Become a Licensed Special Education Teacher in Illinois with an M.A.T. and LBS I Endorsement
Already hold a bachelor's degree? NLU's 42-credit M.A.T. in Special Education leads to your Illinois Professional Educator License with the LBS I endorsement, the credential behind more than one-third of the state's unfilled teaching positions.
- CAEP-Accredited National College of Education
- Illinois PEL + LBS I Endorsement (K to Age 22)
- Preparing Illinois Teachers Since 1886
- Paid-Placement Alternative Licensure Track Available
Request More Information
Program at a Glance
What You'll Learn
- Teach students with disabilities from kindergarten to age 22
- Assess and plan using valid diagnostic tools
- Apply evidence-based literacy and math methods for diverse learners
- Support students' social and emotional development
- Collaborate with families and colleagues in inclusive settings
- Qualify for the Illinois PEL with the LBS I endorsement
Full Course List
Next start: September 21, 2026 — seats filling fast.
Admissions Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in any field (no teaching license required)
- Online application at nl.edu with official transcripts
- Minimum 220 on the LBS I Content Area Exam (test 290) before student teaching
- Background check, TB test, and mandated reporter status before student teaching
- Already hold an Illinois PEL? Ask your advisor about the M.Ed. instead
My pre-service experience greatly expanded my knowledge base and critical analysis skills, and I appreciated the thoughtful program design.
LBS I is the endorsement behind 1,079 unfilled Illinois positions, more than one-third of all teacher vacancies in the state. No other M.A.T. maps this directly onto documented hiring demand.
An initial-licensure program for people with a bachelor's in any field. No education background required; the program builds everything from foundations with three practica before you teach solo.
The Alternative Licensure track pairs intensive summer coursework with a paid school placement over two years, so you earn income while you complete your licensure.
Where Will Your M.A.T. Take You?
Illinois schools posted more than a thousand unfilled special education positions in fall 2025, over a third of every open teaching job in the state (ISBE, October 2025). NLU’s M.A.T. turns a bachelor’s degree in any field into the credential those districts are hiring for: the Illinois PEL with the LBS I endorsement, valid from kindergarten through age 22.
With a $64,270 national median salary and roughly 37,800 openings projected each year (BLS, May 2024), and an endorsement that spans every grade level, LBS I licensure gives career changers both stability and the widest hiring surface in Illinois education.
How to Apply in 3 Simple Steps
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Request Information
Submit the form above. An NLU enrollment specialist will confirm the M.A.T. is the right fit, or route you to the M.Ed. if you already hold an Illinois teaching license.
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Connect With an Advisor
Your advisor walks you through track selection, including the paid-placement Alternative Licensure option, transcript review, financial aid, and the LBS I testing sequence.
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Apply and Start Classes
Submit your application and transcripts at nl.edu. Next start: September 21, 2026. Your advisor guides you through every step to your first term.
Take the First Step
No commitment required. An NLU advisor will reach out within one business day to confirm your pathway and map your fastest route to an in-demand LBS I license.
Take the First Step- CAEP-Accredited National College of Education
- Illinois PEL + LBS I Endorsement (K to Age 22)
- Preparing Illinois Teachers Since 1886
- Paid-Placement Alternative Licensure Track Available
*Illinois unfilled positions: Illinois State Board of Education unfilled positions data, October 2025, as reported in the IARSS and IWERC 2024-2025 Educator Shortage Report.
**Salary and openings: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Special Education Teachers (SOC 25-2050), May 2024 and 2024 to 2034 projections.
***Tuition and credit hours: National Louis University Tuition and Fees (Summer 2026 to Spring 2027) and SmartCatalog, Special Education M.A.T. Traditional Program (nl.smartcatalogiq.com, current catalog).