Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Content Test

This test assesses the knowledge and skills required to teach the subject matter in which you are becoming licensed.

Testing requirement for student teachers

• While under the governor's proclamation, all candidates must pass or attempt their respective content test(s) before registering for student teaching. The deadline to meet this is July 15 for fall 2023 student teachers. (Currently it is expected that passage of the content test will be required for spring 2024 student teachers.)
• If a fall 2023 student teacher has not passed the exam by July 15, they will need to submit an override request to be allowed to enroll in their student teaching sections. To receive the override, you must attach proof of an attempted test or proof you have registered for the exam. If all other Gateway 1 items are met, then an override will be issued. If a student has not shown a good faith effort, by taking the required licensure exam(s), the override will not be issued.

ISU Guide To ISBE Content Testing

Prepare for the content test

• Through Milner Library -
  • On campus link:  Mometrix e-Library 
  • Off campus link:  Mometrix e-Library 
  • Select "Teaching" for Illinois Certification exam preparation materials (search or scroll down to tests that begin with ILTS)
• Use Illinois Licensure Testing System (ILTS) Study Guides to prepare for tests

Register for the content test

• Register online. IMPORTANT: To ensure content tests are properly matched to your ISBE licensure account, make sure your ILTS acccount name and Social Security number match your ISBE ELIS account name and SSN.
• If you take a computer-based ILTS test, you must wait 14 days before retaking the same test on computer.

Undergraduate Tests

Education Major	TEST CODE*	Test Name
Agriculture Teacher Education	215 or 170	Agricultural Education
Art Teacher Education	214 or 145	Visual Arts
Biology Teacher Education	239 or 105	Science: Biology
Business Teacher Education	216 or 171	Business/Marketing/Computer Ed
Chemistry Teacher Education	240 or 106	Science: Chemistry
Computer Science (Endorsement)	205 or 038	Computer Science
Early Childhood Teacher Education	206 or 107	Early Childhood Education
Elementary Teacher Education	305 or 701 (197-200)	Elementary Education
Elementary Teacher Education: Bilingual/Bicultural	305 or 701 (197-200)	Elementary Education
Elementary Teacher Education: Bilingual/Bicultural	056	Target Language Proficiency: Spanish* *Those meeting the ISBE seal of biliteracy can have the target language proficiency exam waived as a licensure requirement. To prove you have met the seal, it must be uploaded into your ELIS account and a picture of your account sent to teacheredcenter@ilstu.edu. If not in your account, contact your high school to have them send proof of earned seal of biliteracy to biliteracy@isbe.net.
Middle Level Teacher Education	201 202 203 204	Middle Grades (5-8) Language Arts Middle Grades (5-8) Mathematics Middle Grades (5-8) Science Middle Grades (5-8) Social Science
English Teacher Education	207 or 111	English Language Arts
Family & Consumer Sciences Teacher Education	217 or 172	Family and Consumer Sciences
French Teacher Education	252 or 127	World Language: French
Geography	245 or 113	Social Science: Geography
Geology: Earth & Space	241 or 108	Science: Earth & Space
German Teacher Education	253 or 128	World Language: German
History Teacher Education: Social Sciences	246 or 114	Social Science: History
School Health Teacher Education	211 or 142	Health Education
Mathematics Teacher Education	208 or 115	Mathematics
Music Teacher Education: Chor-Gen-Vocal	212 or 143	Music
Music Teacher Education: Chor-Keyboard	212 or 143	Music
Music Teacher Education: Inst-Band	212 or 143	Music
Music Teacher Education: Instr-Orchestra	212 or 143	Music
Physical Education Teacher Education	213 or 144	Physical Education
Physics Teacher Education	243 or 116	Science: Physics
Reading Teacher (Endorsement)	222 or 177	Reading Teacher
Spanish Teacher Education	260 or 135	World Language: Spanish
SED: Deaf and Hard of Hearing	229 or (151 & 163)*	Teacher of Deaf or Hard of Hearing or *Older exams - passage of both required
SED: Learning and Behavior	290 or (155 &163)*	Learning Behavior Specialist I or *Older exams - passage of both required
SED: Low Vision and Blindness	228 or (150 & 163)*	Teacher of Blind or Visually Impaired or *Older exams - passage of both required
Technology Teacher Education	219 or 174	Technology Education
Theatre Teacher Education: Dance	209 or 140	Dance
Theatre Teacher Education	210 or 141	Drama/Theatre Arts
*For content areas with the option of two test codes, either exam is valid to meet ISBE endorsement requirements. Older exams (usually the lower numbers) still count toward licensure but may no longer have active testing dates. As such, it's advised to take the new exam when registering.

 

Graduate Tests

ISU   PROGRAM	TEST CODE*	Test Name
Chief School Business Official	224 or 185	Chief School Business Official
Director of Spec Ed Post-Master's Certificate	234 or 180	Director of Special Education
Principal	195 and 196	Principal as Instructional Leader
Reading Specialist	221 or 176	Reading Specialist
School Librarianship	220 or 175	Library Information Specialist
School Nurse	236	School Nurse
School Psychology	237 or 183	School Psychologist
School Social Work	238 or 184	School Social Worker
SED: LBSII Behavior Intervention	291 or 156	LBS II: Behavior Intervention Specialist
SED: LBSII Curriculum Adaptation Specialist	293 or 158	LBS II: Curriculum Adaptation Specialist
SED: LBSII Multiple Disabilities Specialist	295 or 160	LBS II: Multiple Disabilities Specialist
SED: LBSII Technology Specialist	296 or 161	LBS II: Technology Specialist
SED: LBSII Transition Specialist	297 or 162	LBS II: Transition Specialist
Speech Path & Audiology	154	Speech-Language Pathologist: Nonteaching
Superintendent	225 or 187	Superintendent
*For content areas with the option of two test codes, either exam is valid to meet ISBE endorsement requirements. Older exams (usually the lower numbers) still count toward licensure but may no longer have active testing dates. As such, it's advised to take the new exam when registering.