Illinois Support Personnel Requirements

The following information includes speech-language pathology and audiology support personnel requirements in educational and other practice settings. The information is reviewed on an annual basis. Please be advised that regulations and policy may change at any time, so always check with your state for the most up-to-date information.

Speech-Language Pathology

School Setting Requirements

Speech-language pathology assistants may, under the supervision of licensed speech-language pathologist, provide treatment and screening services related to communication problems. SLPAs must complete an approved training program and be licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation; no Professional Educator License is required at this time.

A school district or cooperative entity may not assign a speech-language pathologist with a professional educator license who is not licensed under the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act to supervise any SLPA.

Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

Speech-language pathology assistants (SLPAs) must be licensed.
SLPAs must have good moral character and an associate's degree from a program approved by the IDFPR. A complete work history since completion of the degree program should also be included. Individuals holding a bachelor's degree and employed as an assistant on or before June 2002 will grandfathered into licensure. An individual who received, prior to June 1, 2003, an associate's degree from a speech-language pathology assistant program approved by the Illinois Community College Board is qualified to be licensed as a speech-language pathology assistant.
Supervisors must have at least 2 years' experience in addition to the supervised professional experience and have at least 10 clock hours of training in the supervision of assistants.
Direct supervision is required for at least 30% of client time for the first 90 days of employment; at least 20% direct supervision after that.
The assistant's scope of practice is limited to supplementing the role of an SLP.
A full-time speech-language pathologist may supervise no more than two assistants. A part-time speech-language pathologist may supervise no more than one assistant.
At least 10 clock hours of continuing education is required every two years.

Audiology

School Setting Requirements

Audiology support personnel are not regulated in this setting.

Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

Audiology support personnel are not regulated by the state.

Resources

For further information on laws and regulations for speech-language pathology and audiology support personnel in educational and other practice settings, please visit these websites:

School Setting Requirements:

To see where your state stands on support personnel licensure trends, please view the trends charts which are updated annually: