1. (a) A licensee must have two years of professional experience in providing direct client services in the area of licensure in order to supervise an intern or assistant. The licensee's internship year shall be counted toward the two years of experience.
2. (b) A licensee may not supervise an individual that is related to the licensee within the first degree of consanguinity.
3. (c) A department-approved supervisor of an intern in speech-language pathology must possess at least a master's degree with a major in one of the areas of communicative sciences or disorders.

4. (d) A department-approved supervisor of an intern in audiology must possess either:

   1. (1) at least a master's degree with a major in one of the areas of communicative sciences or disorders, if the department-approved supervisor applied for the audiology license before September 1, 2011; or
   2. (2) at least a doctoral degree in audiology or a related hearing science, if the department-approved supervisor applied for the audiology license on or after September 1, 2011.

5. (e) A department-approved supervisor of an intern or assistant shall:

   1. (1) ensure that all services provided are in compliance with this chapter and the Act, such as verifying:

      1. (A) the intern or assistant holds a current license;
      2. (B) the supervisor has been approved by the department;
      3. (C) the scope of practice is appropriate; and
      4. (D) the intern or assistant is qualified to perform the procedure;
   2. (2) be responsible for all client services performed by the intern or assistant;
   3. (3) provide appropriate supervision after the department approves the supervisory agreement; and

   4. (4) comply with the following supervision ratios:

      1. (A) supervise no more than a total of four (4) speech-language pathology interns and/or assistants;
      2. (B) supervise no more than a total of four (4) audiology interns and/or assistants, if an assistant holds a baccalaureate degree; or
      3. (C) supervise no more than a total of two (2) audiology interns and/or assistants, if an assistant holds a high school diploma or equivalent.

6. (f) In addition to the provisions listed in subsection (e), a department-approved supervisor of an assistant shall:

   1. (1) be responsible for evaluations, interpretation, and case management; and
   2. (2) not designate anyone other than a licensed speech-language pathologist or intern in speech-language pathology to represent speech-language pathology to an Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) meetings, except as provided by §111.50.
7. (g) A licensed intern or assistant shall abide by the decisions made by his or her department-approved supervisor relating to the intern's or assistant's scope of practice. In the event the department-approved supervisor requests that the intern or assistant violate this chapter, the Act, or any other law, the intern or assistant shall refuse to do so and immediately notify the department and any other appropriate authority.

Source Note:The provisions of this §111.154 adopted to be effective October 1, 2016, 41 TexReg 4441.