page; applicants are told to include transcripts to expedite and to allow 1-2 weeks for separately mailed transcripts to be paired with the application |
| Licensing authority | Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) - Educator Licensure | Idaho State Department of Education (SDE) - Educator/Teacher Certification |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Idaho sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Idaho's current requirements on the Idaho State Department of Education (SDE) - Educator/Teacher Certification website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Idaho State Department of Education (SDE) - Educator/Teacher Certification (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state.
- Hold a current, valid out-of-state certificate issued on completion of a state-approved program (NASDTEC Interstate Agreement), or complete a CAEP/AAQEP-accredited program within the last 2 years.
- Submit the completed and signed Idaho Educator Certification Application packet with all required documents in a single packet.
- Complete a Background Investigation Check (BIC) packet with fingerprinting and its processing fee.
- Submit official transcripts verifying at least a baccalaureate degree and the certification/endorsement areas.
- Pay the fees ($75 ($75 application fee payable to the Idaho Department of Education; a separate Background Investigation Check (fingerprint) processing fee is additional)). Processing time: Not stated on the official out-of-state page; applicants are told to include transcripts to expedite and to allow 1-2 weeks for separately mailed transcripts to be paired with the application.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Idaho accept an Illinois teaching license?
A teaching certificate transfers from Illinois to Idaho by endorsement — there is no automatic reciprocity, but you do not start over. Apply to the Idaho State Department of Education (SDE) - Educator/Teacher Certification, verify your Illinois license, and meet Idaho's endorsement requirements. An applicant who holds a current, valid out-of-state certificate (issued under the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement on completion of a state-approved program) transfers without retaking Idaho content exams; an applicant qualifying instead through a recent CAEP/AAQEP institutional recommendation must document the content-area testing required by the preparing institution.
Will I have to retake tests moving from Illinois to Idaho?
An applicant who holds a current, valid out-of-state certificate (issued under the NASDTEC Interstate Agreement on completion of a state-approved program) transfers without retaking Idaho content exams; an applicant qualifying instead through a recent CAEP/AAQEP institutional recommendation must document the content-area testing required by the preparing institution.
Can I teach in Idaho right away?
Not until the Idaho State Department of Education (SDE) - Educator/Teacher Certification issues your Idaho certificate, so build its processing time into your start date.
What does the Illinois-to-Idaho transfer cost and how long does it take?
$75 ($75 application fee payable to the Idaho Department of Education; a separate Background Investigation Check (fingerprint) processing fee is additional). Processing time: Not stated on the official out-of-state page; applicants are told to include transcripts to expedite and to allow 1-2 weeks for separately mailed transcripts to be paired with the application.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-07-21.
- Idaho SDE - Certificate for Out-of-state Applicants ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- Idaho SDE - Educator Certification (department landing) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- ISBE - Educator Licensure Application (Reciprocity / Out-of-State supporting documentation and fees) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
- ISBE - Educator Licensure (requirements hub) ↗ (accessed 2026-07-21)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-07-21
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]