Educational Psychology
Self-paced online Educational Psychology course (Psychology 120). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →IllinoisTeachers
Para to teacher in Illinois: making the 60 hours count toward a degree
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
Going from para to teacher in Illinois usually means a bachelor's degree and an approved educator preparation programme. The 60 semester hours you use for the paraprofessional licence can be the first half of that degree if you choose them well: general education at the 100-level or higher, from a regionally accredited college, matched to the degree you plan.
Why the 60 hours can count twice
ISBE's paraprofessional route counts 60 semester hours of 100-level or higher coursework from a regionally accredited college. A bachelor's degree is usually around 120 semester hours, and the first half is mostly general education: writing, maths, science, social science and humanities. If you pick hours that fit that core, the same 60 hours meet ISBE's rule today and count toward your degree later.
The reverse also matters. Hours chosen at random, such as unrelated electives, may meet ISBE's count but add little to a degree. A few minutes of planning now can save a semester later.
Pick the degree before the courses
Choose the college and education programme you might use, then ask for its general education list. Programmes differ: some want a particular maths or a lab science, some require US history or a specific psychology course. Choosing courses from that list means fewer wasted hours.
If you are not sure where you will study, stick to courses almost every programme needs.
- English Composition I and II
- College Algebra or statistics
- Introduction to Psychology
- Educational Psychology
- US History
- A natural science
Our courses that fit the core
English Composition 1 and 2, College Algebra, Introduction to Psychology, Educational Psychology, US History 1 and Introduction to Sociology are in our catalog. They are ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended. Credit reaches ISBE and your degree via a college transcript, and each college decides what it posts. UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited.
| Core area | Course | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Writing | English Composition 1 and 2 | NCCRS |
| Maths | College Algebra | NCCRS |
| Social science | Introduction to Psychology | ACE and NCCRS |
| Education | Educational Psychology | NCCRS |
| History | US History 1 | NCCRS |
The teaching licence step
An Illinois teaching licence is a separate step from the paraprofessional endorsement. Check ISBE's licensure pages and your chosen programme for the current requirements, including tests and student teaching. Some Illinois programmes are designed for working paraprofessionals; ask about evening, online or school-based options and whether your classroom experience counts toward field hours.
What to ask in writing
Ask the college which outside courses it will post and how many credits it will take in transfer. Ask the education programme which general education courses it requires. Ask ISBE or your Regional Office of Education whether the hours you plan will count toward the 60. TESU, UoPeople and Newlane are partner colleges that consider ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit.
A plan you can keep
Many paras take one course a month around the school day. At that pace, 30 hours takes under a year. Keep a sheet listing each course, its level, the college that posted it and the date. When you reach 60, have the college email your official transcript to ISBE, apply in ELIS, and keep going toward the degree.
Review the plan each term with the college adviser, since programme requirements change.
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask the college in writing which courses it will post to its transcript, and ask ISBE or your Regional Office of Education in writing that those hours will count, before you enrol.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
Do paraprofessional hours count toward a teaching degree?
They can, if they are 100-level or higher courses that match the degree's requirements and the college counts them in transfer. Choose general education the programme lists, and ask it in writing which outside courses it will count.
Can I keep working as a para while studying?
Yes. Many Illinois paras study part time, and some education programmes are built for working paraprofessionals. Self-paced courses help fit study around the school day, and the hours can count toward both goals.
Is Educational Psychology worth taking early?
Many education programmes require it, and it is useful in the classroom straight away. Check your programme's list first, because some require a different psychology course or a specific course number.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
English Composition 2
Self-paced online English Composition 2 course (ENG 102). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
US History 1
Self-paced online US History 1 course (HIST 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Composition, algebra, psychology, history and more are on PRO. Ask your college in writing which courses it will post first.
Sources
- ISBE: What is a Paraprofessional? (April 2026) (official)ELS Paraprofessional Educator endorsement: application fee $100, registration fee $30; associate degree or higher, 60 semester hours of coursework, diploma/GED with ETS Paraprofessional 460, or diploma/GED with ACT WorkKeys 4 in Applied Mathematics and Reading for Information; valid five years, renewable; transcripts emailed by the institution to transcripts@isbe.net. Short-term approval: $50, three fiscal years, non-renewable. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- ISBE: Paraprofessional Educator (official)Coursework must be at the 100-level or higher from a regionally accredited college or university. ETS ParaPro available through Summer 2027. Age 19 for PK-22; from 1 January 2023, age 18 may qualify for PK-8. Valid five fiscal years; work under the direct supervision of a licensed teacher. The page is marked archived. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.