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Educator Licensure and Preparation

  1. Educator Licensure and Preparation
  2. Types of Licenses
  3. Substitute and Short-term Substitute Teaching Licenses

Substitute and Short-term Substitute Teaching License

Teacher and student teacher in P.E.

Substitute Teaching

Eligibility

With a substitute teaching license, you can substitute teach in all public school grades, from prekindergarten through grade 12. You can apply for a substitute license if you hold a bachelor's degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

You can substitute teach without a substitute license if you have one of the following:

  • A valid professional educator license.
  • An educator license with stipulations that required a bachelor's degree.

Application Process

  1. Apply online through the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS).
  2. Pay the fee (please have a credit card available).
  3. Send an official transcript showing your bachelor's degree to the following address:
    Illinois State Board of Education
    Educator Licensure
    100 N. 1st St.
    Springfield, IL 62777

Please note: Your transcript must be submitted in a sealed envelope from the college or university, or sent directly by the institution. Transcripts that are not in a sealed envelope from the university or sent directly from the university are not accepted.

Questions? Contact your Regional Office of Education or view the Illinois State Board of Education's frequently asked questions.

Short-term Substitute Teaching

The ISBE recently changed the requirements for substitute teaching, and the new rules state that you may be eligible to obtain a short-term substitute license if you:

  • Hold an associate degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
  • Show completion of 60 semester hours of coursework.
The following conditions apply:
  • The new short term substitute license will be:
    • Valid for substitute teaching in all grades of the public schools, prekindergarten through grade 12.
    • Valid for five years and may not be renewed.
    • Allows no more than five consecutive days per licensed teacher.
  • Individuals interested in obtaining a short term substitute license:
    • Must complete a training program provided by the school board.
    • Cannot serve as a paraprofessional.

NIU Policy for Candidates with a Short-term Substitute License

At NIU, the approved policy for candidates who obtain a short-term substitute license is as follows:

NIU is invested in developing high quality teachers. Therefore, it is essential that teacher candidates participate in and receive substantive and persistent experience in the classroom during their clinical and student teaching placements. The focus of the clinical and student teaching experiences is professional practice under the mentorship and guidance of a qualified cooperating teacher in the candidates' content area (and grade range).

  • Candidates enrolled in an educator preparation program at NIU who obtain a short-term substitute teaching license may choose to substitute teach prior to student teaching but do so without NIU approval or support.
  • While enrolled in an educator preparation program, substitute teaching does not count towards clinical hours. Candidates can only substitute teach during their student teaching experience with prior approval from designated university personnel and cooperating teacher.
  • Candidates cannot be a paid substitute teacher in their school building on more than three occurrences (e.g., a full day or a portion of a day) during their student teaching experience.
  • Candidates cannot miss any days of their student teaching experience to be a paid substitute teacher in another school or school district.

Approved by UCIEL, May, 2023.

Contact Us

Office of Educator Licensure and Preparation
Williston Hall 320
815-753-0846
TeacherCertification@niu.edu