Section 25.252  Certification of Non-Teaching Speech-Language Pathologists

Certain individuals may qualify for a school service personnel certificate with a non-teaching speech-language pathologist's endorsement, as provided in Section 14-1.09b of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/14-1.09b].

a)         Each applicant shall hold one of the licenses identified in Section 14-1.09b(b)(1) of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/14-1.09b(b)(1)].

b)         Each applicant shall hold a master's or doctoral degree earned through completion of a program that meets the requirements of Section 14-1.09b(b)(2) of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/14-1.09b(b)(2)].

c)         Each applicant shall have met the requirements of Section 14-1.09b(b)(3) of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/14-1.09b(b)(3)].

1)         A program of study that meets the content-area standards for speech-language pathologists approved by the State Board of Education in consultation with the State Teacher Certification Board is a relevant preparation program that has been approved pursuant to Subpart C of this Part.

2)         A comparable out-of-state program is one that leads to qualification as either a teaching or a non-teaching speech-language pathologist.

3)         A comparable out-of-state certificate is one authorizing employment in the public schools in either capacity.

4)         The required 150 clock hours of supervised, school-based professional experience shall consist of activities related to the aspects of practice that are addressed in the content-area standards for speech-language pathologists (see the policies of the State Board of Education, posted at www.isbe.net/rules, related to certification in special education under the federal court order of February 27, 2001, in the matter of Corey H., et al., v. Board of Education of the City of Chicago, et al.) with respect to:

A)        planning and intervention;

B)        the learning environment;

C)        service delivery;

D)        professional conduct and ethics; and

E)         facilitation and advocacy.

5)         The required evidence of completion for the 150 clock hours of supervised, school-based professional experience 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 and/or performance aspects of each of the standards identified in subsection (c)(4) of this Section.

d)         Each candidate shall be required to pass the applicable content-area test (see Section 25.710 of this Part), as well as the test of basic skills, subject to the provisions of Section 25.720 of this Part.

e)         Nothing in this Section is intended to preclude the issuance of a provisional certificate under Section 21-10 of the School Code.

(Source:  Amended at 29 Ill. Reg. 15831, effective October 3, 2005)