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Renewing Your License

BY AUGUST 31st, 2026

License Renewal Overview 


License renewal season is here! If your license is up for renewal this year, you have until August 31st to complete it. 

You should get an email reminder from ISBE (and another from us, if you're in our database), but it's best to get started on the process as soon as possible. 

If you have more than one license, make sure you renew each one! 

 

TO RENEW YOUR PEL:

1. Log into your ELIS account and make sure all of your contact information is up-to-date. 

2. Make sure that you've completed all of your required PD, that it's entered into ELIS correctly (with the correct coursework conversion numbers), and that you have the evidence of completion (Form 77021B) in your possession.

View all approved providers

View upcoming PD at ROE4

3. Make sure your employment status is updated in ELIS. 

How to Update Your Employment Status in ELIS

4. Double-check everything: once you hit 'submit', you cannot go back and change anything!  

5. Complete the renewal process within ELIS. 

 

TO RENEW YOUR SUB OR PARA:

 1. Log into your ELIS account and make sure all of your contact information is up-to-date.  

2. Double-check everything: once you hit 'submit', you cannot go back and change anything!   

3. Complete the renewal process within ELIS.  

 

mORE ON...

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR LICENSE (PEL)

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CAREER & TECHNICAL EDUCATOR (CTE)

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TRANSITIONAL BILINGUAL EDUCATOR (ELS-TBE)

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PARAPROFESSIONAL LICENSE (PARA)

LEARN MORE

SUBSTITUTE LICENSE (SUB)

LEARN MORE

ADMINISTRATOR LICENSURE

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Renewals & Rollover PDHs


Any additional professional development hours completed between April 1st and June 30th of the last year in a renewal cycle can be rolled over into your next five-year renewal cycle, however, they must be entered prior to completing the renewal process.

This means that if your license is up for renewal and you plan to take any PD in April, May, or June of this year, you must wait to complete the renewal process until after you've completed and obtained those PDHs. If you do not wait to renew, you will not be able to enter or get credit for any PD completed during those months.  

Once you've completed all of your required PDHs, entered them into ELIS, and finished the renewal process, any excess hours you've entered with an end date between April 1st and June 30th will be automatically rolled over into your next renewal cycle. 

Audits 


If you're up for renewal this year, there is a chance you could be audited in January 2027. If you're chosen for an audit, you'll typically get an email notification around the second week of January. At that point, you'll only have four weeks to submit all necessary information - so it's best to have that documentation already on-hand. 

Keep in mind that if you're audited, it'll be for the entire 5-year cycle. 

Renewal faqs

  • The employment status in ELIS indicates to the state that you're meeting the employment requirements and actively working for at least 50% FTE. If you hold a PEL and are working part-time, working as a substitute teacher or aide, are retired, or are working in a private school, you should mark yourself as 'exempt'. 

  • The short-term substitute license (STS) is non-renewable, so it cannot be renewed. Instead, 

  • In order to teach in specific content areas or grade levels, you must have the corresponding endorsement on your PEL. Adding endorsements can be done at any time by meeting specific coursework, testing, and experience requirements, and must be applied for in ELIS.  

    Learn More →

    ELIS Login →

  • You are only required to register your license when it's first issued. Otherwise, the renewal process and $50 renewal fee meets all registration requirements.

    1. First, you must complete any deficient PDHs and enter them into ELIS.

      ELIS Login →

    2. Next, apply for reinstatement by going to your Action Center in ELIS and clicking “Reinstatement.”

    3. You can either pay a $50 penalty fee in ELIS, OR complete nine semester hours of coursework in the endorsement area(s) listed on your license.

      View Acceptable Coursework →

      Please note that if you choose to complete coursework in ELIS and then change your mind, you must call ISBE to switch to the penalty option.

    4. Lastly, you must pay all current and outstanding registration fees.

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