GRADUATE STUDENT CHECKLIST
THE ADVISEMENT - GRADUATION – CERTIFICATION – LICENSURE – EMPLOYMENT PROCESS
ISU Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders Website:
http://www.csd.ilstu.edu/
First Term Activities
______ PROJECTED SCHEDULE - Prior to the graduate orientation program, you developed a projected
schedule outlining courses and clinics you plan to complete to earn your degree. The requirement is for all students
to complete three elective courses. It is fine to alter your elective choices as you progress through the program;
simply notify Verticchio of this change so your plan can be adjusted.
______ TRANSFER OF CLINIC LOGS - If you did not receive your bachelor's degree from ISU, you must obtain
a signed copy of all clinical observation and contact hours earned as an undergraduate student. This information
should be submitted to Mrs. Mary Brelsfoard in FH 204. Her email is mvbrels@ilstu.edu if you earned direct
contact hours; you need to meet with Mrs. Boester to get these hours added to your clinic log.
______ TRANSFER OF GRADUATE COURSEWORK – If you have completed or plan to complete any courses
for graduate credit at another university, you must: a) send an official copy of your transcript directly to Mrs.
Verticchio when your grades are posted, and b) submit a completed Transfer of Credit form available at the Graduate
School Website: http://www.grad.ilstu.edu/downloads/transfercredit052.pdf
______ GRADUATION OPTIONS AVAILABLE–All students must complete one of the three graduation
options: 1) Comprehensive Examinations, 2) Independent Study, 3) Thesis. More information about these options
will be presented during your first term of courses. There is also information on these options in the Department
Manual: http://csd.illinoisstate.edu/about/departmentManual.shtml The final decision on which option you would
like to pursue does not need to be made until the end of your second term. Keep in mind, however, if you are
contemplating a thesis you should be that as early as possible.
______ TEST OF ACADEMIC PROFICIENCY (TAP test) – Once you are admitted to the
Program, your admission will be provisional pending receipt of passing TAP scores OR the substitution of passing
ACT/SAT scores for the TAP. You will be permitted to register for your first Fall term courses, but your registration
will be blocked for future terms until these materials are received. A composite score on the ACTplus writing of 22
and a minimum of 19 in the combined English/Writing section can be substituted for the TAP as long as the ACT
plus writing was completed within the past 10 years of admission to the MS in SLP program and submission to
ISBE. To substitute the ACT for the TAP follow the procedures found
here: http://education.illinoisstate.edu/teacher_education/gateway1/tap.shtml (See also additional handout.)
You may register for the TAP online at: www.icts.nesinc.com or by calling 1-800-239-8107. The test
code for the Test of Academic Proficiency is 400. Scores must be sent to ISU, code 018.
_____ KASA INFORMATION -- Be familiar with the KASA standards and policies found in the Department
Manual: http://csd.illinoisstate.edu/about/departmentManual.shtml
KASA completion from your academic coursework will be housed online:
http://csd.illinoisstate.edu/kasa/login/login.aspx Clinical KASA standards will be tracked on grading forms and
maintained in your department file. This information will be used at the time you submit your
paperwork for ASHA certification at the end of your program.
Second Term Activities
______ GRADUATION OPTION SELECTION – By the beginning of finals week of your second term, you must
declare which graduation option you have chosen, (Comprehensive Examinations, Independent Study, or Thesis), by
informing Mrs. Verticchio. Students who fail to notify Mrs. Verticchio by the beginning of finals week of their
second term will be defaulted to the Comprehensive Examination option.
Third Term Activities
______ IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES – This document, available at the Graduate School Website,
http://grad.illinoisstate.edu/academics/graduation should be printed during the third term and retained until
graduation. It contains all important dates and deadlines for students graduating within the calendar year. This is
particularly important for writers of theses.
______ CONTENT TEST FOR IL EDUCATOR LICENSE (SCHOOL SERVICE PERSONNEL) - In order to
obtain the Illinois Professional Educator License (School Service Personnel) you must register and pass the
NON-TEACHING version of this examination PRIOR to your clinical internships (CSD 408.6). You may register
online at: www.icts.nesinc.com.
The test code for the NON-TEACHING speech pathology test is 154. Scores must be sent to ISU, code 018.
Fourth Term Activities – Before you leave campus!
______ MASTERS DEGREE AUDIT – You must complete the Masters Degree Audit, online. The Graduate
School wants all of this information sent to them (from Verticchio) electronically. Go to:
http://grad.illinoisstate.edu/academics/forms/ Select the WORD format of the Master's Degree Audit. This is a 4
page document. You need to complete pages 3 and 4, and your Name/UID on page 1. Verticchio will complete all
other information on Page 1 and 2. Your major should be listed as Speech Language Pathology and your sequence
left blank. The department number for CSD is 472. You must list all courses and clinics in the order that you took or
will take them. However, do NOT include any 408.5´s. When you list your 408.6 - Ext. Prac: EDUC and 408.7 Ext. Prac: MED you should list them for 2 hours each (even though you register for them for 5 hours). You can
abbreviate course titles to fit. Once you have this word document completed you will save it (all 4 pages) as your
last name TDA.doc, for example, verticchioTDA.doc Email this 4 page WORD document to Verticchio as an
attachment from YOUR ISU email to MY ISU email (hrfritz@ilstu.edu). Once this is processed you will get an
email from Verticchio as well as the Graduate School indicating completion.
______ INTENT TO FILE FOR CERTIFICATION -- To obtain the Illinois Educators License (School Service
Personnel) you must complete an Intent to File for Licensure. Go to:
http://education.illinoisstate.edu/teacher_education/licensures Complete steps 1 and 2 listed under the
Graduate/Advanced Licensure section. Once your Intent is processed, you will receive additional information and
paperwork to be completed and returned with payment to the CECP Office. It will not be processed further until you
finish your degree (see Early Checkout procedure).
_____ APPLICATIONS FOR GRADUATION AND COMMENCEMENT PARTICIPATION – You must
submit an Application for Completion of Degree, available: http://grad.illinoisstate.edu/academics/graduation
The commencement participation form can be completed at the same time. If you plan to participate in the
commencement ceremony, view the Student Affairs website for directions on cap/gown/hood information, ceremony
dates/times at www.commencement.ilstu.edu.

NOTE REGARDING COMMENCEMENT POLICY – Students who finish their final internship
assignments during the spring and summer terms may walk in the graduation ceremony in May. Students
who finish during the fall term must walk during the December ceremony. This is a University policy and
no exceptions will be made.
_____ NATIONAL EXAM IN SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY - At the end of your last
semester on campus, register to take the national examination in speech language pathology. The
exam is one of the Praxis II: Subject Assessments and Specialty Area Tests, and is required for ASHA
certification and Illinois licensure. The test is called Speech-Language Pathology (code 5331).
Registration information, test dates, lists, fees and testing centers can be found on the ETS website:
http://www.ets.org/praxis/asha/ Be sure to request original test scores be sent to ISU (code
RA0073), the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation (IDPR) (code R7219) and ASHA (code R5031). Note:
You can purchase study materials through ETS for this exam.
While You are Completing your Internship Assignments
______ ASHA CERTIFICATION APPLICATION – ASHA certification instructions and forms can
be downloaded from: http://www.asha.org/certification/SLPCertification.htm
At the end of your first full-time internship placement, Boester will discuss how to complete these
forms. Keep in mind that there are additional forms you will need to complete when you finish your Clinical
Fellowship (CF).
______ TRANSCRIPT REQUEST Information about transcript request can be found at the following website:
http://www.registrar.ilstu.edu/transcripts/.
An official transcript will need to be sent to ASHA to verify your degree—once your degree is posted. Have this
transcript sent to you. DO NOT OPEN THIS. You will send this transcript sealed to ASHA when you submit your
ASHA application. You will also need to have an official sealed transcript sent directly from ISU to IDFPR. This
transcript will also need to be sent once your degree is posted. Have this transcript sent to: Illinois Department of
Financial and Professional Regulation, Attn: Division of Professional Regulation, P.O. Box 7007, Springfield,
Illinois 62791. Follow the procedures below for the IL Educator License (School Service Personnel).
_____ ILLNOIS EDUCATOR LICENSE - If you are applying for an Illinois Educator License, an additional copy
of your transcript (once your degree is posted) should be sent to Lynn Steffen, TEC, Campus Box 5440, ISU,
Normal, IL 61790. When Ms. Steffen receives your transcript, she will send the information electronically to the
Illinois State Board of Education, along with the application information you submitted earlier for this. Once
processed, your License will arrive in the mail.
_____ TEMPORARY ILLINOIS LICENSE IN SLP – You must have a temporary license to
Begin your CF. During your first full-time internship, obtain the application from the
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation website:
http://www.idfpr.com/profs/info/SpeechLangAudio.asp. Select Speech-Lang Pathologist, Licensed from the Forms.
The application includes an ED form that must be sent to the Registrar’s Office to be signed and notarized. The
Temporary License form is the last page of the Acceptance of Examination packet. Bring the whole application to
the close out meeting at the end of your first full-time internship with Boester. She will go over the
procedures for completing the application. During your final internship, complete the application and bring it with
you to your final close out meeting with Boester. She will deliver your “ED Form” along with your final
grade to the Registrar. The form will be completed and returned to you immediately for inclusion in your
application. You will send the entire application to IDFPR when you receive it: Illinois Department of Financial and
Professional Regulation, Attn: Division of Professional Regulation, P.O. Box 7007, Springfield, Illinois 62791.
_____ ILLINOIS LICENSE IN SLP – While you’re completing your CF, apply for a permanent
license through IDFPR by following the instructions on the website:
http://www.idfpr.com/profs/info/SpeechLangAudio.asp
_____ CF Year – There are additional forms/procedures that must be completed for the Clinical Fellowship year.
Find information about this from ASHA: http://www.asha.org/certification/Clinical-Fellowship/
______ QUESTIONS???? – Contact:
Academic Advisor and Graduate Coordinator
Heidi Verticchio
Fairchild Hall 217B
309-438-3266
hrfritz@ilstu.edu
HRV/ CLB/LSB 5/2015