Certificate Renewal for Teachers on Standard Certificates
Standard Teaching Certificate (Types 03, 04, 09, & 10)
Renewal and Registration
Requirements for Renewal
In order to renew their certificates, public school teachers in Illinois are required to continue their education with professional development activities. For each 5-year renewal period, teachers may choose one of the following methods of filling this requirement. You will be required to maintain evidence of completion for each activity and be able to produce this documentation if selected for an audit.
Option 1: Required Unique Professional Development Activity - You may meet your professional
development obligation by completing any of the following options:
- During the validity period of this certificate, have earned a Masters Degree or a Doctoral Degree. You may begin working on the degree at any point, but it must have been awarded during this
certificate’s 5-year period. - Have completed the requirements for becoming Highly Qualified in a teachable area for which you
were not Highly Qualified at the beginning of this certificate’s validity period. - Complete the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certificate process.
- Earn a subsequent Illinois certificate or endorsement (which you would not have qualified for prior to the current validity period.)
- Complete four semester hours of graduate coursework in Assessment of Teaching Performance or NBPTS Preparation.
Option 2: Required Coursework Professional Development Activities - This is the option you want to
choose if you will complete your professional development obligation entirely with college coursework
related to education or to your teachable areas. The requirement is 8 Semester Hours of college coursework. Those who have earned Masters or Doctoral degrees during prior validity periods are required to take less, but those degrees must be posted and accepted (see above) before the requirement shown is reduced.
Note - if you are going to combine college coursework with CPDU’s, use Option 3.
Option 3: Required CPDU Professional Development Activities - Use this option to use a variety of activities (including workshops and college courses) to acquire the professional development hours. This is the most common option. The standard requirement for CPDU’s is 120 for a 5-year period. Your amount may be less if you have exemptions or if you have a graduate degree. See a full list of qualifying CPDU activities below. Regular Education teachers are required to earn 20% of their CPDU’s in activities pertaining to serving students in the least restrictive environment. Special Education teachers are required to earn 50% of their CPDU’s with such activities.
Teachers are NO LONGER REQUIRED to submit a professional development plan, to complete activities associated with old plans, or to submit paperwork to their district or co-op. No CPDU credit may be earned for activities that are designed for entertainment purposes, that are promotional or commercial in nature, or that are solely inspirational or motivational. Your ROE, STCB, or ISBE may disapprove any activity they deem inappropriate for CPDU purposes.
Special Cases and Notes
- Teachers with a masters’ degree in an education-related field need only complete two thirds of the professional development requirements if using Option 2 or Option 3 above. For 5 years of active teaching, this would mean 6 semester hours (Option 2) or 80 CPDU’s (Option 3).
- Teachers with more than one masters’ degree, an educational specialist, or a doctorate need only complete one-third of the professional development requirements if using Option 2 or Option 3. For 5 years of active teaching, this would mean 3 semester hours (Option 2) or 40 CPDU’s (Option 3).
- Teachers with a Master Certificate (this is different than a Masters Degree) obtained through NBPTS certification need only complete one-third of the professional development requirement.
For Those With Administrative (Type 75) Certificates
- If you are employed as a teacher AND an administrator during the same semester, you will complete teacher professional development requirements if you served as a teacher for more than 50% of the day, OR you will complete administrative professional development requirements if you served as an administrator for more than 50% of the day.
- If you served as exactly 50% teacher and 50% administrator, you may choose which set of requirements to fill for that semester.
- During the 5 years of your certificate’s registration period, ISBE recognizes there to be exactly 10 semesters. For each of those semesters, you will need to indicate for which certificate (your teaching certificate or your administrative certificate) you were responsible for professional development. See “Verify/Correct Your Exemption Status” on Page 4 of the “Renewing Your Certificate Online for Administrators” guide.
Using the ECS System to Renew and Register
The ECS database system is the system in which the Illinois State Board of Education maintains records of all of its certified education professionals. One of the benefits of this system, which was implemented in 2006, is the access that it gives educators to maintaining the accuracy of their own records. In ECS, you can:
- Update your personal and contact information.
- Update your academic information.
- Record your professional development activities.
- View your personal professional development requirements, based on your qualifications
and work history. - Submit your renewal and registrations online.
Click the button below for step-by-step instructions on using the ECS system.
To view this document, you will need a program that can read PDF files, such as Acrobat Reader (free download) or Preview.
Qualifying CPDU Professional Development Activities
If you choose Option 3 above (to use CPDU's as your means of completing your professional development requirement, you may accumulate those CPDU's through a variety of activities. These activities are listed below.
Activity 01 - Collaborative planning and professional improvement teams
Description
Attendance at and participation in no fewer than two-thirds of the meetings of a group whose function is planning for professional development activities that will benefit groups of teachers and/or the school.
Required Documentation
- Written description of the purpose and intended product of the team or committee;
- A record of the team's meetings demonstrating the member's attendance; and
- The plan, activity description, or other product that results from the group's work.
CPDU's Awarded
- If met 3 - 5 times during the semester, 5 CPDU's
- If met 6 or more times during the semester, 8 CPDU's
Activity 02 - Peer Review and Peer Coaching
Description
A process of one-on-one assistance between pairs of teachers that is formally established by agreement between a school district and its teachers or their exclusive representative, in which the participants establish specific goals for the teacher being reviewed and conduct a program of intervention to assist that teacher with particular aspects of his or her teaching that include observation and assessment of the teacher's performance in sessions lasting at least 20 minutes each, discussion of the observations made by the reviewing teacher, and preparation of a written summary by the reviewing teacher. Peer coaching: A process of one-on-one assistance between pairs of teachers, whether by formal arrangement under the auspices of the employing district or by mutual agreement, in which the participants observe each other's teaching and discuss the observations made.
Required Documentation
- The school's, district's, or representative's written description or policy;
- A record of the certificate-holder's assignment and observation schedule; and
- A log of the observation sessions and other meetings, indicating time spent, dates, and topics of discussion.
CPDU's Awarded
- For Peer Review - if 3 - 5 observations during the semester, 9 CPDU's
- For Peer Review - if 6 or more observations during the semester, 11 CPDU's
- For Peer Coaching - If 3 - 5 observations during the semester, 5 CPDU's
- For Peer Coaching - If 6 or more observations during the semester, 8 CPDU's
Activity 03 - Mentor, Consulting Teacher, Recipient, or Remediating Teacher
Description
Mentor: A formally established sequence of sessions lasting no less than one quarter of a school year and involving preparation with the recipient teacher prior to observing that teacher in the classroom; observations; and provision of feedback, suggestions, and techniques to the recipient teacher in response to each period of observation.
Consulting Teacher: Participation in the remediation process, involving assistance in the development of a remediation plan and provision of advice to teacher under remediation; and meetings lasting at least 20 minutes each with the remediating teacher to discuss how to improve teaching skills and successfully complete the remediation plan, to review lesson plans, to conduct demonstrations, or to improve feedback on observations conducted by an administrator; or meetings of the same length with administrator or other personnel to discuss the remediating teacher's progress or classroom observation; or classroom observation of the remediating teacher, including preparation with the remediating teacher prior to the observation, and provision of feedback, suggestions, and techniques to the remediating teacher in response to each period of observation.
Recipient or Remediating Teacher: A formally established sequence of sessions lasting no less than one quarter of the school year and involving consultation with the mentor or consulting teacher in preparation for the lessons to be observed; teaching under observation of the mentor or consulting teacher; and interaction with the mentor or consulting after each such teaching session to reflect upon the teaching and learning, receive feedback, discuss alternatives and suggestions, and determine how this information will be integrated into the teacher's future work.
Required Documentation
For a mentor, recipient, or remediating teacher:
- The school's, district's, or institution's written description of its mentoring program or remediation process, including the required number and length of cycles of interaction; and
- A log of the observation sessions and other meetings, indicating the time spent, dates, and topics of discussion.
For a consulting teacher:
- The district's written description of its remediation process,
- A record of assignment as consulting teacher, and
- A log of the observation sessions and other meetings, indicating those present, the time spent, dates, and topics of discussion.
Notes
- "Meetings" refer only to those meetings not connected to observations by the consulting teacher
- "Observations" refer only to those observations conducted by the consulting teacher
CPDU's Awarded
For the Mentor or Recipient
- If 3 - 5 observations during the semester, 9 CPDU's
- If met 6 or more times during the semester, 11 CPDU's
For Consulting Teacher in remediation process
- If 3 - 5 meetings attended during the semester, 6 CPDU's
- If 3 - 5 meetings plus one or more observations during the semester, 9 CPDU's
- If 6 or more meetings attended during the semester, 8 CPDU's
- If 6 or more meetings plus one or more observations during the semester, 11 CPDU's
Activity 04 - Site-based management or decision-making teams, boards, or task forces
Description
Attendance at and participation in no fewer than two-thirds of the meetings of a group whose function is formulating recommendations or plans related to budgeting or resource allocation, textbook choice, curriculum modifications, scheduling, or other aspects of school operations related to issues noted in the school improvement plan.
Required Documentation
- Written description of the purpose and intended product of the team or committee;
- Record of the team's meetings; and
- A copy of the product or recommendation developed by the team or committee.
CPDU's Awarded
- If met 3 - 5 times during the semester, 8 CPDU's
- If met 6 or more times during the semester, 11 CPDU's
Activity 05 - Coordinating Community Resources
Description
Working with representatives of community agencies to structure or facilitate their interaction with the school's or district's staff or students for the purpose of meeting one or more needs identified in the school improvement plan; must include more than the class(es) directly taught by the certificate-holder.
Required Documentation
- Excerpt from school improvement plan highlighting the need(s) being met;
- Written statement prepared by the certificate-holder indicating the purpose or desired outcome of the external entities' involvement; and
- Statement signed by the district administrator or designee responsible for corroborating the individual's assignment to or performance of this function.
CPDU's Awarded
- If by semester, 4 CPDU's per semester.
- If by quarter, 2 CPDU's per quarter.
Activity 06 - Facilitating parent education programs
Description
Arranging for or coordinating presentations in the context of a formally established program consisting of two or more sessions designed to serve parents of the students in a particular school or district by informing or training them in one or more areas related either to their children's achievement or to another need identified in a school improvement plan. Delivering presentations in the context of a formally established program, consisting of two or more sessions, designed to serve parents of the students in a particular school or district by informing or training them in one or more areas related either to their children's achievement or to another need identified in a school improvement plan (to the extent that such presentations are not part of the instruction routinely delivered as a function of the certificate-holder's assignment.)
Required Documentation
For Coordinating
- The sponsoring entity's written description of the parent education program; and
- A statement signed by the administrator or designee responsible for corroborating the individual's assignment as facilitator or coordinator or indicating that he or she performed these duties.
For Making Presentations
- A written program description indicating that the certificate-holder served as a presenter in the program.
CPDU's Awarded
- For Facilitating: 4 CPDU's per semester or 2 CPDU's per quarter
- For Presenting: 8 CPDU's per semester or 4 CPDU's per quarter
Activity 07 - Business, School, or Community Partnerships
Description
Formal or informal exchange of information and resources between a teacher and a business, educational institution, or other entity for the purpose of improving student achievement or responding to a need identified in the school improvement plan.
Required Documentation
- A written description of the partnership that states its goal(s), identifies the need(s) it is designed to meet, and describes the activities conducted by the certificate-holder; and
- A copy of the relevant portion of the school improvement plan that includes the specific need(s) identified.
CPDU's Awarded
- If met 3 - 5 times during the semester, 5 CPDU's
- If met 6 or more times during the semester, 8 CPDU's
Activity 08 - Supervising a Student Teacher
Description
Student teacher or teacher education candidate clinical supervision: Service (as determined by the teacher preparation institution in conformance with Section 25.620) as a supervising teacher for a student teacher or teaching candidate in clinical supervision who is enrolled in an approved teacher preparation program.
Teacher education candidate in pre-service teaching clinical experience: Provision of at least 40 hours of supervisory service connected with the pre-student-teaching practicum to one or more candidates enrolled in an approved teacher preparation program.
Limitation: Each may be counted only once in any five-year renewal cycle, with one exception. In the case of a student whose receipt of supervision is split between two supervising teachers, each such teacher may count one-half a period of service and may count service to two such candidates.
Required Documentation
- The written agreement between the school district and teacher preparation institution naming the certificate holder as a supervising teacher for candidates of that institution; or
- For supervision of candidates in pre-student-teaching clinical experience, a log showing the dates and times of service and the names of the candidates involved.
CPDU's Awarded
- For supervising a student teacher, 30 CPDU's
- For supervising a pre-student-teaching clinical experience, 12 CPDU's
Activity 09 - College Coursework
Description
Successful completion of college or university coursework that is related to the individual's certificate(s) and addresses the professional standards set forth in Subpart B of this Part relative to the certificate-holder's field(s) of teaching or assignment.
Required Documentation
- Grade report or official transcript showing that the certificate-holder has passed the course and indicating the credit received.
CPDU's Awarded
- 15 CPDU's per semester hour of credit earned.
Activity 10 - Teaching College Courses
Description
Teaching a college-level course in a field related to an individual's certificate(s) and results in the granting of college credit to those enrolled.
Limitation: The same course may be counted only once in a five-year renewal cycle. A course shall be considered "the same" if its description is the same in different course catalogues issued by the same institution or, for a course offered at more than one institution, if the syllabus for the course is substantially the same. A course shall not be considered the same as another course if a student may receive credit for successfully completing both. In cases where two courses appear similar, the certificate-holder wishing to claim CPDU's for both shall be required to demonstrate how the two differ.
Required Documentation
- A course syllabus, signed contract or agreement or other documentation prepared by the college or university that identifies the certificate holder as the teacher of a particular course.
CPDU's Awarded
- 20 CPDU's (Once per cycle per course)
Activity 11 - N/A
Activity 11 is no longer in use.
Activity 12 - Workshops, Seminars, Conferences, Institutes, Symposia
Description
Attending and participating in a conference, workshop, institute, seminar, symposium, or other similar training event that addresses educational concerns and is organized by an approved provider.
Required Documentation
If Held in Illinois
- ISBE Form 77-21 issued by the provider at the conclusion of the session or event; and
- Program prepared by the entity sponsoring or conducting the event that indicates the topics covered and the length of time devoted to each.
For out-of-state training activities that do not target Illinois teachers
- A program or agenda with the sessions you attended marked.
CPDU's Awarded
- 1 CPDU for each hour of participation
Activity 13 - Presenting at Workshops, Seminars, Conferences, Institutes, Symposia
Description
Making a presentation at a conference, workshop, institute, seminar, symposium, or other similar event whose goal is the improvement of teaching skills and knowledge.
Required Documentation
- The program prepared by the entity sponsoring or conducting the event, identifying the certificate-holder as a presenter in a topic area relevant to his or her certification or teaching assignment.
CPDU's Awarded
- First time making the presentation, 8 CPDU's
- Subsequent times making the presentation, 3 CPDU's
Activity 14 - [Training as] External Reviewers of Quality Assurance
Description
Participation in a complete training sequence regarding the quality assurance process used by ISBE pursuant to the rules for Public Schools Evaluation, Recognition, and Supervision (23 Ill. Adm. Code 1).
Required Documentation
- Certificate of completion issued by ISBE.
CPDU's Awarded
- First training sequence completed, 10 CPDU's
- Subsequent training (limited to one per cycle), 5 CPDU's
Activity 15 - [Training for] Review Team for Accreditation of Institution of Higher Education
Description
Participation in a complete training sequence regarding the process used by the State Board in approving teacher preparation programs or accrediting teacher preparation institutions.
Required Documentation
- Certificate of completion issued by ISBE.
CPDU's Awarded
- First training sequence completed, 10 CPDU's
- Subsequent training (limited to one per cycle), 5 CPDU's
Activity 16 - Action Research and Inquiry Projects
Description
Conducting a teacher-developed study at least one quarter of the school year in length that is based upon a written protocol identifying the aspect of education that will be investigated, the approach to be used, and the desired or expected outcome of the project.
Required Documentation
- The written protocol; and
- A written summary of the inquiry and its results that describes what the certificate-holder has learned and identifies the implications of the experience for the individual's future teaching.
CPDU's Awarded
- For a project involving one's own class, 8 CPDU's
- For a project involving others' classes, 11 CPDU's
Activity 17 - Observing Programs or Teaching in Schools, Business, or Industry
Description
Observing programs or teaching in schools, related businesses, or industry that is systematic, purposeful, and relevant to certificate renewal. Engaging in a series of observations, either of teaching performed by others or of work activity directly related to the certificate-holder's area(s) of certification.
Required Documentation
- A description of the observations prepared by the certificate-holder, including work to be observed, the purpose for which the observations were to be conducted, the frequency and length of the periods of observation, what was learned, and how the information will be used in the individual's future teaching.
CPDU's Awarded
- 5 CPDU's per semester or 2.5 CPDU's per quarter.
Activity 18 - Travel
Description
Traveling related to one's teaching assignment, directly related to student achievement or school improvement plans. Travel lasting no less than three consecutive, full days (not including travel to and from the destination) that the LPDC, if applicable, or regional superintendent has [pre-]approved. The written requests for approval must relate to one of the Purposes (A, B, C, D, or E), identify the activities or aspects of the travel that will contribute to his or her professional development, and describe what is to be accomplished through the travel experience.
Required Documentation
- The travel itinerary; and
- A written journal prepared by the certificate-holder that summarizes the experience and reflects on how he or she plans to use what was learned in the context of his or her teaching.
CPDU's Awarded
- 12 CPDU's per episode per year; or
- If a foreign language teacher traveling to a related-language destination, 15 CPDU's
Activity 19 - Study Groups
Description
Attendance at and participation in no fewer than two-thirds of the meetings of a group that investigates one or more aspects of education in a series of regular, structured, collaborative interactions with a view to improve the members' practice or related outcomes among their students.
Required Documentation
- A written statement of purpose for the group;
- A list of the group's members; and
- Summaries of the meetings showing attendance by the individual who claims CPDU's for the activity.
CPDU's Awarded
- If attended 3 - 5 meetings during the semester, 6 CPDU's
- If attended 6 or more times during the semester, 8 CPDU's
Activity 20 - Statewide Education-Related Committee
Description
Serving on a statewide education-related committee, including but not limited to the State Teacher Certification Board, State Board of Education strategic agenda teams, or the State Advisory Council on Education of Children with Disabilities. Attendance at and participation in no fewer than two-thirds of the meetings.
Required Documentation
- Minutes of the group demonstrating the individual's attendance during the period for which CPDU's are claimed. If submission of minutes would breach confidentiality, a record of attendance shall be sufficient.
CPDU's Awarded
- 15 CPDU's per year; or
- 7.5 CPDU's per semester
Activity 21 - Work/Learn Programs or Internships
Description
Participation in a structured program that pairs the certificate-holder with an employer or other entity under whose auspices the certificate-holder can acquire knowledge or skills for use in his or her future teaching or position.
Required Documentation
- A signed letter from the employer or other entity verifying the nature of the program or internship and stating the length and frequency of the certificate-holder's direct contact with other individuals from whose knowledge or experience he or she was to benefit.
CPDU's Awarded
- If 1 - 10 contact hours, 5 CPDU's
- If 11 - 20 contact hours, 8 CPDU's
- If 21 or more contact hours, 11 CPDU's
Activity 22 - Curriculum Development or Assessment Activities
Description
Participating in curriculum development or assessment activities at the school, school district, regional office of education, state, or national level. Assisting in the planning, development, or refinement of curriculum or assessments, or in their alignment with applicable standards; the activity must be one sanctioned or structured either by the employing school or district or by a statewide, national, or international educational agency or organization. Requires participation in no fewer than two-thirds of the working sessions of any group for which CPDU's are claimed.
Required Documentation
- Membership list and meeting summaries showing the certificate-holder's presence and participation; and
- The product of the group's work, such as a curriculum guide or new assessment.
CPDU's Awarded
- If attended 3 - 5 meetings during the semester, 8 CPDU's
- If attended 6 or more times during the semester, 11 CPDU's
Activity 23 - Team or Department Leadership
Description
Service in a position of leadership established by a school or district as part of its formal structure and lasting no less than one semester; limited to those activities that relate to instruction in the area of assignment; shall not include tasks unrelated to teaching knowledge, skills, performance, or competence..
Required Documentation
- Job description or other document created by the district or the administrator responsible for assigning a leadership role to the incumbent that is specific in terms of responsibilities to be carried out within particular periods of time relative to the instructional goals of the department, school, or district.
CPDU's Awarded
- 5 CPDU's per semester
Activity 24 - External or Internal School or District Review Team
Description
Participating on external or internal school or school district review teams. Participating as an external or internal reviewer in a complete cycle of the quality assurance process used by the State Board pursuant to the Board's rules for Public Schools Evaluation, Recognition and Supervision (23 Ill. Adm. Code 1). Participating on a curriculum review panel convened pursuant to Section 25.125 (c) with respect to approval of a teacher preparation program. Participating on a review team convened pursuant to Section 25.125(e) with respect to the accreditation of an institution of higher education and its approval to provide teacher preparation programs.
Required Documentation
- Documentation of the individual's assignment by State Board staff (for an external review team, curriculum review panel, or institution review team) or by a school district administrator (for an internal review team); and
- A statement signed by the team's chair or convenor verifying the certificate-holder's participation for the duration of the review process.
CPDU's Awarded
- For External Review Team - 15 CPDU's, once per semester
- For Internal Review Team - 8 CPDU's per semester or 4 CPDU's per quarter
Activity 25 - Publishing Education Articles, Columns, or Books
Description
Publishing educational articles, columns, or books relevant to the certificate area being renewed. Writing about educational research, experiences, issues, approaches, systems, or another topic that is related to the effective practice of teaching. In cases of multiple authorship, the CPDU's earned will be divided among the authors as they agree, provided that no more than 100% of the available CPDU's will be awarded for any publication.
Required Documentation
- A copy of each item published, showing the date, publication, and publisher.
- In the case of an artistic work or other creative endeavor such as development of a curriculum unit or software package, the copyright shall serve as the evidence of "publication."
CPDU's Awarded
- If a technical or research book, 40 CPDU's
- If an other type of book, 20 CPDU's
- If a book with multiple authors, 15 CPDU's divided among the authors
- If a chapter in a book or article in a refereed journal, 15 CPDU's
- If a state-wide column, 8 CPDU's
- If a local column, 5 CPDU's
Activity 26 - Non-Strike-Related Professional Association or Union Service (LPDC/RPDRC)
Description
Participating in non-strike-related professional association or labor organization service or activities related to professional development. Service on local professional development committees, regional professional development review committees (including service by certificate-holders in districts without exclusive representatives) or other bodies constituted by professional associations or labor organizations for specific purposes related to the profession of teaching. Requires formal selection by the organization. Examples include positions on committees planning for or formulating educational or professional policies, standards, and structures. Activities related to the operations or functioning of the professional association or labor organization shall not be eligible.
Required Documentation
- A written description of the position or activity; and
- If the purpose of the activity includes the preparation of a tangible product, a copy of that product.
CPDU's Awarded
- If attended 3 - 5 meetings during the semester, 8 CPDU's
- If attended 6 or more times during the semester, 11 CPDU's
Activity 27 - Portfolio of Student and Teacher Work
Description
Portfolio of student and teacher work. Preparation of at least five portfolio "artifacts" or "entries", each of which relates to a different assignment.
Required Documentation
- Samples of at least three students' work that responds to the specified assignment; and
- A written analysis prepared by the certificate holder that describes:
- The assignment to which the work responds and the teacher's goal(s) for that assignment
- The instructional strategies and materials used and the reasons for their selection
- What the students' work reveals about whether the teacher's goal(s) for the assignment were met
- The successful and less-than-successful elements of the assignment and changes the teacher might make in the assignment or in his or her teaching in order to reach the specified instructional goal(s).
CPDU's Awarded
- 15 CPDU's
