(225 ILCS 110/8.5)
    (Text of Section before amendment by P.A. 103-1004)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)
    Sec. 8.5. Qualifications for licenses as a speech-language pathology assistant. A person is qualified to be licensed as a speech-language pathology assistant if that person has applied in writing or electronically on forms prescribed by the Department, has paid the required fees, and meets both of the following criteria:
        (1) Is of good moral character. In determining moral
    
character, the Department may take into consideration any felony conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere of the applicant, but such a conviction or plea shall not operate automatically as a complete bar to licensure.
        (2) Has received either (i) an associate degree from
    
a speech-language pathology assistant program that has been approved by the Department and that meets the minimum requirements set forth in Section 8.6, (ii) a bachelor's degree and has completed course work from an accredited college or university that meets the minimum requirements set forth in Section 8.6, or (iii) a bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology or communication sciences and disorders from a regionally or nationally accredited institution approved by the Department, and evidence of completion of at least 100 hours of documented field work supervised by a licensed speech-language pathologist that is comparable to that completed in a speech-language pathology assistant program in this State.
(Source: P.A. 103-302, eff. 1-1-24.)
 
    (Text of Section after amendment by P.A. 103-1004)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2028)
    Sec. 8.5. Qualifications for licenses as a speech-language pathology assistant. A person is qualified to be licensed as a speech-language pathology assistant if that person has applied in writing or electronically on forms prescribed by the Department, has paid the required fees, and meets both of the following criteria:
        (1) Is of good moral character. In determining moral
    
character, the Department may take into consideration any felony conviction or plea of guilty or nolo contendere of the applicant, but such a conviction or plea shall not operate automatically as a complete bar to licensure.
        (2) Has either:
            (A) received an associate degree from a
        
speech-language pathology assistant program that has been approved by the Department and that meets the minimum requirements set forth in Section 8.6; or
            (B)(i) received a bachelor's degree in
        
speech-language pathology, communication sciences and disorders, or other content area from an accredited college or university that has been approved by the Department and meets the minimum requirements set forth in Section 8.6, and (ii) completed the requirements for certification as a speech-language pathology assistant or completed an equivalent program as determined by the Department by rule.
(Source: P.A. 103-302, eff. 1-1-24; 103-1004, eff. 1-1-25.)