Understanding Illinois Visiting Permits for Medical and Chiropractic Professionals
Illinois law allows certain out-of-state medical and chiropractic professionals to teach, train, or provide limited clinical services in Illinois without obtaining a full Illinois license. These permissions are granted through Visiting Permits, which are authorized under the Illinois Medical Practice Act of 1987 and implemented through the Illinois Administrative Code (68 Ill. Adm. Code Part 1285).
These visiting permits are:
- Visiting Professor Permit (includes Chiropractors)
- Visiting Physician Permit
- Visiting Resident Permit
Visiting permits are authorized by the Medical Practice Act of 1987 (225 ILCS 60) and administered by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
While the Act is often associated with physicians, it explicitly includes chiropractic education and practice in several sections—particularly for teaching and academic appointments.
The administrative rules that govern how these permits are issued appear in 68 Ill. Adm. Code Part 1285.
Visiting Professor Permit (68 Ill. Adm. Code § 1285.100)
The Visiting Professor Permit applies to out-of-state professionals who are appointed to teach in an Illinois educational program, including:
- Medical schools
- Osteopathic medical schools
- Chiropractic colleges or programs
This includes:
- Physicians (MD/DO)
- Chiropractic physicians
- Other qualified healthcare professionals authorized under the Act
What the Permit Allows:
- Teaching didactic (classroom) instruction
- Providing clinical instruction and supervision as part of the academic program
- Performing limited clinical activities only within the scope of the faculty appointment
Key requirements can be found below:
**Important fingerprint information can be found towards the bottom of this page**
Visiting Physician Permit (68 Ill. Adm. Code § 1285.101)
The Visiting Physician Permit is designed for physicians who are not licensed in Illinois but are invited into the state on a temporary and limited basis to:
- Demonstrate medical or clinical techniques
- Participate in teaching or training activities
- Assist with specialized procedures or instruction
What the Permit Allows:
- Short-term participation in clinical or educational activities
- Practice limited strictly to the approved purpose and setting
- No ongoing or independent medical practice
Key requirements can be found below:
**Important fingerprint information can be found towards the bottom of this page**
Visiting Resident Permit (68 Ill. Adm. Code § 1285.91)
This permit applies to medical residents or postgraduate trainees who:
- are enrolled in a residency or training program outside Illinois
- are invited to complete part of their training at an Illinois facility
What the Permit Allows:
- Temporary clinical training in Illinois
- Supervised participation as part of an approved residency rotation
- No independent practice authority
Key requirements can be found below:
**Important fingerprint information can be found towards the bottom of this page**
It’s important to understand that visiting permits are not full professional licenses. They:
- are temporary
- are limited in scope
- apply only to specific educational or training activities
- do not authorize independent practice in Illinois
- exist to allow Illinois institutions to benefit from outside expertise while maintaining regulatory oversight and patient safety.
Important Fingerprinting Information:
Per the IDFPR, fingerprints must be taken no more than 60 days prior to submission of your application. Below are the codes you will need when you visit one of our locations:
- Visiting Chiropractic Professor Permit (Purpose Code: VCH and Profession Code: 114)
- Visiting Physician Professor Permit (Purpose Code: VPH and Profession Code: 113)
- Visiting Physician Permit (Purpose Code: VPR and Profession Code: 106)
- Visiting Resident Permit (Purpose Code: VRS and Profession Code: 188)
If you can’t visit one of our locations, please follow our out-of-state process and in the cover letter mentioned in the checklist, include the codes for the Visiting Permit you are submitting the fingerprints for.
If you have any questions about which permit you should apply for, please contact the IDFPR. Once you get confirmation, Biometric Impressions Corp. is here to help!
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