Teaching License from Tennessee to Illinois: Does It Transfer? (2026)
Last verified: 2026-08-07 · source: Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) - Educator Licensure ↗
Yes — Illinois recognizes teaching certificates from all states, including Tennessee. Apply to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) - Educator Licensure for a reciprocal license; you will not repeat the full exam or education.
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Verdict
Full reciprocity
Coming from Tennessee, Illinois is a comparatively smooth move — but "reciprocity" still means applying to Illinois for its own credential, not carrying your Tennessee license across. Illinois'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 Illinois still asks.
What changes, Tennessee → Illinois
| Tennessee (current) | Illinois (destination) | |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | $0 (TDOE Licensure FAQ Guide states plainly: 'There is no fee associated with applying for licensure in Tennessee.' Third-party costs are separate - ETS/Praxis registration, re-sending score reports, and transcript delivery) | $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 | TDOE publishes no fixed turnaround. Applications 'are processed in the order in which they are received' and current processing times appear on a 'Now Processing' chart updated weekly. TDOE asks applicants to wait at least ten business days after submitting before contacting the office; Tennessee districts that hire an applicant may request expedited or priority processing | Not stated on the reviewed ISBE application page |
| Licensing authority | Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) - Office of Educator Licensure and Preparation (OELP) | 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)) and allow Not stated on the reviewed ISBE application page.
Official links
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
Does Illinois accept a Tennessee teaching license?
Yes — Illinois recognizes teaching certificates from all states, including Tennessee. Apply to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) - Educator Licensure for a reciprocal license; you will not repeat the full exam or education.
Will I have to retake tests moving from Tennessee 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. Holding a Tennessee license does not by itself waive Illinois's tests — experience or National Board certification is what typically does.
Can I teach in Illinois right away?
Generally yes on a provisional or one-year Illinois certificate issued while you complete its requirements; districts hire on that credential.
What does the Tennessee-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 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)
- Tennessee DOE - Out-of-State Educators (Practitioner 3-year vs Professional 6-Year; assessments not required at initial application on an active out-of-state initial license; Literacy Success Act) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- Tennessee DOE - Licensure FAQ Guide PDF ('There is no fee associated with applying for licensure in Tennessee'; 'Now Processing' chart updated weekly; ETS score-report rules) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- Tennessee DOE - Educator Licensure & Preparation hub (wait ten business days after submission before contacting the office) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
- Tennessee DOE - Educator Licensure Operating Procedures PDF (priority processing requests by directors of schools; no fee schedule) ↗ (accessed 2026-08-07)
Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor · verified against primary sources 2026-08-07
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