Earn professional development hours you can apply toward renewing your Illinois Professional Educator License, on your own schedule. iTeachAI Academy offers standards-aligned professional development for K-12 educators, anchored to Illinois frameworks, each course three PD hours, with a Certificate of Completion that documents toward your renewal.
Illinois requires teaching-endorsed Professional Educator License holders to complete 120 professional development hours every five years. iTeachAI Academy was founded by Dr. Janette Camacho, a 30-year K-12 educator, and every Illinois course is anchored to specific Illinois State Board of Education frameworks, not generic national content. Courses are self-paced, work on any device, and are designed to fit the Illinois PD and district professional learning pathways.
Browse Illinois Recertification Courses →
120
PD hours Illinois requires every 5 years
25
Illinois-aligned courses
100%
Online and self-paced
Illinois Certificate Renewal Requirements
To renew a Professional Educator License (PEL), the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) requires professional development completed during each five-year renewal cycle:
- 120 PD hours for a PEL endorsed in a teaching field, completed every five years, for educators employed 50 percent or more FTE in an Illinois public, charter, or state-operated school.
- 100 PD hours plus one Administrator Academy per fiscal year for those serving in a role that requires an administrative endorsement.
- 60 PD hours for educators who hold valid National Board Certification.
- Professional development hours are recorded through the ISBE Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS), and PD must be earned through ISBE-approved or statutorily approved professional development providers.
- Acceptable PD must align to the Illinois Learning Standards and the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards and address the renewal criteria in Section 21B-45 of the Illinois School Code, including content that improves the academic and social-emotional well-being of students.
Every iTeachAI Academy course provides three IACET-aligned PD hours and a verifiable Certificate of Completion you can document toward this total. Confirm with your district or ISBE how external PD is recorded and accepted.
Important. iTeachAI Academy is not a formally state-approved professional development provider in Illinois, and no Illinois state agency has approved iTeachAI. Our courses are offered as standards-aligned, district-acceptable professional development that educators and districts may apply toward PEL renewal at their discretion. Always verify acceptance with your district professional development designee or the ISBE before applying hours.
Illinois Standards and Frameworks Anchored
Each course cites and references specific Illinois frameworks by name, not generic national standards.
Illinois Learning Standards (ILS)
The K-12 academic standards anchoring every Illinois course in the catalog.
Illinois Professional Teaching Standards (IPTS)
The state standards governing teacher practice that PD activities must align to for renewal credit.
Professional Educator License Renewal (23 IAC 25)
The administrative rules that set the 120 PD hour, five-year renewal cycle for teaching endorsements.
Illinois Social and Emotional Learning Standards
State SEL standards supporting student well-being, a renewal focus under Section 21B-45 of the School Code.
Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards
Illinois standards informing equitable, inclusive instruction across content areas.
Illinois Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)
The state framework for tiered academic and behavioral support that informs our content focus.
How Illinois Districts Approve iTeachAI for PD Hours
Illinois records educator professional development through ISBE-approved and statutorily approved providers, and Illinois school districts and regional offices of education guide how educators document and apply PD hours toward renewal. Because iTeachAI is not itself a state-approved Illinois provider, the district route is the practical path:
- A district professional development designee reviews one or more courses through a no-cost reviewer account.
- The district determines whether the courses are acceptable under its professional learning policy and documents that decision.
- Teachers complete courses, receive a Certificate of Completion, and enter the hours in ELIS for renewal, subject to district and ISBE acceptance.
What Makes Illinois Coursework Different at iTeachAI
- Educator-built, not vendor-built. Authored by a 30-year K-12 educator with a doctorate.
- Illinois frameworks by name. Illinois Learning Standards, Illinois Professional Teaching Standards, SEL Standards, and Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading Standards. No generic content.
- Multi-modal. Each course includes a study guide, slide deck, and a built-in AI study guide trained on that course.
- Renewal-ready documentation. A verifiable Certificate of Completion with contact hours, built for your ELIS PD entry and your district professional learning record.
- Reasonable in cost and time. Accessible for individual teachers and districts, with no procurement RFP required.
- IACET-aligned three-PD-hour design. Self-paced, on any device.
For Illinois School District Leadership
If you direct curriculum, professional learning, or federal programs at an Illinois district, I would be glad to send a no-cost reviewer account so a designee can audit any course end to end before deciding whether to accept it for PD.
I will also share a sample certificate, the course catalog with descriptions, and a fifteen-minute call at your convenience.
Reply by email: info@iteachai.co or call (561) 450-8377.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is iTeachAI Academy continuing education for already-licensed teachers, or initial teacher preparation?
- It is continuing education for educators who are already licensed in Illinois and renewing their certificate. iTeachAI Academy provides clock hours toward your renewal. We do not prepare candidates for a first-time teaching credential and our courses do not lead to initial licensure.
- How do I renew my Illinois teaching certificate?
- Teaching-endorsed Professional Educator License holders renew every five years by completing 120 professional development hours and entering them through the ISBE Educator Licensure Information System (ELIS). PD must come from ISBE-approved or statutorily approved providers and align to the Illinois Learning Standards and Illinois Professional Teaching Standards. National Board Certified teachers complete 60 PD hours. iTeachAI courses provide PD hours and a Certificate of Completion you can document toward that total, subject to district or ISBE acceptance.
- Can iTeachAI courses count toward my 120 PD hours?
- Each course provides three IACET-aligned PD hours with a Certificate of Completion. iTeachAI is not a formally state-approved Illinois provider, so whether a course is applied toward your 120 PD hours is at the discretion of your district or the ISBE renewal process. Our courses are aligned to the Illinois Learning Standards and Illinois Professional Teaching Standards. Confirm acceptance with your district or ISBE before applying hours.
- How many PD hours does each course provide?
- Three PD hours per course, IACET-aligned, suitable for documentation toward your Illinois PEL renewal total when accepted by your district or ISBE.
- What does it cost in time and money?
- iTeachAI keeps cost and time reasonable. Each course runs about three clock hours, is self-paced, and stays accessible for individual teachers, with district site licenses available. Email info@iteachai.co for current options.
- Do you provide a certificate of completion?
- Yes. Every completed course awards a verifiable Certificate of Completion with contact hours, suitable for documentation toward Illinois educator license renewal at the discretion of your district or ISBE.
- How do I get a reviewer account for my district?
- Email info@iteachai.co with your district name and role. A no-cost reviewer account is provisioned within one business day.