Section 25.43  Endorsements for Special Education Teachers

a)         An endorsement in special education shall be available to individuals who:

1)         meet the requirements of Section 25.25 and meet the requirements of subsection (b); or

2)         hold a PEL endorsed in a teaching field and meet the requirements of subsection (e).

b)         The applicable special education endorsement on a PEL shall be issued to an individual who completes an approved program and demonstrates attainment of the relevant standards by passing the test required pursuant to Section 25.720 applicable to endorsement as:

1)         Learning Behavior Specialist I (LBS I) (23 Ill. Adm. Code 28.200);

2)         Teacher of Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired (23 Ill. Adm. Code 28.210);

3)         Teacher of Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (23 Ill. Adm. Code 28.220); or

4)         Early Childhood Special Education Teacher (23 Ill. Adm. Code 28.240).

c)         A holder of an LBS I endorsement on the PEL shall not serve students in early childhood special education programs unless the holder has also acquired an early childhood special education approval pursuant to 23 Ill. Adm. Code 226.810. This requirement shall not apply to teachers of students who are blind or visually impaired or deaf or hard of hearing or to speech-language pathologists.

d)         A subsequent endorsement (Learning Behavior Specialist II (LBS II)) shall be available to holders of the PEL endorsed for any of the endorsements set forth in subsections (b)(1) through (4). This shall be an optional credential issued to candidates who complete programs approved in accordance with Subpart C and who meet the standards applicable to one or more of the areas of specialization identified in 23 Ill. Adm. Code 28.310 through 28.370:

1)         LBS II/Transition Specialist;

2)         LBS II/Technology Specialist;

3)         LBS II/Bilingual Special Education Specialist;

4)         LBS II/Deaf-Blind Specialist;

5)         LBS II/Behavior Intervention Specialist;

6)         LBS II/Curriculum Adaptation Specialist; or

7)         LBS II/Multiple Disabilities Specialist.

e)         An individual who holds a valid PEL with an early childhood, elementary, middle grades, secondary, or special teaching endorsement, or a valid educator license with stipulations endorsed for transitional bilingual educator shall receive an LBS I endorsement to teach in special education if that individual has successfully completed college-level coursework addressing each of the following areas and demonstrates attainment of the relevant standards by passing the test required pursuant to Section 25.720:

1)         Survey of exceptional children;

2)         Characteristics of special education students;

3)         Methods of teaching special education; and

4)         Psychological assessment for children with disabilities.

(Source:  Amended at 48 Ill. Reg. 7729, effective May 9, 2024)