HB6181 Summary

• Professional Educator License holders must complete 120 hours of professional development per 5-year renewal cycle, with exceptions for those holding National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification (60 hours) and administrators (100 hours plus annual Illinois Administrators' Academy courses).

• Lapsed licenses may be reinstated by paying a $500 penalty to the State Board of Education or completing 9 semester hours of coursework from a regionally accredited institution, plus all back registration fees owed.

• Professional development activities must align with state-approved standards and address criteria including sustained engagement with analysis and application related to student learning, alignment to educator performance, and demonstrated outcomes for student growth or district improvement.

• Approved providers of professional development include the State Board of Education, regional offices of education, professional associations, higher education institutions, school districts, charter schools, not-for-profit organizations with contracts for English Learning services, state agencies, and museums.

• Educators employed in positions not requiring licensure, working less than 50% time, retired and receiving state retirement benefits, or holding current professional licenses from the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation are exempt from professional development hour requirements and need only pay registration fees.