Illinois Principal Certification
Illinois principals hold a Professional Educator License (PEL) with a Principal Endorsement, issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). The Principal Endorsement covers assistant principal and principal roles, while the Superintendent Endorsement is required to serve as a superintendent or assistant superintendent. Both require a master’s degree, a state-approved administrator preparation program, prior teaching or school support personnel experience, and a passing score on the applicable ILTS content test.
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Illinois routes school administrators through the same underlying license, a Professional Educator License with an administrative endorsement, rather than a separate certificate. The Principal Endorsement qualifies you to work as an assistant principal or principal. The Superintendent Endorsement is the additional step required if you plan to serve as a superintendent or assistant superintendent. If you’re still weighing whether to pursue administration at all, our guide to Illinois teacher certification requirements covers the classroom path this credential builds on.
Use the links below to jump to endorsement requirements, testing details, the application process, and background check information.
- Principal Endorsement requirements
- Superintendent Endorsement requirements
- How to apply through ELIS
- Criminal history background check
Principal Endorsement Requirements
Education Requirements
To qualify for the Principal Endorsement, you need at least a master’s degree with coursework in educational administration and supervision. You also need to complete a state-approved program for the preparation of school administrators, or a comparable out-of-state or foreign program that ISBE recognizes as equivalent.
Learn more about the graduate school process and connect with schools offering educational administration degree programs in Illinois.
Examinations
To qualify for the Principal Endorsement, you’ll need to pass the applicable Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) content test for the principal endorsement area, in addition to any testing already completed for your underlying PEL.
Experience Requirements
Illinois sets a tiered experience requirement for the Principal Endorsement based on your evaluation ratings: four years of teaching or school support personnel experience, three years if your evaluations included qualifying “Proficient” ratings, or two years if your evaluations included qualifying “Excellent” ratings. A comparable out-of-state teaching or school support credential can also count toward this requirement.
Superintendent Endorsement Requirements
Education Requirements
The Superintendent Endorsement authorizes you to serve as a superintendent or assistant superintendent. It requires at least a master’s degree, completion of a state-approved program for the preparation of school superintendents (or a comparable out-of-state or foreign program), and 30 hours of graduate-level coursework beyond the master’s level in a superintendent preparation program, with 16 of those hours in professional education.
Examinations
As with the Principal Endorsement, you’ll need to pass the applicable ILTS content test, in this case the superintendent-level test rather than the principal-level test.
Experience Requirements
You need two years of full-time administrative or supervisory experience in schools while holding a valid Illinois administrative endorsement, or a comparable out-of-state credential.
How to Apply Through ELIS
Illinois processes all administrative endorsement applications through the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS), ISBE’s online portal for license applications, endorsement requests, and renewals. Once logged in, you’ll apply for the credential directly through your ELIS account rather than mailing a paper form.
ISBE may require official transcripts, program verification, and other supporting documentation depending on your pathway, whether that’s a traditional Illinois preparation program, an out-of-state credential, or another approved route. Current fees are published by ISBE/ELIS and applicable licensing offices. For account setup, application status, and processing timelines, ISBE’s ELIS portal is the most current source.
Criminal History Background Check
Background checks are generally handled as part of school employment, while licensure applications include character and legal disclosure questions. If you answer yes to certain questions on the application, processing may be delayed while ISBE reviews your history. Convictions for first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, certain narcotics and sex offenses, or a Class X felony will disqualify you from receiving an administrative endorsement. ISBE may also request additional information for student loan defaults, tax issues, child abuse or neglect history, or unpaid child support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a teacher before becoming a principal in Illinois?
Yes. The Principal Endorsement requires teaching or school support personnel experience before you can serve as an assistant principal or principal. Illinois uses a tiered requirement: four years of experience, three years if your evaluations included qualifying “Proficient” ratings, or two years if your evaluations included qualifying “Excellent” ratings.
What’s the difference between the Principal Endorsement and the Superintendent Endorsement?
The Principal Endorsement covers assistant principal and principal roles. The Superintendent Endorsement adds 30 hours of graduate coursework beyond the master’s level and authorizes you to serve as a superintendent or assistant superintendent.
What exams do I need to pass for Illinois principal certification?
You’ll need to pass the applicable Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) content test for the endorsement you’re pursuing, the principal-level test for the Principal Endorsement, or the superintendent-level test for the Superintendent Endorsement.
Where do I apply for an administrative endorsement in Illinois?
Applications go through ELIS, the Educator Licensure Information System, which is ISBE’s online portal for licenses, endorsements, and renewals.
Will a felony conviction stop me from getting certified?
Certain convictions do disqualify applicants, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, specific narcotics and sex offenses, and Class X felonies. Other issues, like student loan defaults or unpaid child support, may delay processing rather than automatically disqualify you.
- One license covers all administrative roles — Illinois issues a Professional Educator License with an administrative endorsement rather than a separate certificate for each role.
- Experience requirements are tiered — four years of teaching or school support personnel experience, three years with qualifying “Proficient” evaluations, or two years with qualifying “Excellent” evaluations, before you can add the Principal Endorsement.
- Superintendent requires more coursework — 30 additional graduate hours beyond the master’s degree, on top of everything the Principal Endorsement requires, and authorizes both superintendent and assistant superintendent roles.
- Testing centers on the ILTS content test — the applicable Illinois Licensure Testing System content test for the endorsement you’re seeking, principal-level or superintendent-level.
- Applications go through ELIS — ISBE’s online system handles endorsement requests, license renewals, and application status tracking.
Find accredited educational administration programs in Illinois and connect with schools offering the coursework required for your administrative endorsement.
