7903 CLINICAL FELLOWSHIP REQUIREMENTS

7903.1 A person completing the clinical fellowship requirements shall have a Master's or Doctoral degree and shall commence a clinical fellowship within 2 years from the date of conferral of the degree, and shall complete the clinical fellowship within three and a half (3.5) years from the date of conferral of the degree.

7903.2 The Board may extend the period of clinical fellowship for good cause shown.

7903.3 The Board may accept completion of the clinical fellowship required for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Certificate of Clinical Competence as meeting the requirements for clinical fellowship in this chapter.

7903.4 To complete a clinical fellowship, the clinical fellow shall be employed, with or without direct compensation, as a professional in the field of speech-language pathology under general supervision for a period of not less than nine (9) months with a minimum of thirty (30) hours of work per week. This requirement may also be met with part-time employment as follows:

(a) Fifteen (15) to nineteen (19) hours a week, for a period of eighteen (18) months;

(b) Twenty (20) to twenty-four (24) hours a week, for a period of fifteen (15) months; or

(c) Twenty-five (25) to twenty-nine (29) hours a week, for a period of twelve (12) months.

7903.5 At least eighty percent (80%) of the clinical fellow's clinical fellowship shall involve direct client contact, which includes the following:

(a) Assessment, diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment;

(b) Screening;

(c) Habilitation and rehabilitation; and

(d) Activities related to case management.

7903.6 The remaining twenty percent (20%) shall be comprised of supervised activities such as writing, research or planning.

7903.7 The activities included in a clinical fellowship shall consist of the following:

(a) Conducting evaluations and treatment procedures;

(b) Interpreting test results;

(c) Determining case selections;

(d) Designing treatment programs;

(e) Collecting data and documenting performance;

(f) Maintaining clinical records;

(g) Providing written or oral reports (progress notes, diagnostic reports) regarding patients' or clients' status;

(h) Making referrals; and

(i) Participating in case conferences.

7903.8 Clinical fellow supervisor shall:

(a) Hold a valid District of Columbia license in speech-language pathology, a license in another jurisdiction with requirements substantially similar to the licensure requirements in the District, or, if in a state that does not require licensure, a Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech-language pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association;

(b) Have been in practice for a minimum of two (2) years after licensure or certification;

(c) Not supervise more than three (3) clinical fellows at one (1) time;

(d) Not have been disciplined by a board or regulating body within the previous five (5) years; and

(e) Provide a minimum of thirty-six (36) hours of supervisory activities during the clinical fellowship, including a minimum of two (2) hours of monitoring activities each month.

7903.9 A clinical fellow supervisor in the District of Columbia shall be responsible for the services and care provided by the clinical fellow, and shall also be subject to disciplinary action for any violation of federal or District of Columbia laws or regulations by the clinical fellow.

7903.10 An applicant for a license shall demonstrate qualifications required by §§ 7903.3–7903.6 by submitting, with the application, a signed statement from each clinical fellow supervisor who supervised the applicant during the required clinical fellowship period, which sets forth the following:

(a) The number of hours of the applicant's supervised practice of speech-language pathology;

(b) The number of hours of general supervision of the applicant;

(c) The specific nature of responsibilities included in the applicant's practice;

(d) The rating of the applicant's performance;

(e) Where and when the supervision occurred; and

(f) The license number and jurisdiction in which the clinical fellow supervisor was licensed during the supervised period, or proof that the clinical fellow supervisor has a Certificate of Clinical Competence if the clinical fellowship was in a state that does not require licensure.

7903.11 A clinical fellow supervisor in the District of Columbia shall:

(a) Submit a notification of supervision to the Board at least two (2) weeks prior to the commencement of the clinical fellowship;

(b) Notify the Board, in writing, if the clinical fellow leaves the clinical fellowship prior to completing training and specify the reason for leaving. Notification shall be provided to the Board no later than ten (10) business days after the date the clinical fellow leaves the clinical fellowship; and

(c) Notify the Board, in writing, if the clinical fellow changes his or her clinical fellow supervisor and specify the reason for the change. Notification shall be provided to the Board no later than ten (10) business days after the change of the clinical fellow supervisor.

7903.12 A clinical fellow may participate in patient care activities under the general supervision of a speech-language pathologist who is licensed in the District of Columbia, if clinical fellow's supervisor properly submitted notification to the Board in accordance with § 7903.11(a).

7903.13 A clinical fellow in speech-language pathology shall identify himself or herself as a clinical fellow at all times when providing speech-language pathology services.

7903.14 A clinical fellow in speech-language pathology may practice in the District of Columbia, pursuant to this Section, for a maximum of eighteen (18) months, unless the Board extends the period for good cause shown.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 56 DCR 7314 (September 4, 2009); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 60 DCR 14806 (October 18, 2013).