Getting an Illinois SLP License

Illinois licenses speech-language pathologists, audiologists and speech-language pathology assistants through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, IDFPR, under the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act, 225 ILCS 110. Illinois is not a member of the ASLP Compact, and the Commission's map shows no active legislation there. A clinician treating clients located in Illinois needs an Illinois license.

Since October 30, 2024, new SLP, SLP temporary, SLP assistant and audiology applications go through CORE, IDFPR's online licensing system.

Can you get licensed without retaking the exam?

Yes. Section 13 of the practice act, "Licensing applicants from other states," lets IDFPR license an SLP, SLPA or audiologist licensed in another state or territory without examination when either:

• the other state's requirements were substantially equal to Illinois's at the date you were licensed; or
• the other state's requirements, together with your education and professional qualifications since licensure, are substantially equal to Illinois's current requirements.

IDFPR's qualifications sheet for SLPs and audiologists, revised March 2025, says that if you have ever been licensed, it requires an official certification of licensure from the U.S. jurisdiction of your original licensure and from the jurisdiction where you have most recently been practicing. That first-license verification surprises people who were first licensed long ago in a state they no longer think about.

What does the standard application require?

Section 8 of the act requires an applicant to be at least 21 and to hold a master's or doctoral degree from an approved program, pass a national examination recognized by IDFPR, and, for SLPs, complete the equivalent of 9 months of supervised experience. Audiologists whose degree was conferred on or after January 1, 2008 need a doctoral degree in audiology.

The qualifications sheet asks for:

• an official transcript showing the degree;
• Praxis results; and
• for SLPs, a VE form signed by your licensed SLP supervisor verifying the 9 months of supervised professional experience, or a copy of your ASHA certification.

An application stays active for three years from the date IDFPR receives it. If it is not complete by then, Section 8 says the application is denied, the fee is forfeited, and you reapply under the rules in effect at that time.

Is the Illinois temporary license for out-of-state SLPs?

No, and this is the most common mix-up. Under Section 8.1, an Illinois temporary license is for someone who has finished the degree and exam and is starting supervised professional experience, the clinical fellowship. It lasts 18 months and may be renewed only once for good cause. IDFPR's temporary license sheet adds that the fellowship must be supervised by an Illinois-licensed SLP, and that although ASHA allows up to 48 months to finish the fellowship for certification, "that is not the case" for Illinois licensure.

Part-time fellows have fixed schedules: 15 to 19 hours a week over 18 months, 20 to 24 over 15 months, or 25 to 29 over 12 months. Under 15 hours a week does not count. A graduate who has finished coursework and clinicals but not had the degree conferred can start work for up to 120 days after applying; once the degree is conferred, that provision no longer applies. See licensing during your clinical fellowship.

For licensed clinicians, Illinois has no comparable temporary credential, so the full application is the only way in. Our post on temporary SLP and audiology licenses compares states that do have one.

What about teletherapy into Illinois?

Section 8.2 allows a licensed SLP or audiologist to practice remotely by video, with telephone, email and similar tools only alongside video, under HIPAA and the same standard of care as in person. It also says an out-of-state person providing services to an Illinois resident without an Illinois license "submits himself or herself to the jurisdiction" of IDFPR and the Illinois courts. That is a warning, not a permission. See teletherapy for SLPs across state lines.

How does renewal work?

All Illinois SLP and audiology licenses expire October 31 of each odd-numbered year, no matter when they were issued. A license issued in the summer of an odd year can be up for renewal within months. Section 11 of the act requires at least 20 clock hours of continuing education in each two-year cycle for an SLP, including at least one hour of ethics; SLPAs need 10. Audiologists also need 20, with no more than 10 from programs sponsored by hearing instrument or device manufacturers. Under Section 8.8, an SLP who supervises assistants needs at least 6 hours of supervision training and then 2 hours of supervision CE in each new cycle.

The qualifications sheet also notes that Illinois collects a $45 Hearing Instrument Consumer Protection Act fee at licensure and renewal, built into the licensing fee.

Is there anything unusual in the Illinois act?

Two things worth knowing. The act's sections carry a note that they are scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028, a sunset date the General Assembly would need to extend. And Section 9.3 sets specific training requirements before an SLP performs endoscopic procedures such as laryngoscopy for swallowing evaluations. See dysphagia, FEES and other credentialed SLP procedures.

Does Illinois license SLP assistants?

Yes. Section 8.5 sets the qualifications for an SLP assistant license, and Section 8.8 sets supervision rules. IDFPR's qualifications sheet for SLPAs is separate. See which states license or register SLPAs.

Can we prepare your Illinois application?

Yes. For a licensed clinician, our License by Endorsement service is $599: we set up the CORE application, request certification of licensure from your first and most recent states, order transcripts and Praxis results, and follow IDFPR through to issuance. A full application is $749, a temporary license for a clinical fellow is $349 and an SLPA license is $399. IDFPR and ETS fees are separate, and you review and sign the application. See Illinois details and sources on the Illinois state page.