Section 25.252  Endorsement for Speech-Language Pathologists

Certain individuals may qualify for a school support personnel endorsement for speech-language pathologist, as provided in Section 14-1.09b of the Code.

a)         The speech-language pathologist endorsement shall be affixed to a PEL. 

b)         Each individual seeking a PEL endorsed for speech-language pathologist shall complete the requirements set forth in Section 25.25.

c)         Each applicant shall hold a master's or doctoral degree in speech-language pathology earned through completion of a program that meets the requirements of Section 14-1.09b(b)(2) of the Code.  For the purposes of this subsection (c), an approved course of study or an accredited program (Section 14-1.09b(b)(2) of the Code) includes those courses of study or programs that hold either accreditation or the status of "accreditation candidate" issued by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association at the time that the applicant completed the program.

d)         Each individual shall:

1)         complete an Illinois program approved for the preparation of speech-language pathologists under Subpart C or a comparable approved program (including an internship) in another state or country; or

2)         hold a comparable certificate or license issued by another state or country.

e)         The following experience shall be honored in lieu of an internship:

1)         one year of professional experience in PK-12 schools as a speech-language pathologist on a valid, comparable out-of-state certificate or license that allows the holder to work as a speech-language pathologist in that state's public schools; or

2)         150 clock hours of supervised, school-based professional experience.

A)        That experience shall be related to the aspects of practice that are addressed in the content-area standards for speech-language pathologists (see Section 25.250 and 23 Ill. Adm. Code 28 (Standards for Endorsements in Special Education)) with respect to:

i)          planning and intervention;

ii)         the learning environment;

iii)        service delivery;

iv)        professional conduct and ethics; and

v)         facilitation and advocacy.

B)        The required evidence of completion of the experience required by this subsection (e)(2) shall be a letter signed by the chief administrator or other designated official of the employing school district or nonpublic school documenting the nature and duration of the individual's experience with students with disabilities in a school setting. This letter shall indicate how the experience related to the knowledge or performance aspects of each of the standards identified in this subsection (e)(2).

f)         Each individual must pass the applicable content-area test (see Section 25.710), subject to the provisions of Section 25.720.

g)         Each applicant shall hold one of the licenses identified in Section 14-1.09b(b)(1) of the Code.

h)         Notwithstanding any of the requirements of this Section, the speech-language pathology endorsement shall be issued to any speech-language pathologist who meets the following requirements, as outlined in Section 14-1.09b(c) of the Code:

1)         holds a regular license as a speech-language pathologist pursuant to the Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act [225 ILCS 110]; and

2)         holds a current Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech-language pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

(Source:  Amended at 47 Ill. Reg. 5954, effective April 11, 2023)