Teaching License from Missouri to Illinois: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Usually, with conditions — Illinois issues its own teaching certificate to a holder of a comparable Missouri teaching certificate, usually without its tests. It is not an automatic exchange: apply to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) - Educator Licensure and meet any condition it sets for your credential.
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Coming from Missouri, Illinois is a comparatively smooth move — but "reciprocity" still means applying to Illinois for its own credential, not carrying your Missouri license across. Illinois issues its own certificate to a teacher holding a comparable Missouri certificate, usually without its tests; a credential it does not treat as comparable takes a different route. The requirements below are what Illinois still asks.
What changes, Missouri → Illinois
| Missouri (current) | Illinois (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $100 ($100 non-refundable processing fee paid online when the application is submitted; the Missouri fingerprint background check is an additional $41.75.) | $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) |
| Processing time | 6+ weeks (DESE publishes no standard range; its certification FAQ states that during peak summer months processing 'can take six weeks or longer from the date of the last piece of information received.' Individual applications are not expedited.) | Not stated on the reviewed ISBE application page |
| Licensing authority | Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) — Educator Certification | Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) - Educator Licensure |
The destination column is what you must satisfy — Illinois sets the rules for this move.
Step by step
- Confirm Illinois's current requirements on the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) - Educator Licensure website (linked below) — rules change.
- Submit the endorsement application to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) - Educator Licensure (application linked below).
- Arrange license verification from your current state via the verification system.
- Create an ELIS account and apply for the Professional Educator License (PEL) as an out-of-state applicant.
- Provide a valid, comparable out-of-state license (upload to ELIS or email to ISBE).
- Have your regionally accredited institution send official transcripts directly to ISBE.
- Pass the applicable Illinois content-area test if required (ILTS).
- Register the issued license in ELIS and pay registration fees before it is valid for employment.
- Pay the fees ($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)). Processing time: Not stated on the reviewed ISBE application page.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Illinois accept a Missouri teaching license?
Usually, with conditions — Illinois issues its own teaching certificate to a holder of a comparable Missouri teaching certificate, usually without its tests. It is not an automatic exchange: apply to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) - Educator Licensure and meet any condition it sets for your credential.
Will I have to retake tests moving from Missouri to Illinois?
Reciprocity applicants provide a valid, comparable out-of-state license and must pass the applicable Illinois content-area test only if ISBE deems it required (registered through the Illinois Licensure Testing System, ILTS); the edTPA/teacher-performance assessment and Illinois-specific coursework are generally not imposed on comparably licensed out-of-state applicants.
Can I teach in Illinois right away?
Yes, once the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) - Educator Licensure issues your Illinois certificate; for a comparable certificate it usually comes without Illinois's tests. Build its processing time into your start date.
What does the Missouri-to-Illinois transfer cost and how long does it take?
$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). Processing time: Not stated on the reviewed ISBE application page.
Sources
Primary sources only — official boards and compact commissions. Data last verified 2026-08-07.
- 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)
- Missouri DESE — Out of State Information ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- Missouri DESE — Routes to Certification ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- Missouri DESE — Educator Certification Frequently Asked Questions ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
Reviewed by the License Reciprocity Editorial Team · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
How we verify · All sources · spot an error? [email protected]