Process and Timeline

"Licensure" is the umbrella for the two-year process of earning and maintaining your teaching license in Illinois and Northwest Indiana. Depending on the subject you are assigned to teach, you will earn certification in the following age/grade ranges:

• Elementary: From 1st grade through 6th grade

• Middle School (General Science, English, Math): From 5th grade through 8th grade

• High School (English, Biology, Chemistry, Math): From 9th grade -12th grade

• Diverse Learners: From 1st grade to 12th grade*

If you're interested in teaching Bilingual students and believe you have mastery of language skills to pass a proficiency language exam then reach out to Steven about this possibility!

If you're an incoming Corps Member who is already licensed in another state then you'll apply to transfer your license to Illinois or Indiana. Please read here about your specific license transfer process.

*Your Diverse Learning license allows you to teach ages 5-21, however, you will know in advance of being hired whether or not you will teach in a Elementary (grades 1-8) or High School (grades 9-12) setting.

If you teach in Illinois

• By August 2026 you will hold your Educator License with Stipulations (ELS). This is a temporary license that allows you to teach (with all the same privileges as a traditionally certified teacher) while you complete your University Partner coursework. It is valid for two years and is not renewable.

• By August 2028 you will hold your Professional Educators License (PEL). This is the official teaching license of Illinois, it is valid for 5 years and renewable.

If you teach in Indiana

• By October 2026 you will hold either a Charter license or a Transition To Teach license (T2T). This is a temporary license that allows you to teach (with all the same privileges as a traditionally certified teacher). Charter licenses are only valid for your time working at that school and do not lead to full licensure (this route is best-suited for someone not interested in teaching after TFA). For the Transition to Teach license, this can lead to full license. You must complete University Partner coursework to move to full licensure. The T2T is valid for three years and is not renewable. The T2T route is best suited for someone interested in teaching long-term.

• For T2T CMs: By November 2028 you will hold your Initial Practitioners license. This is the first, of two, official teaching licenses in Indiana. It is valid for two years and can be converted (should you choose) to the official 5 year teaching license (the Proficient Practitioners license).

If you’ll be certified in another state

• By First Day of School for the 2026 school year you should have a full license in Illinois or Indiana.

Licensure and certification happens in "5 phases." How long you engage with each of these phases depends on when you confirmed your offer to join the corps. See below for a "birds-eye" look at what to expect:

Phase 1: Introduction to Systems (1-3 weeks after confirming your offer to join TFA)

• Familiarize yourself with the licensure hub, testing guides and onboarding webinars.

• Identify which exams you need to take on the content exam page.

Phase 2: Test Prep (1-2 months after confirming your offer to join TFA)

• Register (and study) for your licensure exam. Use the study resources on the content exam page.

Phase 3: Preparing for Certification (1-3 months before Pre-Service)

• All exams are passed, test scores are sent to Illinois/Indiana.

• You apply for your Certification Partner and learn what they will need from you in order to entitle your license. You can learn more about your Certification Partner here.

Phase 4: Preliminary Certification (June-August 2026)

• All exams are passed.

• All requirements for your Certification Partners are met.

• Your ELS or T2T is entitled by your Certification Partner.

Phase 5: Working towards your PEL or Initial Practitioner’s License

• Ongoing courses in your university partner (maintaining a 3.0 GPA)

• Indiana CMs: take the pedagogy exam (summer between year 1 & 2)

• Pass all classes/exams, graduate your University Partner with a 3.0 GPA or above and receive PEL and/or Initial Practitioner’s License

Illinois: You will hold your Educator License with Stipulations (in your subject area) by August 2026! So you can let school leaders know that no later than August 2026 you will hold certification in your subject area and be considered highly qualified. Just remember, you must be enrolled and actively taking classes at your Certification Partner in order to remain certified. If at any point you drop-out of your University Partner you will lose your teaching license.

Indiana: You will hold your Charter license or Transition to Teach license (in your subject area) by October 2026, but likely earlier! So you can let school leaders know that you will hold certification in your subject area and be considered highly qualified. For Transition to Teach CMs, just remember, you must be enrolled and actively taking classes at your Certification Partner in order to remain certified. If at any point you drop-out of your Certification Partner you will lose your teaching license.

In order to receive your initial license by August 2026 you must complete the following by July 12th 2026:

• Pass all content exam(s)

• Register for your licensure account (ELIS or LVIS)

• Take the Suicide Prevention, Human Trafficking Training, Child Abuse and Neglect Training, and CPR course (NWI CMs Only)

• Apply to your Certification Partner and submit all required materials

• Complete all of Pre-Service and remain in good standing with your Certification Partner and TFA

Information on how to complete all of these steps can be found in the OneApp.

You will need to pass your content exam(s) by no later than July 12, 2026.