ILLINOIS TEACHER
CERTIFICATION EXAM:
REQUIREMENTS AND
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
.
Practice Questions
1. What is the passing scaled score for all Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS)
content tests?
A. 200
B. 220
C. 240
D. 260
Rationale: The raw score for each ILTS test is transferred to a scaled score ranging from
100 to 300, with 240 established as the passing score .
2. How many times may an individual attempt to pass the same ILTS test?
A. Three times
B. Four times
C. Five times
D. Unlimited
Rationale: No individual may attempt to pass the same ILTS test more than five times.
Attempts made prior to January 12, 2010 do not count toward the five-time limit .
3. When is the edTPA (Teacher Performance Assessment) currently waived
through?
,A. January 1, 2026
B. September 1, 2027
C. September 1, 2029
D. January 1, 2031
Rationale: Public Act 104-0128 extended the edTPA waiver from September 1, 2025 to
September 1, 2029 .
4. Under Public Act 104-0128, what testing requirement applies to reciprocity
applicants effective January 1, 2026?
A. No content test required
B. Must pass the Illinois content test for each content area sought
C. Only basic skills test required
D. Only edTPA required
Rationale: Applicants pursuing licensure through reciprocity must pass the Illinois
content test for each content area sought prior to receiving the PEL. This testing
requirement is new .
5. Which of the following is NOT required to pass the content test under the new
legislation?
A. Out-of-country applicants
B. Reciprocity applicants
C. Out-of-state approved program completers who passed a content test in their
initial licensure state
D. All initial licensure applicants
Rationale: Applicants completing an out-of-state approved program may pass the
Illinois content test OR provide evidence of passing a content test at the time of initial
licensure in another state for each content area sought. This option remains unchanged .
6. What are the three topics ISBE will incorporate into a licensure test by July 1,
2027?
A. Math, science, and social studies
B. Methods of teaching special education, methods of teaching reading, and
methods of teaching English learners
C. Classroom management, assessment, and technology
D. History, government, and economics
,Rationale: ISBE will begin incorporating methods of teaching special education,
methods of teaching reading and reading in the content area, and methods of teaching
English learners into a test required as part of initial licensure .
7. Which group is exempt from coursework in the three required topics (special
education methods, reading methods, and English learner methods)?
A. Elementary education candidates
B. Secondary education candidates
C. School support personnel and Chief School Business Officials
D. All teaching candidates
Rationale: All educators seeking PELs endorsed for school support personnel (school
counselor, school nurse, school psychologist, school social worker, speech language
pathologist) or chief school business official are exempt from coursework in the three
topics .
8. When must a teacher candidate pass the content area test?
A. Before graduation
B. Before student teaching
C. Before applying for licensure
D. Before employment
Rationale: All teacher candidates must pass the licensure exam for the core content of
their major discipline prior to student teaching. No candidate shall be allowed to
student teach until passing the applicable content area test .
9. How many hours of professional development are required to renew a PEL
endorsed in a teaching field?
A. 60 hours
B. 90 hours
C. 120 hours
D. 150 hours
Rationale: Educators who hold a PEL endorsed in a teaching field must complete 120
hours of professional development to renew the license regardless of the number or
types of degrees held .
10. How many professional development hours are required for educators who
hold National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) status?
, A. 30 hours
B. 60 hours
C. 90 hours
D. 120 hours
Rationale: Educators who hold NBPTS status must complete only 60 hours of
professional development .
11. What is the system called that educators use to manage their Illinois licenses?
A. CORE
B. ELIS (Educator Licensure Information System)
C. ILTS
D. ISBE Portal
Rationale: The Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) is the online system used
to manage Illinois educator licenses .
12. How long is a Professional Educator License (PEL) renewal cycle?
A. 3 years
B. 4 years
C. 5 years
D. 6 years
Rationale: The Professional Educator License is renewed on a 5-year cycle with 120
hours of professional development required .
13. Can professional development hours be carried over from one renewal cycle to
the next?
A. No, they expire
B. Yes, hours earned from April 1 through June 30 of the last year of the renewal
cycle
C. Yes, any excess hours may be carried over
D. Only NBPTS hours may be carried over
Rationale: If a licensee earns more than the required number of professional
development hours during a renewal cycle, the licensee may carry over any hours
earned from April 1 through June 30 of the last year of the renewal cycle .
14. What happens if a licensee fails to complete professional development
requirements by the end of the renewal cycle?
CERTIFICATION EXAM:
REQUIREMENTS AND
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
.
Practice Questions
1. What is the passing scaled score for all Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS)
content tests?
A. 200
B. 220
C. 240
D. 260
Rationale: The raw score for each ILTS test is transferred to a scaled score ranging from
100 to 300, with 240 established as the passing score .
2. How many times may an individual attempt to pass the same ILTS test?
A. Three times
B. Four times
C. Five times
D. Unlimited
Rationale: No individual may attempt to pass the same ILTS test more than five times.
Attempts made prior to January 12, 2010 do not count toward the five-time limit .
3. When is the edTPA (Teacher Performance Assessment) currently waived
through?
,A. January 1, 2026
B. September 1, 2027
C. September 1, 2029
D. January 1, 2031
Rationale: Public Act 104-0128 extended the edTPA waiver from September 1, 2025 to
September 1, 2029 .
4. Under Public Act 104-0128, what testing requirement applies to reciprocity
applicants effective January 1, 2026?
A. No content test required
B. Must pass the Illinois content test for each content area sought
C. Only basic skills test required
D. Only edTPA required
Rationale: Applicants pursuing licensure through reciprocity must pass the Illinois
content test for each content area sought prior to receiving the PEL. This testing
requirement is new .
5. Which of the following is NOT required to pass the content test under the new
legislation?
A. Out-of-country applicants
B. Reciprocity applicants
C. Out-of-state approved program completers who passed a content test in their
initial licensure state
D. All initial licensure applicants
Rationale: Applicants completing an out-of-state approved program may pass the
Illinois content test OR provide evidence of passing a content test at the time of initial
licensure in another state for each content area sought. This option remains unchanged .
6. What are the three topics ISBE will incorporate into a licensure test by July 1,
2027?
A. Math, science, and social studies
B. Methods of teaching special education, methods of teaching reading, and
methods of teaching English learners
C. Classroom management, assessment, and technology
D. History, government, and economics
,Rationale: ISBE will begin incorporating methods of teaching special education,
methods of teaching reading and reading in the content area, and methods of teaching
English learners into a test required as part of initial licensure .
7. Which group is exempt from coursework in the three required topics (special
education methods, reading methods, and English learner methods)?
A. Elementary education candidates
B. Secondary education candidates
C. School support personnel and Chief School Business Officials
D. All teaching candidates
Rationale: All educators seeking PELs endorsed for school support personnel (school
counselor, school nurse, school psychologist, school social worker, speech language
pathologist) or chief school business official are exempt from coursework in the three
topics .
8. When must a teacher candidate pass the content area test?
A. Before graduation
B. Before student teaching
C. Before applying for licensure
D. Before employment
Rationale: All teacher candidates must pass the licensure exam for the core content of
their major discipline prior to student teaching. No candidate shall be allowed to
student teach until passing the applicable content area test .
9. How many hours of professional development are required to renew a PEL
endorsed in a teaching field?
A. 60 hours
B. 90 hours
C. 120 hours
D. 150 hours
Rationale: Educators who hold a PEL endorsed in a teaching field must complete 120
hours of professional development to renew the license regardless of the number or
types of degrees held .
10. How many professional development hours are required for educators who
hold National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) status?
, A. 30 hours
B. 60 hours
C. 90 hours
D. 120 hours
Rationale: Educators who hold NBPTS status must complete only 60 hours of
professional development .
11. What is the system called that educators use to manage their Illinois licenses?
A. CORE
B. ELIS (Educator Licensure Information System)
C. ILTS
D. ISBE Portal
Rationale: The Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS) is the online system used
to manage Illinois educator licenses .
12. How long is a Professional Educator License (PEL) renewal cycle?
A. 3 years
B. 4 years
C. 5 years
D. 6 years
Rationale: The Professional Educator License is renewed on a 5-year cycle with 120
hours of professional development required .
13. Can professional development hours be carried over from one renewal cycle to
the next?
A. No, they expire
B. Yes, hours earned from April 1 through June 30 of the last year of the renewal
cycle
C. Yes, any excess hours may be carried over
D. Only NBPTS hours may be carried over
Rationale: If a licensee earns more than the required number of professional
development hours during a renewal cycle, the licensee may carry over any hours
earned from April 1 through June 30 of the last year of the renewal cycle .
14. What happens if a licensee fails to complete professional development
requirements by the end of the renewal cycle?
