Illinois Licensures
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) issues licenses for professionals to work in IL. IDFPR offers licensure for speech-language pathologists (SLPs), SLP Assistants (SLPAs), audiologists, and speech-language pathology Continuing Education Sponsors. There is also a temporary license for new graduates to hold while they are completing their clinical fellowship year (CFY).
Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) who qualify for licensure have completed a Master’s or Doctoral degree in speech-language pathology from an IDFPR-approved and/or ASHA-accredited program. They must pass the PRAXIS exam and pay the fee. They must hold an IL license to practice anywhere outside of the schools. They must hold a license to bill Medicaid or third party insurance for their services in any setting, even the schools. They must hold a license to supervise an SLPA, SLPP, Clinical Fellow (CF), or SLP Practicum Student in any setting, even the schools.
SLP Assistants (SLPAs) who qualify for licensure have completed an IDFPR-approved two-year program in speech-language pathology assisting. They must pass the licensure test and pay the fee. They must hold the SLPA license in order to practice in any setting in IL. They can be hired in the schools, private practice, health care settings, and early intervention to work under the supervision of a licensed SLP. Unlicensed SLPAs cannot work in the schools.
Audiologists who qualify for licensure have completed a doctoral program from an IDFPR-approved and/or ASHA-accredited program. They must pass the PRAXIS exam and pay the fee. They must hold the license to practice anywhere in IL.
SLP Paraprofessionals (SLPPs) do not qualify for a license from IDFPR and therefore cannot work outside the public schools. Even though they hold a Bachelor’s degree, they are not eligible for licensure as SLPAs. SLPPs cannot work for an agency.
SLP CE Sponsor: See more here under "C"
Temporary License: New grads from IL schools apply for a temporary license. They can bill Medicare during their first year of work, typically the Clinical Fellowship Year, because they hold this license. They must pass the PRAXIS exam and pay the fee. This license is a requirement for the ISBE Type 73 certificate. Anyone who finishes a university program in IL should apply for this temporary license as soon as they graduate. Take the PRAXIS before completing the degree, and apply for the Temporary License even before you have proof that you’ve completed your degree. This enables you to start work as soon as you graduate. See more here: Temporary License
Some people graduate and are ready to start their Clinical Fellowship Year but don’t yet have a diploma in hand or an ED letter from the college they attended. So they can’t get the temporary license. For those people, once they apply for the Temporary License, there is a grace period of 120 days during which they can work while awaiting the processing of the paperwork necessary to prove they completed the degree. See more here: Public Act 094-1082
The Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act
The Rules for the Practice Act
To apply for a license in IL, see the IDFPR website: http://www.idfpr.com/dpr/who/spch.asp