Courses for Illinois Teachers
We have helped thousands of Illinois teachers renew their licenses, increase their salaries, and advance their careers.
How Can We Help You?
We've carefully selected Nationally Accredited University Partners so you can earn graduate credits recognized across the country for salary advancement and license renewal.
Moving across the salary schedule is one of the most impactful financial decisions you can make as an educator. With our courses you can maximize your annual and lifetime earnings through salary advancement by completing graduate-level, professional development courses. Whether you are looking to move across the salary schedule or deepen your classroom expertise, our programs are designed to provide the highest return on your educational investment.
Explore Salary Advancement CoursesAdvance your Salary with our Master's Degree Option
Accelerate your career with a Master's Degree. We offer a selection of fully remote, graduate-level courses that can be applied directly toward a Master of Education (M.Ed.) through our partner, Colorado State University Pueblo. Earn high-quality graduate credits toward your Master's degree without stepping out of the classroom.
Note on District Approval: We recommend reviewing your district's master agreement regarding salary advancement credits. Most Illinois districts accept our graduate-level courses for lane changes. Check if your district accepts our credits →
📄 Renew My Illinois Teaching License
Illinois teaching licenses are valid for 5 years and must be renewed through the state's educator certification portal. Renewal requires 120 clock hours of professional development activities completed during the license term, including at least 1 hour in educator ethics and professional conduct.
🕐 Renewal Requirements
- 120 clock hours of professional development activities completed within the 5-year license period
- Renewal application fee: $50.00
- Submit renewal application via ELIS
For the most up-to-date information or further details regarding Teaching License Renewal in Illinois, please visit the Illinois Department of Education Website.
Explore Illinois License Renewal CoursesNeed to submit courses to your district or state for approval? Download our free Course Approval Form (PDF) — a fillable form you can send directly to your administrator or certification office.
The Illinois Teacher Salary Schedule: What You Need to Know
Your salary in Illinois is determined by two factors: your years of experience (steps) and your education level (lanes). Steps advance automatically each year. Lanes only move when you take action — by earning graduate-level credits. The table below compares the lowest lane (208 day Lane 1 (BA equivalent)) to the highest standard lane (208 day Lane 6 (MA+45/PhD equivalent)) using the Chicago Public Schools 2023-2024 salary schedule.
| Years Experience | 208 day Lane 1 (BA equivalent) (Lowest Lane) | 208 day Lane 6 (MA+45/PhD equivalent) (Highest Lane) | Annual Gain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $66,330 | $79,930 | +$13,600/yr |
| Year 5 | $73,001 | $83,941 | +$10,940/yr |
| Year 10 | $81,340 | $90,762 | +$9,422/yr |
| Year 15 | $89,679 | $102,396 | +$12,717/yr |
| Year 29+ (BA cap) | $113,029 | $136,097 | +$23,068/yr |
Source: Chicago Public Schools 2023-2024 Salary Schedule. Individual district schedules vary — check your specific district for exact figures.
Critical insight most Illinois teachers miss: Moving from the 208 day Lane 1 (BA equivalent) lane to the 208 day Lane 6 (MA+45/PhD equivalent) lane adds $13,600–$23,068 per year at every step of the schedule. Bachelor's salaries cap at $113,029, while 208 day Lane 6 (MA+45/PhD equivalent) salaries continue climbing past $136,097. Over a 25-year career, that adds up to over $575,000 in additional earnings — and the same courses that move your lane also count toward your 5-year license renewal.
Curious what your specific numbers look like? Use our free tool to find your personalized salary roadmap.
📈 Calculate My Salary Potential →Why Starting Early Changes Everything
Salary advancement works like compound interest. The sooner you move across lanes, the more years you earn at the higher rate. Here are illustrative 25-year career totals based on the Chicago Public Schools 2023-2024 salary schedule.
Figures are representative ranges based on the Chicago Public Schools salary schedule. Your district's schedule may vary.
The rule of thumb: Every year you delay a lane change is a year of higher salary you can never recover. Teachers who start in years 1–5 consistently find it easier to complete courses than those who wait — and they earn more for every remaining year of their career.
📈 Find Your Personalized Salary Roadmap: Not sure how much you could earn by advancing lanes? Use our free Salary Calculator to see exactly how much more you could earn based on your current lane, district, and years of experience.
Our University Partners
We've carefully selected Nationally Accredited University Partners so you can earn graduate credits recognized across the country for salary advancement and license renewal.
Note on District Approval: We recommend reviewing your district's master agreement regarding salary advancement credits. Most Illinois districts accept our graduate-level courses for lane changes. Check your district →
Invest in Your Career. Maximize Your Earnings.
The investment you make today pays dividends throughout your entire teaching career.
📈 See Your Personalized Numbers: Every teacher's situation is different. Use our free Salary Calculator to discover exactly how much more you could earn based on your current lane, years of experience, and Illinois district. Moving from 208 day Lane 1 (BA equivalent) all the way to 208 day Lane 6 (MA+45/PhD equivalent) can add over $575,000 to your 25-year earnings.
Three Steps to Advance Your Career
The process is straightforward. Our team is with you at every step.
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Browse and Select Your Courses
Choose from our catalog of graduate-level, self-paced online courses. Select the university partner and credit option that best fits your goals — whether you're pursuing a lane change, license renewal, or a full Master's degree.
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Complete Your Coursework Online
All courses are 100% online and self-paced. Complete them on your own schedule — evenings, weekends, or summer break. Most teachers finish a 3-credit course in 4–8 weeks while continuing to teach full-time.
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Submit Credits to Your District or State Portal
Upon completion, request your official transcript from our university partner. Submit it to your district HR department for a lane change, or log in to ELIS to upload your professional development hours toward license renewal. Our team is available to help guide you through this process.
Everything You Need to Know
Still have questions? Our team is happy to help.
To renew your Illinois Professional Educator License, you must complete 120 clock hours of professional development activities within your 5-year license period, including at least 1 hour in educator ethics and professional conduct. Submit your renewal application through ELIS. Check your state agency website for the most current requirements and any specific topic mandates.
Illinois requires that professional development activities be approved through the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). We recommend contacting your district's professional development coordinator or checking the ISBE website to confirm which activities qualify toward your 120-hour renewal requirement.
Most Illinois school districts accept our graduate-level courses for lane changes on the salary schedule. You can use our District Credit Approval Tool to quickly find out if your specific district accepts our credits. We also recommend reviewing your district's master agreement or contacting your HR department to confirm that the credits will apply to your situation. Our team is happy to help you verify district acceptance before you enroll.
The number of credits required to advance to the next salary lane varies by Illinois district. Many districts use lanes based on total graduate credits beyond the bachelor's degree, meaning every 15 graduate credits you earn can move you to a higher-paying lane. We recommend checking your specific district's salary schedule or using our district lookup tool for exact requirements.
Yes. Through our partnership with Colorado State University Pueblo (CSU Pueblo), you can earn a fully accredited Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum & Instruction. The total program is 38 credits — 18 of which you complete through Credits for Teachers at just $131/credit, and 20 through CSU Pueblo. The total program cost is $11,764, a fraction of a traditional Master's program. In Illinois, a Master's degree moves you to a higher salary lane — and you can earn lane changes from the same courses before you finish the degree, meaning your salary increases as you go.
What Educators Are Saying
Thousands of teachers have used Credits for Teachers to advance their careers and increase their salaries.
"I had no idea lane changes could make such a difference. I completed two courses over the summer and moved to the next lane. My salary went up noticeably the following school year. I wish I had done this sooner."
"The courses were genuinely interesting and I could do them on my own schedule. The university credit was accepted by my district without any issues. Highly recommend to any teacher who wants to maximize their salary."
"I was skeptical at first — it seemed too easy. But it's completely legitimate. I've now done three lane changes over five years and I'm earning significantly more per year than when I started."
We've partnered with Affirm to offer flexible payment options. Split your course costs into manageable monthly payments that fit your budget. For licenses and disclosures, see affirm.com/licenses.
PLEASE NOTE: The content provided on this page is solely provided for informational purposes and does not exempt users from their responsibility to ensure that our courses meet their state's continuing education requirements. Please check with your state certification agency for up-to-date policies for teacher certification renewal/continuing education.