Potential Change to the Professional Educator License Requirements
Published in the May 2025 issue of the ISHA Voice.
By Karen Kockler, MA, CCC, SLP-L, ISHA School Affairs Committee Member, ASHA SEAL for Illinois
It has come to my attention that there is some rumor out there that refers to potential changes to the PEL for SLPs. Per ISBE’s Educator Effectiveness and Special Education department staff members, the only potential change may be in the content area test requirement for soon-to-be/new SLP graduates and licensed SLPs making a change to the school setting. In recent years, many applicants for the PEL have struggled to pass this content area test, causing them to take the test multiple times, even though they passed the Praxis test. For a few years now, ISHA has been advocating that ISBE accept the Praxis as the content area test for our discipline. This is good news if the bills pass!
There are two related bills: HB3170 has been re-referred to the Rules Committee, and SB1947 has now been assigned to the House committee. In other words, still no vote, but we’re getting closer! At this time, neither bill would eliminate the requirement of a PEL, and all SLPs will still need to obtain and maintain their PELs. But, if the bills pass, the requirement to take the content area test would be eliminated for School Support Personnel, which includes SLPs. The elimination of the content area test is the only potential change.
From the synopses of both HB3170 and SB1947:
“Exempts, for educator licenses, applicants seeking a school support personnel endorsement who hold an active and valid professional license in the same subject matter as the endorsement sought from being required to pass a test of content area knowledge for each area of endorsement for which there is an applicable test.” For new graduates, and after applying for and obtaining the temporary IDFPR license, this will allow you to begin the CFY without having to take the content area test. Once the CFY is completed, or nearly completed, apply for the permanent IDFPR, and PEL if you plan to work in schools.
Additionally, the first amendment to SB1947 states:
“In provisions concerning educator testing, removes the requirement that no candidate may be allowed to student teach or serve as the teacher of record until he or she has passed the applicable content area test.” If this bill passes, a person would be allowed to student teach (i.e. complete school-based external practicums and/or CFYs) without having to take and/or pass the content area test first; this applies to all potential educators.
For the full text in the School Code, click on this link (105 ILCS 5/21B-30) Section 21B-30 Educator Testing and scroll to page 22, lines 6-12; new proposed language is underlined.
Please contact your local legislators and ask them to support these bills!
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Kockler, MA, CCC, SLP-L
ISHA School Affairs Committee Member
ASHA SEAL for IL
