Welder

Career & Technical Education (CTE) Licensure

Bringing real-world skills into the classroom and shaping tomorrow’s workforce

Career & Technical EducatION (CTE) License Overview


The Career & Technical Education (CTE) license is a teaching license with stipulations that allows experienced professionals and tradespeople to bring their real-world knowledge into Illinois classrooms, even if they do not hold a traditional teaching degree. This license enables individuals to teach career-related courses to students in grades 5–12.

CTE licenses are valid for five years and cover a wide range of industries, including Agriculture, Health Sciences, Trades, Finance, Information Technology, Manufacturing, and more.

There are two types of CTE licenses in Illinois, each with its own requirements and stipulations:

Educator License with Stipulations – Career & Technical Education (ELS-CTE)

  • Requires 2,000 hours of documented industry work experience

  • Requires 60 semester hours of college coursework from a regionally accredited institution

  • Renewable every 5 years with 120 hours of professional development

Provisional Educator License with Stipulations – Career & Technical Education (Provisional ELS-CTE)

  • Requires 8,000 hours of documented industry work experience

  • No educational coursework required

  • Renewable every 5 years with 120 hours of professional development

  • Licensee only employable if the hiring district confirms no fully licensed teacher is available

  • The application process is the same for both license types:

    1. Create an Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) account. Once registered, you’ll receive your Illinois Educator Identification Number (IEIN). Keep this number and your login details in a safe place.

    2. Submit documentation of your eligibility.

      • Education:
Submit official, sealed college transcripts by mail to ROE4 or have them sent directly from your institution to licensure@roe4.org.



        If you mail these documents directly to the Illinois State Board of Education the process may take longer.

      • Work Experience: 

        • Use ISBE Form 73-23A if your experience was with an employer. The form should be signed by your current or former supervisor, HR rep, or manager. 

        • Use ISBE Form 73-23B if your experience was self-employment or with an employer that is no longer in business.



        Send forms to ROE4 by mail or email them to licensure@roe4.org.

    3. Apply in ELIS and pay the application fee. Once all documentation is submitted, apply for your chosen license type in ELIS and pay the required fee. ISBE will review your materials and notify you when your license is issued.

  • Both provisional and regular ELS-CTEs must be renewed every five years. To renew:

    1. Complete 120 hours of professional development through ISBE-approved providers.

    2. Log into ELIS and log your professional development hours.

    3. Pay the $50 registration fee.

  • If you have an existing ELS-CTE license, you can add up to three additional endorsement areas to your license at any time (up to 3 CIP codes).

    1. Document 1,000 hours of work experience in each new area:

    2. Submit your endorsement request in ELIS.

      • Log into ELIS.

      • Select “CTE License.”

      • Click “add endorsement” and ensure your chosen endorsement matches the CIP code listed in the CTE Program Matrix.        

      Once you’ve added the endorsement your status will be “pending.” It will be processed in approximately 3 to 4 weeks. 

QUESTION FOR OUR LICENSURE TEAM?

Prefer an in-person meeting?

Schedule an appointment with one of our licensure specialists!