Before you search
How to find the right Illinois record
- 01Open the ELIS public inquiry and search for the educator.
- 02Use the educator's full name and narrow the match with an Illinois Educator Identification Number when available.
- 03Review the license, endorsement and status details on the matching public record.
What the public record can answer
Illinois State Board of Education
- 01
Illinois educator licenses and their public status
- 02
Endorsements and grade ranges attached to the credential
- 03
Registration or other credential details that ISBE exposes publicly
Record timing
Application and public-license status can differ while ISBE reviews a request. Treat the private ELIS application status as the current source for a pending file.
If the search comes up empty
Check these before you stop
- •Check the spelling and any former name used in ELIS.
- •Use the educator's IEIN when available to avoid a name mismatch.
- •Sign in to the private ELIS account and open My Credentials for a pending application.
Issued certificate vs. pending application
ISBE tells educators to check application status in their own ELIS account under My Credentials. A Pending Review application is not the same as an issued license in the public inquiry.
Understand processing timelinesHelp with the result you found
Illinois
Official sources
Checked 2026-08-02