Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), Educator Licensure: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language

Worth knowing about ISBE

ISBE requirements in detail

A "translated evaluation report" is not a translation

ISBE's international section asks for an "official translated evaluation report" (Educator licensure requirements: credentials earned outside the US (isbe.net)).

In practice that is the credential evaluation: a report in English stating your US degree equivalency, your preparation as an educator and each course in semester hours.

ISBE does not ask you for a separate certified translation of your diploma or transcripts.

The evaluation service does. It cannot evaluate records it cannot read, and it applies its own translation rule.

WES asks for a word-for-word translation by a professional translator (WES); ECE accepts any complete literal translation or translates internally for an $85 waiver (ECE). Order the translation before you open the evaluation file.

Form 95-31 and how ISBE checks the documents

Form 95-31 is filled in by the evaluation service, not by you, and ISBE says forms returned by the applicant will not be honored (PEL checklist for out-of-country applicants (isbe.net)).

On it, the service states whether it based its evaluation on documents sealed or sent directly by your school, on documents you sent, or on documents a third party sent for you (Form 95-31: out-of-country evaluation service documentation verification).

If the service accepts your translation with documents you submit, it records that on the form.

ISBE's list says the approved services are private companies, not agents of ISBE, and that providing fabricated information can get a service removed from the list (Out-of-country credential evaluation sources (isbe.net), Form 95-31).

Choosing a service on ISBE's list

Pick the service before you order the translation, because their rules differ. WES, ECE, IERF, Educational Perspectives and One Earth accept translations from a professional service.

TEC, Josef Silny, IACEI and ACEI, all on ISBE's list (Out-of-country credential evaluation sources (isbe.net)), want outside translators certified by ATA; eVerbary can assign one on request.

Documents applicants usually translate

• University transcripts and mark sheets from your teacher preparation program
• Degree certificates and diplomas
• Your teaching license or certificate from another country
• Course descriptions or syllabi, when the evaluation service asks for them

What an eVerbary translation includes

• A complete English translation of every page, stamps, seals and handwritten notes included, laid out like the original so each line can be matched.
• Grades, hours and credits exactly as recorded, with the grading scale the document prints. We never convert marks to a US GPA or equivalency.
• A signed certificate of translation accuracy on letterhead, with our contact details, delivered as a PDF you can upload or print.
• $24.95 per page of up to 250 words, certification included; 24 hours for one to three pages as standard. Regular clients who need it can get delivery in as little as 30 minutes, on request.
• Notarization added at checkout ($34.90 per order) when the office asks for a notarized translation.

Submitting the translation to ISBE

• The translation goes to the evaluation service with your records, following that service's instructions; the service then sends its report, copies of the documents it used and Form 95-31 directly to ISBE (PEL checklist for out-of-country applicants (isbe.net)).

• You apply for the Professional Educator License in your ELIS account; ISBE considers every area listed on your out-of-country credential report (PEL checklist for out-of-country applicants (isbe.net), PEL).

If you need a translator certified by ATA

Some offices accept only a translator who is personally certified by the American Translators Association (ATA). eVerbary assigns one on request, for the languages ATA certifies into English:

To order it, ask for a free quote and write in the notes that the translation is for ISBE, what it is for, and that you need a translator individually certified by ATA, plus anything else the office asks for (notarization, delivery by email to the office).

We confirm the price and the translator before you pay. ATA does not certify other languages into English, so no translator anywhere holds ATA certification for them.

For those languages we provide a notarized certified translation instead, at $44.95 per page plus notarization ($34.90 per order); ask the office to confirm it accepts that, and write its answer in the quote notes.

How to order

1. Scan or photograph every page of the document, front and back, including any stamps on the reverse.
2. Upload it, choose the language and "certified", and see the price before paying.
3. Receive the PDF, usually within 24 hours for one to three pages, and submit it with the copy of the original wherever the office asks for it.

Frequently asked questions