1. (a) An SLPA shall:

   1. (1) Complete a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders from a regionally or nationally accredited institution and twenty-five (25) hours of observation, which is described in subdivision (b)(2)(B)(ii)(f) of this section;
   2. (2) Complete an SLPA program (two-year minimum) that meets the requirements described in subsection (b) of this section, from a regionally or nationally accredited institution (e.g., an associate’s degree from a community college, a technical training program, a certificate program, or a bachelor’s degree) and one hundred (100) hours of fieldwork; or
   3. (3) C-SLPA from ASHA.

2. (b)

   1. (1)

      1. (A) An SLPA program under subdivision (a)(2) of this section shall meet the specified curriculum content and fieldwork experience listed below.
      2. (B) Applicants from out-of-state will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis to ensure equivalency.

   2. (2) Curriculum content. The curriculum content shall include, unless otherwise permitted by the Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, sixty (60) semester credit hours with the following content:

      1. (A)

3. (i) General education (twenty (20) to forty (40) semester credit hours).

   1. (ii) The general education sequence should include, but is not limited to, coursework in:
4. (a) (a) Oral and written communication skills demonstrated to meet the level of workplace standards expected for the field of speech-language pathology;

5. (b) (b) Mathematics, including at least one (1) course in:

   1. (1) (1) General mathematics;
   2. (2) (2) Business mathematics;
   3. (3) (3) Accounting;
   4. (4) (4) Algebra;
   5. (5) (5) Statistics; or

   6. (6) (6) Higher-level mathematics;

      1. (c) (c) Technology, including:
   7. (1) (1) Computer literacy;
   8. (2) (2) Word processing;
   9. (3) (3) Web-based applications; or

   10. (4) (4) Managing digital audio and video files; and

       1. (d) (d) Social and natural sciences, including psychology, sociology, biology, and/or human anatomy and physiology, physics or other sciences, as applicable; and

       2. (B)

          1. (i) Technical knowledge (twenty (20) to forty (40) semester credit hours).
          2. (ii) Course content must provide students with background information in communication disorders, technical knowledge to assume the job responsibilities, and core technical skills for SLPAs and shall include the following:

6. (a) (a) Overview of normal processes of communication, including:

   1. (1) (1) Normal speech, language, communication, and hearing development;
   2. (2) (2) Phonetics; and
   3. (3) (3) Communication across the lifespan;

7. (b) (b) Overview of communication disorders, including:

   1. (1) (1) Introduction/survey to communication disorders; and

   2. (2) (2) Coursework in both speech disorders and language disorders;

      1. (c) (c) Instruction in assistant-level service delivery practices, including:
   3. (1) (1) Technical procedures for SLPAs;
   4. (2) (2) Ethics for the practice of speech-language pathology; and

   5. (3) (3) Procedures and processes about assisting the speech-language pathologist;

      1. (d) (d) Instruction in workplace behaviors, including:
   6. (1) (1) Relating verbally and nonverbally to clients/caregivers in a pragmatic, supportive, and appropriate manner that considers the development, educational, cultural, and communication needs of these individuals;
   7. (2) (2) Accepting and implementing the supervisor’s feedback and instructions and seeking clarification as needed;
   8. (3) (3) Maintaining confidentiality and ensuring the security of client information and records at all times;
   9. (4) (4) Communicating effectively in oral and written formats that conform to speech-language pathology workplace standards of intelligibility and legibility and are consistent with state and federal rules and regulations and instructions from the supervising speech-language pathologist; and
   10. (5) (5) Following health and safety precautions, including universal precautions and other workplace procedures designed to provide a safe environment for clients and others;

8. (e) (e) Cultural and linguistic factors in communication, including one (1) or more of the following:

   1. (1) (1) Language and culture;
   2. (2) (2) Interpersonal communication (verbal and nonverbal);
   3. (3) (3) Sign language and other manually coded systems; and
   4. (4) (4) Bilingualism or other multicultural issues; and

9. (f)

   1. (1) (f)(1) Observation.
   2. (2) (2) Observation experiences include direct, on-site observation of an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist.
   3. (3) (3) Additional observation experiences may include preapproved (by the supervising speech-language pathologist) on-site or video observation of an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist.

   4. (3) Fieldwork experience.

      1. (A) This training shall be supervised by a speech-language pathologist who holds:

         1. (i) A current and valid license from the board; or
         2. (ii) The ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech-language pathology.

      2. (B) These experiences are not intended to develop independent practice.

         1. (c) Additional requirements:
   5. (1) An SLPA shall not begin work before the registration application has been approved nor may the SLPA continue work after the registration has expired;
   6. (2) An SLPA shall be employed in a setting in which direct and indirect supervision are provided on a regular and systematic basis by an approved supervising speech-language pathologist; and

   7. (3)

      1. (A) An SLPA shall wear a name tag at all times during employment identifying title as registered speech-language pathology assistant.
      2. (B) The title must contain the entire word “assistant” and not an abbreviation.

      3. (C) Facilities may apply to the board for exemption from this requirement.

         1. (d) Continuing education.

   8. (1)

      1. (A)

         1. (i) An SLPA shall meet continuing education requirements that total at least one (1) hour for every month of registration (maximum of ten (10) hours per fiscal year).
         2. (ii) Activities must pertain to the scope of responsibilities of the assistant (17 CAR § 180-1315).
         3. (iii) At least five (5) of the hours must fall within Content Area I as defined below.

      2. (B) Content Area I for assistants:

         1. (i) Normal development and use of:
10. (a) (a) Speech;

11. (b) (b) Language; and

    1. (c) (c) Hearing;

       1. (ii)

12. (a) (a) Speech-therapy treatment strategies for communicative disorders, such as:

    1. (1) (1) Stuttering;
    2. (2) (2) Language;
    3. (3) (3) Articulation;
    4. (4) (4) Feeding; and
    5. (5) (5) Augmentative/alternative communication.

13. (b) (b) Note.

    1. (1) (1) SLPAs do not develop treatment plans.

    2. (2) (2) They follow treatment plans developed by the supervising speech-language pathologist;

       1. (iii)

14. (a) (a) Evaluation techniques for communicative disorders such as:

    1. (1) (1) Stuttering;
    2. (2) (2) Language;
    3. (3) (3) Articulation;
    4. (4) (4) Feeding; and
    5. (5) (5) Augmentative/alternative communication.

15. (b) (b) Note.

    1. (1) (1) SLPAs do not conduct or interpret evaluations.

    2. (2) (2) They may assist the supervising speech-language pathologist in evaluations/screenings;

       1. (iv)
16. (a) (a) Treatment and evaluation of reading and writing difficulties as they relate to communication.

17. (b) (b) Note.

    1. (1) (1) SLPAs do not conduct or interpret evaluations.

    2. (2) (2) They may assist the supervising speech-language pathologist in evaluations/screenings; and

       1. (v) Various types of disorders of communication and their:
18. (a) (a) Manifestations;

19. (b) (b) Classification; and

    1. (c) (c) Cause.

       1. (C) Content Area II for assistants:

          1. (i) Rules and regulations and implementation of federal and/or state regulated programs;
          2. (ii) Service delivery models;
          3. (iii) Ethical practices;
          4. (iv) Related disciplines that interface with delivery of speech-language pathology and audiology services;
          5. (v) Reimbursement issues;
          6. (vi) Technology training that will enhance clerical skills or service delivery (i.e., computer programs, software education, scheduling, documentation, etc.);
          7. (vii) Related disciplines that interface with delivery of speech-language pathology services;
          8. (viii) Confidentiality issues such as HIPAA and FERPA;
          9. (ix) Mandated reporter training; and
          10. (x) Behavior management.

    2. (2)

       1. (A) The board may preapprove continuing education programs.
       2. (B) It is the SLPA’s responsibility to obtain continuing education that meets the guidelines specified in this section.
       3. (C) The board retains final authority for acceptance of any educational activity submitted by the SLPA to meet requirements.

       4. (D) Continuing education can be obtained through:

          1. (i) Live presentations;
          2. (ii) College courses (one (1) credit hour equals fifteen (15) clock hours); or
          3. (iii) Online activities with written documentation of completion.
       5. (E) Any replay of a live conference is also considered an online activity.

Codification Notes: “SLP” means speech-language pathologist. "ASHA" means American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. "HIPAA" means the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, Pub. L. No. 104-191. "FERPA" means the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which is codified at 20 U.S.C. § 1232g.