1. (a)

   1. (1) Applicants for licensure must hold a master's or doctoral degree in communicative disorders (speech-language pathology or audiology) that encompasses the specific educational requirements equal to those required by a national speech-language pathology and/or audiology accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education.

   2. (2)

      1. (A) The applicant shall submit official transcripts (undergraduate/graduate/doctoral) from one (1) or more accredited colleges or universities denoting degree conferral.
      2. (B) Transcripts should be sent directly to the Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology office from each college or university.

   3. (3)

      1. (A) Until the official transcript is available from the university, the board will accept a statement signed by the university program director verifying completion of academic and clinical practicum requirements for the degree in speech-language pathology or audiology.
      2. (B) The statement must include the date of degree conferral.

2. (b)

   1. (1) The board will accept proof of ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence granted since January 1, 1993, as evidence of the required degree (subsection (a) of this section).
   2. (2) This may be a letter verifying the date of certification from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

3. (c)

   1. (1) Applicants for a license in audiology who have not obtained a doctorate in audiology, but hold a master’s degree, shall submit evidence of no less than thirty-six (36) weeks of full-time professional experience or its part-time equivalent.
   2. (2) This experience must be obtained under the supervision of one (1) or more audiologists who are licensed.

4. (d)

   1. (1)

      1. (A) Pursuant to Arkansas Code § 17-100-302, each applicant for a license in speech-language pathology shall submit evidence of no less than thirty-six (36) weeks of full-time professional experience or its part-time equivalent in the area for which a license is requested.
      2. (B) This experience must be obtained under the supervision of one (1) or more speech-language pathologists who are licensed under the Licensure Act of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, Arkansas Code § 17-100-101 et seq.

   2. (2)

      1. (A) This supervision must:

5. (i) Entail the personal and direct involvement of the supervisor in any and all ways that will permit him or her to evaluate the applicant's performance in professional clinical employment; and

   1. (ii) Include some direct observation.

      1. (B) The applicant and his or her supervisor must list and describe the methods of supervision employed.

      2. (C) Specific information should be given regarding the:

         1. (i) Professional activities supervised;
         2. (ii) Number of supervisory contacts per month; and
         3. (iii) Length of each supervisory contact.
      3. (D) This experience must follow completion of the requirements listed in Arkansas Code § 17-100-302.

   2. (3)

      1. (A) Thirty-six (36) weeks of full-time (thirty-five (35) hours per week) experience (or the equivalent part-time experience), totaling a minimum of one thousand two hundred sixty (1,260) hours.
      2. (B) Part-time work can be completed, as long as the clinical fellow works more than five (5) hours per week.
      3. (C) Working more than thirty-five (35) hours per week will not shorten the minimum requirement of thirty-six (36) weeks.

   3. (4)

      1. (A) "Professional experience" shall be defined as:

         1. (i) Direct clinical work with clients;
         2. (ii) Consultation with parents or family;
         3. (iii) Record keeping related to client care; and
         4. (iv) Any other duties relevant to a clinical program in speech-language pathology and/or audiology.
      2. (B) Time spent in administration, formal teaching, and research shall not be considered "professional employment" in this context.

Codification Notes: “ASHA” means American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.