1. (A) A license must be issued independently in either speech-language pathology or audiology. A license is valid for two years; however, an intern license only is valid for one year. A license application received after December 31 is valid for the next licensure period.

2. (B) To be licensed by the board as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist an individual must:

   1. (1)

      1. (a) have earned a post-graduate degree in speech language pathology or audiology from a school or program determined by the board to be equivalent to those accredited by the Council on Professional Standards of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA);
      2. (b) passed an exam approved by the board; and
      3. (c) completed supervised professional employment which is a minimum of thirty hours a week of professional employment in speech-language pathology or audiology for at least nine months whether or not for wages or other compensation under the supervision of a speech-language pathologist or audiologist licensed under this chapter; or
   2. (2) meet ASHA's Standards for Certificate of Clinical Competence, or its equivalent as approved by the board, in speech-language pathology or audiology in effect at the time of application; or
   3. (3) have a current ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence or its equivalent as approved by the board.

3. (C) A speech-language pathology or audiology intern license must be issued to an applicant who has satisfied the requirement of subsection (B)(1)(a) and who has not passed the examination required by subsection (B)(1)(b) or who lacks the supervised professional employment as required by subsection (B)(1)(c), or both.

   A person who has been issued a license as an intern who has not met the requirement of subsection (B)(1)(b) must pass an examination approved by the board within twelve months of the issuance of the intern license.

4. (D) To be licensed as a speech-language pathology assistant, an applicant must have earned a bachelors degree in speech-language pathology and must submit an application which includes a supervisory agreement and an on-the-job training plan, both of which must comply with requirements established by the board in regulation. Speech-language pathologists who use a speech-language pathology assistant in their practices must comply with guidelines promulgated by the board in regulation.

5. (E) A person requesting inactive licensure must:

   1. (1) hold a valid unrestricted license issued by this board at the time that inactive licensure is requested.
   2. (2) agree not to practice speech-language pathology or audiology while holding an inactive license. An inactive license may be renewed for up to eight years.

HISTORY: 1997 Act No. 96, Section 1.