Illinois Licensing Requirements for Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists
The information below is collected from state licensure boards or regulatory agencies responsible for regulating the professions of speech-language pathology and/or audiology. It is intended for informational use only, and should not be construed as legal advice.
Contact the state's licensure board or regulatory agency for exact licensure, certification, or registration requirements in your jurisdiction.
Initial Licensure Requirements
Audiology (on or after January 1, 2008)
- Doctoral degree in audiology from a program approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (Department)
- Passage of an exam
Speech Language Pathology & Audiology
- Master's or doctoral degree in speech-language pathology or audiology from a program approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
- Three hundred fifty hour clinical practicum
- Passage of the Praxis exam
- For a license as a speech-language pathologist, the completion of the equivalent of nine months of supervised experience. For a license as an audiologist, the completion of a minimum of 1,500 clock hours of supervised experience
- ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCCs) or American Board of Audiology certification are acceptable in lieu of the supervised professional experience requirements and the Praxis exam documentation
- A complete work history since completion of an educational degree program
Exemptions
- Students
- Individuals appropriately certified by the Illinois State Board of Education
- Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation technicians
- Hearing aid dealers
- Department of Public Health credentialed hearing screeners
- Vestibular function testing by a physician-supervised individual
- Paraprofessionals providing speech-language pathology or audiology services as long as such person is directly supervised by a licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist
- Vestibular function testing by an appropriately trained person under the supervision of a physician
- A person licensed in the state under any other act engaging in the practice for which they are licensed
Reciprocity/Endorsement
Upon application and payment of the required fees, a speech-language pathologist or audiologist licensed under the laws of another state or territory of the United States may receive a license if:
- whatever the requirements of the other state or territory were at the date of licensure were substantially equal to those then in force in Illinois,
or
- whenever the requirements of the other state or territory of the United States, together with educational and professional qualifications (as distinguished from practical experience) of the applicant since obtaining a license as a speech-language pathologist in such state are substantially equal to the requirements in force in Illinois at the time of application for licensure as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist
- the application must include: certification of education degree, completion of supervised professional experience, passage of exam, CCCs or American Board of Audiology certification in lieu of professional experience and exam documentation, record of any disciplinary actions, and complete work history since receipt of degree.
Interim Practice/Temporary Licensure
- A person holding a license in another state, territory, or the District of Columbia who has made application for an Illinois license, may practice speech language pathology or audiology for 90 days from the date of application or until Department disposition, whichever is sooner, if they have their CCCs or a certificate from the American Board of Audiology and providing there are no pending disciplinary matters elsewhere.
- Applicants for an initial audiology license who are recent graduates of a Department-approved audiology program may practice for 60 days after the date of application or until Department disposition, whichever is sooner and providing they meet the applicable qualifications for licensure.
- Speech language pathologists who have not yet been conferred the master's degree, may apply for a temporary license and begin the supervised professional experience without the temporary license for 120 days from the date of application or Department disposition, whichever is sooner.
- Speech language pathologists must obtain a temporary license prior to beginning of the supervised professional experience. The application must include evidence of: a master's/doctoral degree, passage of the exam (or ASHA CCCs), a complete work history since the educational degree and certification of a supervisor.
Continuing Education for Licensure Renewal
- Twenty hours of continuing education (CE) are required per biennial renewal cycle
- An audiologist who has met the CEs of the Hearing Instrument Consumer Protection Act during an equivalent licensing cycle shall have met the continuing education requirements
- SLP assistants must complete 10 hours of CE per renewal cycle.
Board Oversight
Division of Professional Regulation, Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board
Board Composition
The Board shall comprise five persons who will each serve a three-year term; there shall be two speech-language pathologists, two audiologists and one public member; in making appointments to the Board, the director shall give due consideration to recommendations by organizations of the speech-language pathology and audiology professions in the state, including the Illinois Speech-Language Hearing Association and the Illinois Academy of Audiology and shall promptly give due notice to such organizations of any vacancy in the membership of the Board.
Resources
The information contained herein was collected and summarized annually. For detailed information on state licensure requirements, contact the state board and visit this website:
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Questions regarding state advocacy issues? Call ASHA at 800-498-2071 and ask for the State Advocacy Team.