Administrator Licensure
Leading with impact and elevating school success
Administrator Licensure Overview
To serve as an administrator in Illinois public schools, educators must hold a valid, registered Professional Educator License (PEL) with the appropriate administrative endorsement based on the role they intend to pursue.
There are five types of administrative endorsements:
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Chief School Business Official (CSBO)
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Director of Special Education
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Principal
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Superintendent
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Teacher Leader (typically for assistant principal roles)
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Requirements for coursework, testing, and training vary depending on the endorsement type. Once you have completed all the necessary steps, you may apply for your endorsement through ISBE’s ELIS platform.
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If you’re currently licensed as an administrator in another state, the first step to working in Illinois is to obtain your Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL). For information on how to obtain your PEL from out-of-state, please visit our Professional Educator License (PEL) page.
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Your PEL must be renewed every five years. As part of this process, your administrative endorsements will also renew. The renewal window runs from April 1 to August 30 in your license’s expiration year.
If you hold an administrative endorsement, you must complete the following every five years:
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100 hours of professional development (PD)
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Five Administrator Academies (AA) – one per year during the five-year cycle
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What if I miss my required AA for the year?
You must complete one AA each year. If you haven't taken one by August 30th of each year, you will need to complete an additional AA in the following year before you will be able to renew your license.
What AAs do I need to complete?
How are my AA credits recorded?
If you attend an AA hosted by ROE4, we will submit your credits to ELIS after you complete all required assessments. You are still responsible for entering your 100 PD hours into ELIS. Be sure to:
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Confirm your AA and PD credits have been posted
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Update your employment status in ELIS
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Complete your renewal and registration in ELIS
I’m not currently serving in an administrative role—do I still need AAs?
If ELIS does not list “Administrator” under your “Assignment” tab, you are not required to complete an AA for that year. For example, if you served as an administrator for three out of the five years in your renewal cycle, you only need three AAs for those years.
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