Illinois State Personnel Standards

Audiologist

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Discipline Audiologist
License/Certificate Licensed Audiologist
State Department Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
State Department Hyperlink https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/speechlangaudio.html
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Doctorate
Licensure Specific Curriculum/Coursework The integrated curriculum must include at least the following subject areas in professional education (60 semester hours required): A) Basic Communication Processes i) Anatomic and physiological bases ii) Physical bases and processes of the production and perception of speech, language, and hearing iii) Linguistic and psycholinguistic variables related to normal development and use of speech, language and hearing B) Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology i) Speech and language disorders ii) Audiology iii) Auditory and vestibular pathology iv) Auditory and vestibular habilitation/rehabilitation
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? Minimum of 1,500 clock hours of supervised experience or present evidence of a Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Submit verification of successful completion of the National Examination in Audiology in the form of original grade results from the NTE Program.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist

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Discipline Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialist
License/Certificate Special Education Certificate: Teacher of Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
State Department Illinois State Board of Education
State Department Hyperlink https://www.isbe.net/pages/special-education-requirements.aspx 
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range PreK - 21 yrs
Degree Level Requirement Bachelor's
Licensure Specific Curriculum/Coursework All Illinois special education teachers must hold a Bachelor's degree with a major/32 semester hours of coursework in the specific area; complete preclinical experience and student teaching in the specific area of special education teaching; and pass all required Illinois certification tests.
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? Must complete preclinical experience and student teaching in the specific area of special education (teaching students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing)
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Teacher of Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (229)
Additional requirements specific to Part C? Individuals with a current Special Education degree for Deaf and Hard of Hearing may apply for an EI Specialist: Developmental Therapist/Hearing credential and enroll to bill for aural rehabilitation services. May also provide Developmental Therapy Services. (Provider is automatically enrolled under the aural rehabilitation category.)
Alternative Route Provisional or temporary The Alternative Teacher Certification program: An initial teaching certificate, valid for teaching in the common schools, shall be issued under Section 21-3 or 21-5 to persons who first complete the requirements for the provisional alternative teaching certificate and who at the time of applying for an initial teaching certificate have successfully completed the second and third phases of the Alternative Route.

Early Childhood Educator

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Discipline Early Childhood Educator
License/Certificate Early Childhood Teacher Certification
State Department Illinois State Board of Education
State Department Hyperlink https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Professional-Educator-License-Teaching-Endorsements.aspx
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - 8 yrs
Degree Level Requirement Bachelor's
Licensure specific coursework? Complete coursework in the following areas: (a) Early childhood special education assessment, (b) Methods of instruction in early childhood special education, (c) Development of language in the young child (d) Child, family, and community relationships
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? All ISBE teaching certificates require an age-appropriate student teaching experience. Early Childhood teacher preparation programs generally require that students have the opportunity to complete clinical hours and/or student teaching experiences with two out of three age groups from birth through third grade, which is covered by Type 04 Certification. Those groups are infants and toddlers, pre-primary children (3-5), and primary (kindergarten through third grade).
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Passing score on the Early Childhood content Test.
Additional requirements specific to Part C? Credentialing and enrollment, as set forth in this Part, is only for the purpose of providing and being reimbursed for EI services as set forth in this Part. It is not a license. An individual shall meet the pertinent licensing, degree, education, and/or certification requirements for the service to be provided, as set forth in Appendix C, as well as the requirements set forth in this Section, in order to qualify for and maintain a credential to provide Early Intervention services. Credentialed providers must also enroll in order to be reimbursed for services.

Early Intervention Systems Training 1) In order to qualify for a credential, an individual must document the completion of early intervention systems training as required and provided by the Department. Parent Liaisons and Service Coordinators must complete this training within 90 days after the receipt of the temporary credential for such service. This training shall include at least: A) Practice and procedures of private insurance; B) The role of the regional intake entities, service coordination, program eligibility determinations, family fees, All Kids, and the Division of Specialized Care for Children (DSCC) applications, referrals, and coordination with Early Intervention, and procedural safeguards; C) Introduction to the Early Intervention Program, including provider enrollment and credentialing, an overview of Early Intervention Program policies and regulations, and billing requirements; and D) Evaluation and assessment of birth-to-three children, individualized family service plan development, monitoring and review, early intervention philosophy and best practices, and quality assurance.

Alternative Route Provisional or temporary The Alternative Teacher Certification program: An initial teaching certificate, valid for teaching in the common schools, shall be issued under Section 21-3 or 21-5 to persons who first complete the requirements for the provisional alternative teaching certificate and who at the time of applying for an initial teaching certificate have successfully completed the second and third phases of the Alternative Route.

Early Childhood Special Educator

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Discipline Early Childhood Special Education Birth-Grade 3
License/Certificate Early Childhood Special Education Birth-Grade 3
State Department Illinois State Board of Education
State Department Hyperlink https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Professional-Educator-License-Teaching-Endorsements.aspx
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range 3 yrs - 21 yrs
Degree Level Requirement Bachelor's
Licensure Specific Curriculum/Coursework
Coursework completed in two of the following areas:
(a) Early childhood special education assessment
(b) Methods of instruction in early childhood special education
(c) Development of language in young children
(d) Child, family, and community relationships
(e) A passing score on the Early Childhood Special
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? All ISBE teaching certificates require an age-appropriate student teaching experience. Early Childhood teacher preparation programs generally require that students have the opportunity to complete clinical hours and/or student teaching experiences with two out of three age groups from birth through third grade, which is covered by Type 04 Certification. Those groups are infants and toddlers, pre-primary children (3-5), and primary (kindergarten through third grade).
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? 1. For Educator license: Illinois Certification Testing System (ICTS) basic skills test 2. For ECSE endorsement: ICTS test of subject-matter knowledge
Additional requirements specific to Part C? Early Intervention Specialist Developmental Therapist credential required
Alternative Route Provisional or temporary The Alternative Teacher Certification program: An initial teaching certificate, valid for teaching in the common schools, shall be issued under Section 21-3 or 21-5 to persons who first complete the requirements for the provisional alternative teaching certificate and who at the time of applying for an initial teaching certificate have successfully completed the second and third phases of the Alternative Route.

Early Interventionist

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Discipline Early Interventionist
License/Certificate Early Intervention Credential
State Department Illinois Early Intervention Training Program
State Department Hyperlink https://eitp.education.illinois.edu/
Type of License/Certificate Credential
Age Range Birth to 3 years old
Degree Level Requirement Bachelor's
Licensure Specific Curriculum/Coursework Required training completed through Western Illinois University https://www.wiu.edu/ProviderConnections

Training content includes 1) System Overview, 2) Service Coordination Training, 3) Parent Liaison Training, and additional training in 4) System Overview for Bilingual Interpreters/Translators.

Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? Have 18 months from the date their temporary credentials are issued to complete the required 240 hours of consultation verification. DT-Hearing, DT-Vision, and DT-O&M and providers credentialed under the EI service categories of Clinical Assessment, Counseling and other Therapeutic Services, Nursing, Nutrition, and Social Services, as defined in Appendix C, need only document 120 hours. Documentation of this requirement must show that the individual participated in a consultation with an appropriately experienced individual of the same discipline/Early Intervention service group who has experience working with children ages birth to three with special needs and their families. The consultation shall be in compliance with the professional standards of the individual seeking the credential, as determined and documented by the consultant. Monthly Ongoing Professional Development must occur during this period.

Family Therapist

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Discipline Family Therapist
License/Certificate Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
State Department Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
State Department Hyperlink https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/marrfamtherapy.html
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Master's
Licensure Specific Curriculum/Coursework An applicant must have completed a minimum of 48 semester hours or equivalent hours of graduate coursework. The applicant's graduate coursework, at a minimum, shall be substantially equivalent to the curriculum listed in this subsection (b). Courses are evaluated according to course content rather than course title. For the purpose of this Section, the course shall be defined as an integrated, organized course of study. No student-designed courses, independent study courses, workshops, online or correspondence courses may be used to satisfy the core courses. Course descriptions and syllabi are required for courses whose titles do not reflect the content described as follows: 1) Individual Development and Family Relations. Topics in marriage and family studies must be addressed in a minimum of 1 course (3 semesters or 4 quarter hours or equivalent). 2) Theoretical Foundations and Clinical Practice. Topics in marriage and family therapy must be addressed in a minimum of 6 courses (18 semesters or 24 quarter hours or equivalent). 3) Professional Studies and Ethics. Topics in professional studies and ethics must be addressed in a minimum of 1 course (3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours or equivalent) that includes unique professional and ethical situations involved with conjoint therapies. 4) Research. Topics in research must be addressed in a minimum of 1 course (3 semester hours or 4 quarter hours or equivalent).
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? Complete at least 1,000 hours of face-to-face client contact with individuals, couples, and families for the purpose of evaluation and treatment of mental, emotional, behavioral, and interpersonal disorders and psychopathology. At least 350 hours of the 1000 hours of face-to-face client contact must involve working with only one client present in therapy sessions, and at least 350 hours of the 1000 hours of face-to-face client contact must involve conjoint therapy, i.e., working with two or more clients present in therapy sessions who are in significant relationships with each other outside the therapy context. The applicant shall be supervised during the whole period the applicant is accumulating clinical experience.

Clinical experience in the practice of marriage and family therapy may be gained by providing treatment that includes but is not limited to 1) Individual and conjoint therapy. 2) Counseling; 3) Psychotherapy; 4) Assessment and treatment of mental, emotional, behavioral, and interpersonal disorders and psychopathology; 5) Behavior modification; 6) Hypnotherapy; 7) Sex Therapy; 8) Consultation; 9) Client advocacy; 10) Crisis Intervention; 11) Testing & evaluation; 12) Group therapy; 13) Multi-family therapy; 14) Psychoeducation; and 15) Therapy with children and adolescents.

Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Board's (AMFTRB) Examination in Marital and Family Therapy; pass/fail
Additional requirements specific to Part C? Marriage and Family Therapists with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may apply for an EI Specialist: Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist credential and enroll to bill. Credential and CBO enrollment are required.

Nurse

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Discipline Nurse
License/Certificate Licensed Registered Professional Nurse
State Department Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
State Department Hyperlink https://www.idfpr.com/profs/nursing.asp
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Associate's
Licensure Specific Curriculum/Coursework An associates degree from a National League of Nursing for Nursing Accrediting Commission accredited program and the coursework will Include, at a minimum, concepts in anatomy, physiology, chemistry, physics, microbiology, sociology, psychology, communications, growth and development, interpersonal relationships, group dynamics, cultural diversity, pharmacology and the administration of medication, nutrition and diet therapy, pathophysiology, ethics, nursing history, trends and theories, professional and legal aspects of nursing, leadership, and management in nursing, and teaching-learning theory.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX): pass/fail grade
Additional requirements specific to Part C? Registered Nurses with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may apply for an EI Specialist: Licensed Registered Nurse credential and enroll to bill. (Provider is automatically enrolled under the nutrition category.) All new Early Intervention credential applicants are required to document: 1. Specific educational/licensure requirements 2. Completion of Early Intervention System Overview Training. System Overview training is now available online at www.illinoiseitraining.org and consists of an online component and 1 day of face-to-face follow-up training. Provider Connections will process credential applications only if all educational/licensure requirements and a minimum of the online portion of EI System Overview training are documented as complete. 3. Service Coordinators and Parent Liaisons will be allowed 3 months from the date their temporary credentials are issued to verify completion of System Overview training and their respective training requirements. 4. Background check results. 5. Completion of System Overview Training. 6. Agreement to participate in Ongoing Professional Development Meetings. In addition to the above-mentioned educational and training requirements, all new providers will: 1. Have 18 months from the date their temporary credentials are issued to complete the required 240 hours of consultation verification (Form)consultation verification (Form). DT-Hearing, DT-Vision, and DT-O&M providers need to complete 120 hours. 2. Documentation of this requirement must show that the individual participated in a consultation with an appropriately experienced individual of the same discipline/Early Intervention service group who has experience working with children ages birth to three with special needs and their families. The consultation shall be in compliance with the professional standards of the individual seeking the credential, as determined and documented by the consultant. 3. All new unlicensed providers (except DTs) must complete the four core knowledge areas during the 18-month temporary period. DTs are required to document the completed four core knowledge area requirements upon application. 4. The four core knowledge area requirements have been eliminated for all licensed providers. 5. A credential extension of up to 6 months for credentialed Specialist and Associate Level providers & 90 days for credentialed Service Coordinators and Parent Liaisons may be granted due to non-compliance with Supervised Professional Experience and/or completion of training requirements established due to extreme hardship or extenuating circumstances. Such requests will be evaluated on an individual case basis and must follow the prescribed procedures. 6. Credential Extension Request Form
Additional requirements specific for schools? Illinois State Board of Education: Certification of School Nurses Candidates for the school service personnel certificate endorsed for school nursing shall hold a bachelor's degree. a. Candidates shall be licensed as registered professional nurses in Illinois pursuant to the Nursing and Advanced Practice Nursing Act. b. Each candidate shall have completed an Illinois program approved for the preparation of school nurses or a comparable approved program in another state or country and/or hold a comparable certificate issued by another state or country. c. Candidates shall have met the requirements of either (c) (1) (A) and (c) (1) (B) or (c) (2) below. 1. Completion of an internship that meets each of the following requirements: A. Was determined by the approved program to be sufficient in length for the candidates to meet the standards set forth at 23 Ill. Adm. Code 23.120, but in no case consisted of fewer than 300 hours of experience. B. Was supervised by a certified school nurse with at least two full school years of full-time experience as a school nurse and at least one full school year of full-time experience with the current employer. 2. Completion of two years of experience as a school nurse prior to July 1, 1972. d. Candidates shall be required to pass the School Nurse (#182) test and also the Illinois Basic Skills Test.  https://www.isbe.net/Pages/PEL-School-Support-Ed-Lic.aspx 

Occupational Therapist

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Discipline Occupational Therapist
License/Certificate Registered Occupational Therapist
State Department Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
State Department Hyperlink https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/occtherapy.html
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Certification that the applicant has completed an approved program of occupational therapy.
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? Perform at least 6 months of occupational therapy work experience as part of an internship under a licensed Occupational Therapist.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? The examination for licensure as a registered occupational therapist shall be the certification examination for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc. (Certification Examination for Occupational Therapist, Registered).
Additional requirements specific to Part C? Occupational Therapists with a current license in the state where they provide Part C services to Illinois children may apply for an EI Specialist: Licensed Occupational Therapist credential and enroll to bill. All new EI credential applicants are required to document: 1. Specific educational/licensure requirements 2. Completion of EI System Overview Training. System Overview training is now available online at www.illinoiseitraining.org and consists of an online component and 1 day of face-to-face follow-up training. Provider Connections will process credential applications only if all educational/licensure requirements and a minimum of the online portion of EI System Overview training are documented as complete. 3. Service Coordinators and Parent Liaisons will be allowed 3 months from the date their temporary credentials are issued to verify completion of System Overview training and their respective training requirements. 4. Background check results. 5. Completion of System Overview Training. 6. Agreement to participate in Ongoing Professional Development Meetings. In addition to the above-mentioned educational and training requirements, all new providers will: 1. Have 18 months from the date their temporary credentials are issued to complete the required 240 hours of consultation verification (Form)consultation verification (Form). DT-Hearing, DT-Vision, and DT-O&M providers need to complete 120 hours. 2. Documentation of this requirement must show that the individual participated in a consultation with an appropriately experienced individual of the same discipline/Early Intervention service group who has experience working with children ages birth to three with special needs and their families. The consultation shall be in compliance with the professional standards of the individual seeking the credential, as determined and documented by the consultant. 3. All new unlicensed providers (except DTs) must complete the four core knowledge areas during the 18-month temporary period. DTs are required to document the completed four core knowledge area requirements upon application. 4. The four core knowledge area requirements have been eliminated for all licensed providers. 5. A credential extension of up to 6 months for credentialed Specialist and Associate Level providers & 90 days for credentialed Service Coordinators and Parent Liaisons may be granted due to non-compliance with Supervised Professional Experience and/or completion of training requirements established due to extreme hardship or extenuating circumstances. Such requests will be evaluated on an individual case basis and must follow the prescribed procedures.

Physical Therapist

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Discipline Physical Therapist
License/Certificate Licensed Physical Therapist
State Department Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
State Department Hyperlink https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/pt.html
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Certification of graduation from a physical therapist program
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? The examination for a physical therapist license shall be the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy for physical therapists.
Additional requirements specific to Part C? Physical Therapists with a current license in the state where they provide Part C EI service to Illinois children may apply for an EI Specialist: Licensed Physical Therapist credential and enroll to bill.

Psychologist

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Discipline Psychologist (Clinical)
License/Certificate Licensed Clinical Psychologist
State Department Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
State Department Hyperlink https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/psych.html
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Doctorate
License Specific Coursework?
The applicant's program shall include the following 7 core content areas:
  1. Scientific and professional ethics in psychology, which include the standards set forth in Section 1400.50(k);
  2. Biological basis of behavior such as physiological psychology, comparative psychology, neuropsychology, sensation and perception, psychopharmacology;
  3. Cognitive-affective basis of behavior such as learning, thinking, motivation, emotion;
  4. Social basis of behavior such as social psychology, group processes, organizational and systems theory;
  5. Individual differences that include instruction in theories of normal and abnormal personality functioning;
  6. Assessment that includes instruction in clinical interviewing and the administration, scoring and interpretation of psychological test batteries for the diagnosis of mental abilities and personality functioning;
  7. Treatment modalities that include instruction in the theory and application of a diverse range of psychological interventions for the treatment of mental, emotional, behavioral or nervous disorders.

 

Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? 2 years of supervised clinical, school or counseling psychology experience, one of which shall be an internship and one of which shall be postdoctoral.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? The required examination shall be the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) developed by the Association of State and Provencial Psychology Boards (ASPPB).The minimum passing grade on the examination shall be the passing score set by the testing entity.
Additional requirements specific to Part C? Clinical Psychologists with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may apply for an EI Specialist: Licensed Clinical Psychologist credential and enroll to bill.
Additional requirements specific for schools? Certification of School Psychologists a. Candidates for the school service personnel certificate endorsed for school psychology shall hold a master's or higher degree in psychology or educational psychology with a specialization in school psychology from a regionally accredited institution. b. Each candidate shall have completed an Illinois program approved for the preparation of school psychologists or a comparable approved program in another state or country and/or hold a comparable certificate issued by another state or country. c. Candidates shall have completed both a supervised field experience of at least 250 hours in a school setting and/or child study center and an internship of at least 1200 contact hours lasting a full school year under the direction of a certified school psychologist. The internship requirement may be waived with verification of a full year of professional school psychologist experience on a valid state-issued school psychologist certificate, or an Illinois provisional school psychologist certificate. d. Candidates shall be required to pass the School Psychologist (#183) test, as well as the test of basic skills. Applicants who hold a valid school psychologist certificate from another state are assumed to have passed a test of basic skills and are exempt from the Illinois Basic Skills test unless they already failed the Illinois Basic Skills Test.

School Psychologist

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Discipline School Psychologist
License/Certificate School Service Personnel Certificate Endorsed for School Psychology
State Department Illinois State Board of Education
State Department Hyperlink https://www.isbe.net/Pages/PEL-School-Support-Ed-Lic.aspx
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range PreK to Age 21
Degree Level Requirement Master's degree or higher in psychology or educational psychology with a specialization in school psychology
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? Completed a supervised field experience of at least 250 hours in a school and/or child student center and a one-year, full-time internship.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Praxis School Psychologist (237)​
Additional requirements specific to Part C? Unlicensed individuals employed by school districts as School Psychologists who will only be providing services through their school employment may apply for an Early Intervention Specialist: School Psychologist credential.

Social Worker

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Discipline Social Worker
License/Certificate Licensed Social Worker
State Department Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
State Department Hyperlink https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/socialworker.html
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Certification of graduation from a master's degree program of social work; or Certification of graduation from a baccalaureate degree program of social work and verification of completion of 3 years of supervised professional experience.
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work?
Persons applying as a Licensed Social Worker who have a baccalaureate degree in social work shall complete 3 years of supervised professional experience subsequent to obtaining the baccalaureate degree. For purposes of this subsection, supervised professional experience is that experience directly related to social work as defined in Section 3(9) of the Act. The experience shall be:
1) obtained under the direct supervision of a certified social worker registered under the Social Workers Registration Act, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Social Worker, diplomate in clinical social work, designated member of ACSW or other appropriate supervisor as approved by the Board.
2) satisfactory as evaluated by the supervisor. The supervisor shall have met with the individual an average of at least 4 hours each month.
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? The examinations for Licensed Social Worker shall be the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) examinations. An applicant for licensure as a licensed social worker will be required to take and pass the Masters ASWB examination.
Additional requirements specific to Part C? Social Workers with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may apply for an EI Specialist: Licensed Social Worker credential and enroll to bill. All new EI credential applicants are required to document:
  1. Specific educational/licensure requirements
  2. Completion of EI System Overview Training. System Overview training is now available online at https://eitp.education.illinois.edu/ and consists of an online component and 1 day of face-to-face follow-up training. Provider Connections will process credential applications only if all educational/licensure requirements and a minimum of the online portion of EI System Overview training are documented as complete.
  3. Service Coordinators and Parent Liaisons will be allowed 3 months from the date their temporary credentials are issued to verify completion of System Overview training and their respective training requirements.
  4. Background check results.
  5. Completion of System Overview Training.
  6. Agreement to participate in Ongoing Professional Development Meetings. In addition to the above-mentioned educational and training requirements, all new providers will: 1. Have 18 months from the date their temporary credentials are issued to complete the required 240 hours of consultation verification (Form)consultation verification (Form). DT-Hearing, DT-Vision, and DT-O&M providers need to complete 120 hours. 2. Documentation of this requirement must show that the individual participated in a consultation with an appropriately experienced individual of the same discipline/Early Intervention service group who has experience working with children ages birth to three with special needs and their families. The consultation shall be in compliance with the professional standards of the individual seeking the credential, as determined and documented by the consultant. 3. All new unlicensed providers (except DTs) must complete the four core knowledge areas during the 18-month temporary period. DTs are required to document the completed four core knowledge area requirements upon application. 4. A credential extension of up to 6 months for credentialed Specialist and Associate Level providers & 90 days for credentialed Service Coordinators and Parent Liaisons may be granted due to non-compliance with Supervised Professional Experience and/or completion of training requirements established due to extreme hardship or extenuating circumstances. Such requests will be evaluated on an individual case basis and must follow the prescribed procedures.
Additional requirements specific for schools? Certification of School Social Workers Candidates for the School Service Personnel Certificate endorsed for school social work shall: a. Hold a master's or higher degree in social work with a specialization in school social work awarded by a graduate school of social work accredited by the Council on Social Work Education.

b. Have completed an Illinois program approved for the preparation of school social workers or a comparable approved program in another state or country and/or hold a comparable certificate issued by another state or country.

c. Have completed both a supervised field experience of at least 400 contact hours, supervised by a field instructor holding a master's or higher degree in social work and a school social work internship of at least 600 contact hours in a school setting or have one year's professional experience as a school social worker on a valid out-of-state school social work certificate or an Illinois provisional school service personnel certificate endorsed for school social work.

d. Be required to pass the School Social Worker (#184) test, as well as the Basic Skills test.

e. Applicants who hold a valid school social worker certificate from another state are automatically exempt from the Illinois test unless they previously failed the Illinois Basic Skills Test.

Speech Language Pathologist

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Discipline Speech-Language Pathologist
License/Certificate Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist
State Department Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
State Department Hyperlink https://idfpr.illinois.gov/profs/speechlangaudio.html
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range Birth - Death
Degree Level Requirement Master's
Licensure Specific Curriculum/Coursework The curriculum must include at least the following subject areas in professional education (60 semester hours required): A) Basic Communication Processes i) Anatomic and physiological bases ii) Physical bases and processes of the production and perception of speech, language, and hearing iii) Linguistic and psycholinguistic variables related to normal development and use of speech, language and hearing B) Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology i) Speech and language disorders ii) Audiology iii) Auditory and vestibular pathology iv) Auditory and vestibular habilitation/rehabilitation
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? For a license as a speech-language pathologist, have completed the equivalent of 9 months of supervised experience
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Submit verification of successful completion of the National Examination in Speech-Language Pathology in the form of original grade results from the NTE Program; or For Speech-Language Pathologists, submit a copy of certification from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA).
Additional requirements specific to Part C? Speech/Language Pathologists with a current license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may apply for an EI Specialist: Licensed Speech/Language Pathologist credential and enroll to bill. (Provider is automatically enrolled under aural rehabilitation and speech therapy categories.) Individuals with a master's in speech-language pathology who are participating in a supervised professional experience and hold a temporary license in the state where they provide services to Illinois children may apply for an EI Associate: Speech/Language Pathologist in supervised professional experience credential. Associate services are billed under the enrolled supervisor's name. All new EI credential applicants are required to document:
  1. Specific educational/licensure requirements
  2. Completion of EI System Overview Training. System Overview training is now available online at https://eitp.education.illinois.edu/ and consists of an online component and 1 day of face-to-face follow-up training. Provider Connections will process credential applications only if all educational/licensure requirements and a minimum of the online portion of EI System Overview training are documented as complete.
  3. Service Coordinators and Parent Liaisons will be allowed 3 months from the date their temporary credentials are issued to verify completion of System Overview training and their respective training requirements.
  4. Background check results.
  5. Completion of System Overview Training.
  6. Agreement to participate in Ongoing Professional Development Meetings. In addition to the above-mentioned educational and training requirements, all new providers will: 1. Have 18 months from the date their temporary credentials are issued to complete the required 240 hours of consultation verification (Form)consultation verification (Form). DT-Hearing, DT-Vision, and DT-O&M providers need to complete 120 hours. 2. Documentation of this requirement must show that the individual participated in a consultation with an appropriately experienced individual of the same discipline/Early Intervention service group who has experience working with children ages birth to three with special needs and their families. The consultation shall be in compliance with the professional standards of the individual seeking the credential, as determined and documented by the consultant. 3. All new unlicensed providers (except DTs) must complete the four core knowledge areas during the 18-month temporary period. DTs are required to document the completed four core knowledge area requirements upon application. 4. The four core knowledge area requirements have been eliminated for all licensed providers. 5. A credential extension of up to 6 months for credentialed Specialist and Associate Level providers & 90 days for credentialed Service Coordinators and Parent Liaisons may be granted due to non-compliance with Supervised Professional Experience and/or completion of training requirements established due to extreme hardship or extenuating circumstances. Such requests will be evaluated on an individual case basis and must follow the prescribed procedures. 6. Credential Extension Request Form.
Additional requirements specific for schools? Speech Language Pathologist (Teaching) requires a master’s degree accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) at the time the applicant completed the program.​​​

Vision Specialist

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Discipline Vision Specialist
License/Certificate Special Education Certificate: Teacher of Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired
State Department Illinois State Board of Education
State Department Hyperlink https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Professional-Educator-License-Teaching-Endorsements.aspx
Type of License/Certificate Licensure/Certificate
Age Range PreK - 21 yrs
Degree Level Requirement Complete a Blind and Visually Impaired Educator Preparation Program
Licensure Specific Curriculum/Coursework
Complete coursework in the following five areas:
  • Anatomy and pathology of eye conditions
  • Functional vision assessment and learning media assessment
  • Basic assistive technology
  • Methodology in teaching students who are blind and visually impaired
  • Basic orientation and mobility
Licensure Require Specific Field or Clinical Work? Must complete preclinical experience and student teaching in the specific area of special education (teaching students who are blind or visually impaired)
Licensure Dependent on an Exam? Must pass all required Illinois certification tests (passing score=240 for each): 1. Basic Skills #096 2. Assessment of Professional Teaching (special K - 12) #104 3. Special Education General Curriculum #163 4. Teacher of Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired #151
Additional requirements specific to Part C? Individuals with (1) a bachelor's degree or higher in Orientation and Mobility or (2) a Special Education degree for Blind and Partially Seeing may apply for an Early Intervention Specialist: Developmental Therapist/Vision credential and enroll to bill for Part C Services. They may provide Developmental and/or Vision Therapy services related to visual functioning based on their qualifications and experience. (Provider is automatically enrolled under the vision category.)
Alternative Route Provisional or temporary The Alternative Teacher Certification program: An initial teaching certificate, valid for teaching in the common schools, shall be issued under Section 21-3 or 21-5 to persons who first complete the requirements for the provisional alternative teaching certificate and who at the time of applying for an initial teaching certificate have successfully completed the second and third phases of the Alternative Route.