Substitute Teaching License and Registration
To substitute teach with Swing Education in Illinois, you must hold either:
A Substitute Teaching License, or
A Professional Educator License (PEL)
If you don’t currently hold one, the Substitute Teaching License is typically the best route.
Step 1: Apply for Your Substitute Teaching License
Create or log in to your ELIS account with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
Follow the Substitute Teacher Application process
Click "Apply for a New License, Endorsement, or Approval."
Once your license has been issued, you must register your license in your ELIS account and pay A $50 fee (subject to change) applicable registration fees. The license is not valid for employment until these fees are paid.
Submit official transcripts either:
Electronically to: transcripts@isbe.net
Or by mail to:
Illinois State Board of Education
Educator Licensure
100 N. 1st Street
Springfield, IL 62777
What Makes a Transcript "Official"?
Must be sealed in the original envelope OR
Sent directly from your college/university (electronically or by mail)
Avoid delays—request transcripts early!
Step 2: Register Your License in ELIS
After obtaining your license:
Log in to your ELIS account
Go to the Action Center → Registrations
Register in the regions where you want to teach (choose Cook County for Swing partners)
You can add regions later at no cost
You can find a step-by-step guide on how to get a sub license in Illinois instructions here: How do I get a Substitute teaching license?
Using an ELS or Paraprofessional License?
You can teach if you:
Hold a valid Educator License with Stipulations (ELS) or Paraprofessional License
AND have a Bachelor's degree on file with ISBE
Swing must verify your degree if you don’t hold a Substitute Teaching License or PEL.
Step 3: Background Check Requirements
Before teaching, complete a fingerprint background check in Illinois: This includes two separate background checks: one specifically for Swing Education and another mandatory check for Chicago Public Schools (CPS), even if you don't intend to teach at CPS schools.
Download & bring this form to an Accurate Biometrics location.
Bring a government-issued ID and form of payment (no appointment needed).
Cost: $63.50 (as of Aug 2023; subject to change)
Upload your Accurate Biometrics confirmation receipt to your Swing profile. Ensure you maintain separate receipts for the Swing Education and CPS background checks; these receipts are non-transferable and must clearly display required details like your name and the Accurate Biometrics header.
What Qualifies as a Valid CPS Background Check Receipt?
To verify your CPS background check, your receipt must meet the following criteria:
Display your legal name.
Include the Accurate Biometrics header.
Clearly list the authorized agency as either:
the Noble Network of Charter Schools
Nobel Street Charter School
or Chicago Public Schools (CPS).
You can upload this receipt directly to your Swing Education account for verification.
What if I already have my CPS fingerprints in the system?
All substitute teachers are required to complete both Swing and CPS fingerprint background checks. This ensures compliance with Illinois state regulations and public school policies, safeguarding the eligibility to teach across all districts, including non-CPS schools.
CPS Do Not Hire List
You must certify that, to the best of your knowledge, you’ve never been on the Chicago Public Schools Do Not Hire List.
If you ever worked at a CPS school and were added to the CPS Do Not Hire List, then you would have received a letter regarding your Do Not Hire designation.
More info: CPS Employee Engagement – Do Not Hire tab click the 'Do Not Hire' tab for more information
Mandated Reporter Requirement
All Illinois substitute teachers are Mandated Reporters under the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act [325 ILCS 5/4].
Log in to your Swing account to review and sign the Mandated Reporter Acknowledgment Form during your Swing setup process after creating your account.
Once all these steps are complete, you'll be able to access the Swing Platform to start accepting sub requests through Swing.
Is a TB Test required?
No, we no longer require a TB Test as of currently.