In the state of Illinois, many different professions are regulated by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), from architects and detectives to accountants and engineers. Nearly all medical professionals, including psychologists, are also licensed by the IDFPR and must meet certain requirements to legally practice in the state. These requirements are put in place in order to maintain a certain level of safety for the public. Illinois issues two types of licensure for psychologists: clinical psychologist and prescribing psychologist. Each type of license has its own requirements, which are important to understand if you plan to apply for a license.

Clinical Psychologist

A clinical psychologist can be found in a variety of settings. Many clinical psychologists have their own practices and see various types of patients about various issues. Clinical psychologists have the ability to diagnose and treat patients with a variety of issues and work with primary care physicians and psychiatrists to control patients’ conditions with medication. To become a licensed clinical psychologist in Illinois, you must:

• Be at least 21 years old
• Be a graduate of a doctoral program that is accredited by the American Psychological Association
• Complete a minimum of two years of supervised experience, one of which being an internship and the other being postdoctoral experience
• Pass an examination given by the IDFPR
• Provide all of the required documentation, including proof of completion of required education and work experience

Prescribing Psychologist

A prescribing psychologist is a clinical psychologist who is permitted to prescribe certain medications to his or her patients. Because prescribing psychologists are given this ability, they must meet different requirements than the ones set forth for clinical psychologists. To become a licensed prescribing psychologist in Illinois, you must:

Social workers are all around us -- they can be found in schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, the military, private corporations and even in private practices. The purpose of social work is to help people and promote overall well being, which is why social workers are licensed and regulated in the state of Illinois by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Illinois provides two options for licensure in the state: licensed social worker (LSW) and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW). These licenses are similar, but there are limitations on what each type of license permits a person to do, which is also why the requirements for each license are different.

Licensed Social Worker

If a person holds an LSW, they are permitted to practice social casework, social group work, community-based social welfare, social work education or social work research. LSWs are permitted to administer social services to individuals, groups or communities, along with engaging in clinical social work, as long as it is not conducted in a private, independent practice.

To obtain an LSW, a person is required to:

Nursing requires flexibility, empathy, and the ability to think on one’s feet. Nurses who are self-starters are often highly praised. However, these attributes are a double-edged sword and can result in a nurse’s license being placed in jeopardy due to the scope of practice violations.

A nurse’s scope of practice must always be adhered to, and failure to do so can mean that the board of nursing will get involved. It is never permissible to operate outside of your scope of practice even if it is customary on your floor or office or if you are certain that you can get a doctor will later approve your actions.

There are several categories of nurses: registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Each group has a scope of practice delineated under Illinois law.

Some of the highest rates of addiction among professionals are found among doctors and nurses. Both doctors and nurses must maintain professional licenses in order to practice, and these licenses can be taken away if a board determines that substance abuse is interfering with the performance of one’s job.

In these circumstances, hiring an attorney to represent you before the board will mean that you can feel confident your best case is being put forward and that you understand the process in which your license is at stake as well as your options moving forward.

Addiction in Healthcare Workers

If you are part of a profession that requires a license and you have a child support obligation, you should be aware that failure to pay child support could mean that you will lose your professional license. Your professional license may be in jeopardy after only 30 days from when your child support payment becomes delinquent.

This only applies to court-ordered or court-approved child support payments. Informal agreements cannot be used as a basis for professional license suspension or revocation.

Other Licenses Could Also Be Revoked

Studying to become a nurse takes a lot of time and effort. There are many hours spent working toward the Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. After the degree has been received, then the graduate will need to apply for a nursing license to be able to practice in his or her chosen field. If the licensee is impaired for any reason, then there are steps that need to be taken to settle the situation.

Mandatory Reporting for the Impaired Nursing Licensee

If a licensed nurse is impaired on the job because of the use of alcohol or drugs, or if he or she unlawfully possesses, uses, or distributes drugs while on the job, then the institution that has knowledge of these actions may report the licensed nurse to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Professional Regulation. However, if the licensed nurse agrees to participate in a course of remedial professional counseling or substance abuse treatment, he or she may not need to be reported.

The medical field comes with many different challenges, as any occupation within this field is responsible for the health and well-being of patients who are treated. There are many different occupations in the medical field, and many individuals studying medicine begin their careers by becoming a physician assistant. Like physicians and many other medical occupations, there are licensing requirements for physician assistants, and it is very important to familiarize yourself with the requirements so there are no discrepancies in your application for licensure.

How Are Physician Assistants Important in Healthcare?

A physician assistant is a certified and state-licensed medical professional, and is very important in the medical field, as they have undergone extensive training and have passed an examination for licensure and certification. Like physicians, the physician assistants can also diagnose, treat, and prescribe medication. As physician assistants are very high in demand, the most successful healthcare facilities have relied on physician assistants for the success. From the years 2011 to 2014, the demand for physician assistants had increased by more than 300 percent.