(225 ILCS 84/40)

(Section scheduled to be repealed on January 1, 2030)

Sec. 40. Qualifications for licensure as orthotist, prosthetist, or pedorthist.

(a) To qualify for a license to practice orthotics or prosthetics, a person shall:

(1) possess a baccalaureate degree or higher from a college or university;

(2) have completed the amount of formal training, including, but not limited to, any hours of classroom education and clinical practice established and approved by the Department;

(3) complete a clinical residency in the professional area for which a license is sought in accordance with standards, guidelines, or procedures for residencies inside or outside this State established and approved by the Department. The majority of training must be devoted to services performed under the supervision of a licensed practitioner of orthotics or prosthetics or a person certified as a Certified Orthotist (CO), Certified Prosthetist (CP), or Certified Prosthetist Orthotist (CPO) whose practice is located outside of the State;

(4) pass all written, practical, and oral examinations that are required and approved by the Department; and

(5) be qualified to practice in accordance with internationally accepted standards of orthotic and prosthetic care.

(b) To qualify for a license to practice pedorthics, a person shall:

(1) submit proof of a high school diploma or its equivalent;

(2) have completed the amount of formal training, including, but not limited to, any hours of classroom education and clinical practice established and approved by the Department;

(3) complete a qualified work experience program or internship in pedorthics that has a minimum of 1,000 hours of pedorthic patient care experience in accordance with any standards, guidelines, or procedures established and approved by the Department. The majority of training must be devoted to services performed under the supervision of a licensed practitioner of pedorthics or a person certified as a Certified Pedorthist (C.Ped) whose practice is located outside of the State;

(4) pass all examinations that are required and approved by the Department; and

(5) be qualified to practice in accordance with nationally accepted standards of pedorthic care.

(c) The standards and requirements for licensure established by the Department shall be substantially equal to or in excess of standards commonly accepted in the profession of orthotics, prosthetics, or pedorthics. The Department shall adopt rules as necessary to set the standards and requirements.

(d) A person may be licensed in more than one discipline.

(Source: P.A. 101-269, eff. 8-9-19.)