Will County
Regional Office of Education

Dr. Shawn Walsh

Regional Superintendent

Phone: (815) 740-8360
Fax: (815) 740-4788

Substitute Teacher

Executive Order 21-22 Regarding All School Personnel

The links below are summaries on the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) website of legislative changes. Thank you for your patience as we transition to the updated requirements.

Effective September 24, 2015, districts may hire individuals as substitute teachers if they hold a valid and active Illinois educator license and have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. This is due to a slight change in wording under Section 1.790 Substitute Teacher of the Administrative Code.

a) To serve as a substitute teacher, a person shall hold a valid substitute teaching license issued pursuant to Section 21B-20(3) of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/21B-20(3)]. Any individual who holds a valid and active Illinois educator license and at least a bachelor’s degree may serve as a substitute teacher without having to also hold the substitute teaching license.

For example, an individual holding a valid Educator License with Stipulations with a Paraprofessional endorsement (ELS-PARA) AND a bachelor’s degree may work as a substitute teacher. The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) posted the following due to Public Act (PA) 100-0596:

https://www.isbe.net/Pages/EESenateBill2912.aspx

“A school district may not require an individual who holds a valid Professional Educator License or Educator License with Stipulations to seek or hold a Substitute Teaching License to teach as a substitute teacher.”

ISBE confirmed that the intent of the new legislation is to prohibit districts from requiring educators to obtain a substitute license if they already qualify to substitute teach per state minimum requirements. The Will County ROE will issue, upon request from the licensed individual, the Substitute Teacher Authorization if the individual holds a valid Illinois educator license with verification of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and meets all other requirements stipulated for issuance. Please remember that the Substitute Teacher Authorizations are no longer re-printed at licensure renewal. The authorization is issued if the individual meets the requirements at that time and remains valid provided that the license is kept current. Districts are responsible for verifying that the individual’s credentials are up to date in ELIS.

If you DO NOT hold Licensure through the Illinois State Board of Education, please complete the following steps.

Step 1:

Obtain a Substitute License

Anyone interested in obtaining a Substitute License must have a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. A Substitute License is valid for 5 fiscal years and is renewable upon payment of registration fees. Due to Senate Bill 2912, a substitute teaching license may be renewed after 5 years without evidence of passing a test of basic skills.

The substitute application wizard instructs individuals to send official transcripts directly to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). Be aware that official transcripts can also be submitted to this office. A paper transcript is considered official if it is still sealed in the envelope as prepared by the college Registrar. Paper transcripts can be sent to the Will County ROE address listed on this website. ISBE will accept electronic transcripts from reputable sources such as E-script IF you request that the electronic transcript be e-mailed directly to Melissa Esquivel at mesquivel@willcountyillinois.com. We cannot accept electronic transcripts that are copies of what you received from a service. Official transcripts already on file in ELIS do not need to be re-submitted.

All substitute license (SUB) applications must be completed online through the Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS). ELIS is now programmed to automatically issue the SUB when the appropriate credential is listed in the Degree tab. If the degree is not on file at the time of application, the SUB will go into “Pending” status until the transcript and degree are on file. Educators can see the list of documents uploaded into their ELIS account by viewing the Images tab. Refer to following link for details on the ISBE website regarding Substitute Licensure.

How to Apply for A Substitute License

How To Apply for a Substitute License in ELIS from ISBE Video on Vimeo.

Step 2:

Substitute Teacher Registration Requirements

Individuals seeking a substitute position in Will County schools are required to register their ISBE license with the Will County Regional Office of Education and have the option to qualify for a Will County “Substitute Teacher Authorization (STA)”. Be aware that the STA is accepted by most Will County school districts. Please contact the district(s) for which you desire to work for prior to completing this process.

All substitute teachers currently active on the Will County ROE Substitute Teacher List have documentation on file and are considered to have a valid “Substitute Teacher Authorization (STA)” from the office until further notice.

How to Register Your PEL or SUB License on ELIS

How to Register your Professional Educator License (PEL) in ELIS from ISBE Video on Vimeo.

Once the license has been issued, log into your ELIS account to pay the applicable registration fees. Register the license in Will County ROE 56 by selecting the registration option from the “Action Center” box located on the Home page of your ELIS account. Selecting that link will take you through another wizard that walks you step by step through the registration process. The license is not valid for employment until these fees are paid. Since Illinois moved to licensure in 2013, ISBE no longer issues a paper or electronic version of a license. The only verification individuals can print is a screenshot of the Credential page of the Educator Licensure Information System(ELIS) account.

Step 3:

*You must first have the appropriate Illinois State Board of Education license registered in Will County to obtain a Substitute Teacher Authorization*

To receive a “Substitute Teacher Authorization”:

The following documentation must be provided before a “Substitute Teacher Authorization” will be issued by the Will County Regional Office of Education:

**Please open forms in Microsoft Internet Explorer. Some forms may not open using other web browsers.**

Substitute Teacher Information Form (Includes Physician's Statement of Good Health - Must be dated within 90 days of fingerprinting appointment)
Substitute Permission Form
Employment Eligibility Verification Form/I-9 /Instructions (Two forms of original identification are required. Drivers License-being one, and either Passport or Social Security Card or Birth Certificate.)
Acknowledgement of Mandated Reporter Status/DCFS
Will County Sub List Request Form** The Will County ROE maintains a countywide sub-list available to all 29 school districts.
Physician’s statement of good health and freedom from communicable disease, signed by a physician and not more than 90 days old. Please keep a copy of these for your records.
Call and set up an appointment for fingerprinting (appointments are taken on Tuesdays/Thursdays only). There is a $39.00 fee to perform a criminal background check (cash, personal check or money order). Applicants are responsible for all fees associated with performing a criminal background check.

**indicates document is optional

Fees for Substitute Teacher Authorization:
$39.00 Fingerprinting fee(criminal background check)

$5.00 Duplicate "Substitute Teacher Authorization" Fee (replacement of original authorization)

If you do not have all of your documentation and fees with you on the day of your fingerprinting appointment, you will have to reschedule.

Substitute Teaching Renewal Instructions 2023