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LicenseReciprocity

Teaching License from Illinois to Nevada: Does It Transfer? (2026)

Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: Nevada Department of Education — Office of Educator Licensure ↗

Yes — Nevada recognizes teaching certificates from all states, including Illinois. Apply to the Nevada Department of Education — Office of Educator Licensure for a reciprocal license; you will not repeat the full exam or education.

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Verdict

Full reciprocity

Coming from Illinois, Nevada is a comparatively smooth move — but "reciprocity" still means applying to Nevada for its own credential, not carrying your Illinois license across. Nevada's streamlined recognition shortens the path, and if you have several years of experience or National Board certification, its exams may be waived entirely. The requirements below are what Nevada still asks.

What changes, Illinois → Nevada

Side-by-side: Illinois vs Nevada (Teaching (K-12)), verified 2026-08-07
Illinois (current)Nevada (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)$210 ($210 new application (or reapplication of a previous/expired license); $80 per additional endorsement; $30 extension; $25 military discount for active duty, retired, veterans and spouses. All fees nonrefundable per NAC 391.045. Fingerprint/background-check costs are charged separately and are not published by NDE)
Processing timeNot stated on the reviewed ISBE application page4–8 weeks (NDE states 4-6 weeks in non-peak season and 6-8 weeks in peak season; the fingerprint background check itself usually takes 4-5 weeks and can exceed 8 weeks (up to 10 weeks for a manual check))
Licensing authorityIllinois State Board of Education (ISBE) - Educator LicensureNevada Department of Education — Office of Educator Licensure

The destination column is what you must satisfy — Nevada sets the rules for this move.

Step by step

  1. Confirm Nevada's current requirements on the Nevada Department of Education — Office of Educator Licensure website (linked below) — rules change.
  2. Submit the endorsement application to the Nevada Department of Education — Office of Educator Licensure (application linked below).
  3. Arrange license verification from your current state.
  4. Hold a valid, non-conditional, non-provisional and unexpired educator license from another U.S. state or territory.
  5. Apply and pay through the OPAL online portal, uploading every current out-of-state license as a PDF under out-of-state licensure.
  6. Submit official transcripts even when testing is waived.
  7. Submit fingerprints for the criminal background check required by NRS 391.033; applicants living outside Nevada must mail an FBI FD-258 fingerprint card because NDE cannot accept out-of-state Livescan.
  8. Complete 3 semester hours or 45 continuing education hours of approved Multicultural Education coursework before the license expires (NRS 391.0347 and NAC 391.067).
  9. Pay the fees ($210 ($210 new application (or reapplication of a previous/expired license); $80 per additional endorsement; $30 extension; $25 military discount for active duty, retired, veterans and spouses. All fees nonrefundable per NAC 391.045. Fingerprint/background-check costs are charged separately and are not published by NDE)) and allow 4–8 weeks (NDE states 4-6 weeks in non-peak season and 6-8 weeks in peak season; the fingerprint background check itself usually takes 4-5 weeks and can exceed 8 weeks (up to 10 weeks for a manual check)).

Official links

Nevada Department of Education — Office of Educator Licensure ↗Nevada application ↗

Related guides

Reverse: Nevada → IllinoisTeaching in IllinoisTeaching in NevadaAll teaching states

Frequently asked questions

Does Nevada accept a Illinois teaching license?

Yes — Nevada recognizes teaching certificates from all states, including Illinois. Apply to the Nevada Department of Education — Office of Educator Licensure for a reciprocal license; you will not repeat the full exam or education.

Will I have to retake tests moving from Illinois to Nevada?

Nevada normally requires the Praxis series (Core Academic Skills, Principles of Learning and Teaching, and a content test) taken within ten years prior to application, but NDE states that reciprocal licensing will in most cases waive Nevada's testing requirements for an applicant who holds a valid, non-conditional, non-provisional, unexpired license from another U.S. jurisdiction. Holding a Illinois license does not by itself waive Nevada's tests — experience or National Board certification is what typically does.

Can I teach in Nevada right away?

Generally yes on a provisional or one-year Nevada certificate issued while you complete its requirements; districts hire on that credential.

What does the Illinois-to-Nevada transfer cost and how long does it take?

$210 ($210 new application (or reapplication of a previous/expired license); $80 per additional endorsement; $30 extension; $25 military discount for active duty, retired, veterans and spouses. All fees nonrefundable per NAC 391.045. Fingerprint/background-check costs are charged separately and are not published by NDE); processing 4–8 weeks (NDE states 4-6 weeks in non-peak season and 6-8 weeks in peak season; the fingerprint background check itself usually takes 4-5 weeks and can exceed 8 weeks (up to 10 weeks for a manual check)).

Sources

Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07

How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]