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Requirements  /  Illinois

Illinois Teacher PD Requirements (2026)

120 hours every 5 years for teachers

Source

Primary source: ISBE Renewal and Professional Development for Educators page + "How to Renew Your PEL" guidance PDF. Underlying rule: 23 Illinois Administrative Code §25 (Educator Licensure). The 120-hour requirement applies to license holders employed 50%+ FTE in IL public schools; license holders employed less than 50% or not employed in an IL school may have reduced or differently-structured requirements. The 1:1 clock-hour-to-PD-hour conversion is consistent across approved Illinois PD providers.

Teachers

Annual hours
—
Cycle hours
120
Cycle years
5

Professional Educator License (PEL) renewal requires 120 hours of Professional Development per 5-year cycle for license holders employed in an Illinois public, charter, or state-operated school at 50% or more FTE. 1 clock hour of attendance = 1 PD hour = 1 CPDU. Conversions: 1 semester hour of college coursework = 15 PD hours; 1 quarter hour = 10 PD hours. PD must come from an Approved Illinois Professional Development Provider, ISBE-approved coursework, or National Board Certification. Renewal tracked via ELIS (Educator License Information System).

Counselors

Annual hours
—
Cycle hours
120
Cycle years
5

School counselors hold a PEL endorsed in School Support Personnel and follow the same 120-hour / 5-year cycle. National Licenses for School Support Personnel are accepted for PD credit.

Administrators

Annual hours
—
Cycle hours
120
Cycle years
5

Administrators hold a PEL with an administrative endorsement (Principal, Superintendent, Chief School Business Official) and follow the same 120-hour / 5-year cycle. Separate Principal/Superintendent evaluator-training requirements layer ON TOP of the 120 hours but are not folded into this number.

Other Midwest states

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Information current as of May 25, 2026. Verify with your state Department of Education for official licensure decisions.