Licensure guide · Illinois

How to get a Illinois speech-language pathology license

Speech-language pathologists in Illinois are licensed by the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Below is what the board requires, from education to renewal, with every requirement linked to the board page it comes from. Checked October 22, 2026.

Step by step

Getting licensed

Education: Applicants must hold a master's or doctoral degree from a speech-language pathology program approved by the Division; graduates of programs outside the United States must substantially comply with the minimum requirements of an approved program. [2]
National exam: Applicants must pass the Praxis examination or another national examination recognized by the Department, with scores sent directly to the Division by the testing service; an ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence is accepted in place of the exam and supervised-experience documents. [2]
Background check: Applicants must disclose criminal convictions on the application; a few convictions (such as offenses requiring sex offender registration) automatically bar licensure, while most others are considered by the Department case by case. [3]
Fees: The application fee is $90 for an initial speech-language pathologist license by examination, $100 for an applicant licensed in another state, territory or foreign country, and $75 for a temporary speech-language pathologist license. [4]
Where to apply: New speech-language pathologist and SLP temporary applications are filed online through IDFPR's CORE licensing system, linked from the IDFPR Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology page. [10] Open the application →

Moving to the state

Already licensed somewhere else?

Illinois is not a member of the ASLP-IC: audiologists and speech-language pathologists licensed in another state need a full Illinois license before starting.

Licensed in another state: SLPs licensed in another U.S. state or territory apply by endorsement with proof of their degree, 9 months of supervised experience and exam passage (or the ASHA CCC), plus license verifications; those holding the ASHA CCC with no discipline may practice for 90 days after applying or until the application is decided, whichever is sooner. [5]
Interstate compact: Illinois has not joined ASLP-IC: the bill to enter the compact (HB2417, 104th General Assembly) had its last action, a re-referral to the House Rules Committee, on 3/21/2025. [9]

Before your full license

New graduates and clinical fellows

Temporary or provisional license: Applicants who have met the education and exam requirements must obtain a temporary license before beginning their supervised professional experience (clinical fellowship), supervised by an Illinois-licensed SLP; it is issued for 18 months and may be renewed only once for good cause. Students who have finished coursework but whose degree is not yet conferred may work in license-pending status for 120 days. [6]

After you are licensed

Keeping the license active

Renewal: Speech-language pathologist licenses expire on October 31 of odd-numbered years and may be renewed during the month before expiration by paying the renewal fee; renewal requires 20 hours of continuing education. [7]
Continuing education: Speech-language pathologists must complete 20 hours of CE in each 24-month prerenewal period ending October 31 of odd-numbered years, including at least one clock hour of ethics training; CE is not required for the first renewal of an Illinois license. [8]

Working in Illinois

Pay and openings

Speech-language pathologists in Illinois earn a mean of $92,660 a year (BLS). Most of our Illinois searches are confidential and never posted; tell us what you want and we will match you quietly.

Sources

Every requirement above was checked against the official page listed here on October 22, 2026. Boards change fees and rules, so confirm with the Illinois board before you apply. This page is a guide, not legal advice.

Other Illinois licenses

Speech-language pathology licenses in other states

State-by-state license guides →

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