IL HB4173

Creates a new METT Educator District License for teaching manufacturing, engineering, technology, or trade courses, available to applicants with at least 10,000 working hours in a trade and no bachelor's degree requirement.

METT Educator District License is valid for 5 years, renewable, and limited to teaching courses related to the licensee's work experience in their designated school district, though transfers between districts are permitted with approval.

Requires license holders without a bachelor's degree or 60+ hours of college coursework to complete at least one teacher education course outside the school year through community colleges.

Mandates the State Board of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity or Department of Labor, to identify regions with METT labor shortages by July 1, 2025, and notify affected school districts they must offer METT endorsements by July 1, 2026.

Establishes a METT endorsement under the College and Career Pathway program, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, requiring participating school districts in shortage regions to offer this endorsement option to students.