Examiners of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Board of

Examiners of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Chapter 2: Licensure and Renewal Requirements and Application Procedures

Effective Date: 06/01/2020 to 09/29/2020

Rule Type: Expired Emergency Rules & Regulations

Reference Number: 058.0001.2.06012020

Chapter 2

Licensure and Renewal Requirements and Application Procedures

Section 1. Statement of Purpose. These Board Rules are adopted to implement the Board's authority to establish the requirements and procedures for licensure and annual license renewal.

Section 2. Application Status.

(a) For those applicants seeking licensure, all requirements shall be met during the timeframe identified immediately prior to submitting a completed application.

(b) Applications shall be deemed 'complete' when all necessary documentation has been received by the Board office.

(c) Applications shall expire one (1) year after submission. If an application expires, an applicant shall submit a new application, including payment of fee.

Section 3. Application Review Committee.

(a) Every application shall be reviewed by the ARC.

(b) An applicant for licensure shall have committed no acts that are grounds for disciplinary action, or if the act was committed, the ARC has found after investigation that sufficient restitution has been made and the applicant no longer presents a threat to the public safety.

(c) If the ARC is unable to ascertain from documents submitted by the applicant that the applicant is eligible for licensure, the ARC may require the applicant to provide additional documentation, information, or meet informally with the ARC.

Section 4. Speech-Language Pathology Provisional Licensure.

(a) Eligibility. An applicant may seek a provisional license if the applicant has not completed a clinical fellowship year and has not practiced in another jurisdiction.

(b) Application Requirements. Applicant shall:

(i) Submit a completed application and payment of fees;

(ii) Submit transcripts complying with Wyoming Statute 33-33-105(a) (i) directly from the college, university, or institution;

(iii) Successfully pass Praxis;

(iv) Submit executed supervisory agreement; and

(v) Any application submitted on or after July 1, 2020 shall include fingerprints and other information necessary for a criminal history record background check as required by W.S. 7-19-201(a) (xxviii).

(c) Board Approval of Supervisory Agreement. The Board shall approve supervisory agreements that meet the qualifications identified in Chapter 11, Section 4.

(d) Provisional licenses shall be valid for one (1) year.

(e) Renewal. Provisional licenses may be renewed one (1) time.

Section 5. Speech-Language Pathology Initial Licensure by Completing Provisional.

(a) Eligibility. An applicant may seek initial licensure if the applicant completes their clinical fellowship year and meets the requirements for initial licensure.

(b) Application Requirements. Applicant shall:

(i) Submit a completed application and payment of fees; and

(ii) Submit the supervisor verification documenting completion of the clinical fellowship year.

Section 6. Initial Licensure.

(a) Eligibility. An applicant may seek initial licensure if the applicant is not licensed to practice in another jurisdiction, or that jurisdiction’s licensure requirements are not as stringent as Wyoming, or those that fail to meet other licensure methods.

(b) Application Requirements.

(i) Speech-Language Pathology License Applicants shall:

(A) Submit a completed application along with appropriate fee;

(B) Submit evidence of clinical competency by:

(I) Verifying current ASHA certification; or

(II) Complete the following:

(1.) Clinical fellowship or five (5) years of clinical experience immediately preceding the date of application as verified by the Wyoming

Professional Teaching Standards Board;

4(b)(ii) of this chapter; and

(3.) Successful passage of the Praxis within the previous five (5) years. The examination requirement is waived for applicants who have demonstrated five (5) years of clinical experience immediately preceding the date of application as verified by the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board.

(C) Any application submitted on or after July 1, 2020 shall include fingerprints and other information necessary for a criminal history record background check as required by W.S. 7-19-201(a) (xxviii).

(ii) Audiology License Applicants shall:

(A) Submit a completed application along with appropriate fee;

(B) Submit evidence of clinical competency by verifying current ABA certification or ASHA Certification; and

(C) Any application submitted on or after July 1, 2020 shall include fingerprints and other information necessary for a criminal history record background check as required by W.S. 7-19-201(a) (xxviii).

(iii) Submit license verification directly from every jurisdiction where the applicant held a license in the last fifteen (15) years, if applicable.

Section 7. Licensure by Endorsement.

(a) Eligibility. An applicant may seek licensure by endorsement if the applicant is actively licensed to practice in another jurisdiction with licensure requirements as stringent as Wyoming.

(b) Application Requirements. Applicant shall:

(i) Submit a completed application and payment of fees;

(ii) Meet requirements identified in Section 4(b) (ii);

(iii) Submit license verification directly from every jurisdiction where the applicant held a license in the last fifteen (15) years; and

(iv) Any application submitted on or after July 1, 2020 shall include fingerprints and other information necessary for a criminal history record background check as required by W.S. 7-19-201(a) (xxviii).

Section 8. Annual Licensure Renewal.

(a) Licensure Expiration. Licenses shall expire December 31st of the year following the year of issue. After the initial licensure, licenses shall expire December 31st of each year. Licensees shall renew their license on or before December 31st. Licensees that fail to timely renew shall forfeit the right to practice.

(b) Renewal Procedure. A licensee seeking renewal shall:

1. (i) Submit a completed renewal application and payment of fee;
2. (ii) Submit evidence of completion of twelve (12) CEU that complies with subsection (c);
3. (iii) Submit annual competency evaluation for any aides practicing under licensee's supervision;
4. (iv) Submit proof of supervision as Specified in Chapter 12 for any SLPA under the licensee's supervision; and

(v) Submit fingerprints and other information necessary for a criminal history record background check as required by Wyoming Statute 33-33-306 (e).

(c) CEU Requirements.

1. (i) All licensees shall maintain CEU requirements.
2. (ii) CEU shall be calculated as follows:
3. (A) One (1) semester credit equals fifteen (15) CEU;
4. (B) One (1) quarter credit equals ten (10) CEU; and
5. (C) One (1) contact hour equals one (1) CEU.
6. (iii) CEU shall be obtained January 1 to December 31 of the year of expiration.
7. (iv) CEU shall be directly related to the scopes of practice defined in W.S. 33-33-102.

(v) The Board shall accept CEU that is directly related to the scope of practice sponsored by national, regional, or state professional associations, such as AAA, ABA, ASHA, or Wyoming Speech-Language-Hearing Association;

(vi) CEU may be earned through:

1. (A) College or university courses taken for credit or through official audit;
2. (B) Online courses;
3. (C) Scientific and educational lectures, workshops, or seminars;
4. (D) Journals offered for CEU;
5. (E) Scientific and educational lectures, workshops, or seminars presented by the licensee (a maximum of three (3) CEU); and
6. (F) Articles published by the licensee in a nationally or state refereed journal if the article falls within the licensee's area of licensure (a maximum of three (3) CEU).
7. (vii) If a licensee takes the same course more than once in a renewal period, the CEUs from that course will only be counted towards the required hours once.
8. (viii) Acceptable CEU documentation shall include, but is not limited to, transcripts and certificates of completion.
9. (d) Waiver. The Board may grant a waiver for CEU requirements for licensees who have petitioned and demonstrated just cause based on extenuating circumstances.

Section 9. Failure to Timely Renew.

1. (a) Unlicensed Practice. Failure to timely renew may subject the licensee to disciplinary action for unlicensed practice. Licensees shall not practice until the Board approves their license.
2. (b) Administrative Grace Period.
3. (i) The administrative grace period shall be up to three (3) years after the expiration of the license. Licensees that failed to timely renew may apply for renewal during the administrative grace period.
4. (ii) Licensees shall meet the renewal requirements under Section 8(b) including payment of a late renewal fee.
5. (iii) Licensees that failed to timely renew shall submit twelve (12) hours of CEU for each calendar year that the license has been expired.
6. (c) Lapsed Licensed. Any license not renewed within the administrative grace period shall lapse. If a license lapses, the applicant shall apply for relicensure.

Section 10. Relicensure.

(a) Eligibility. An applicant may seek relicensure if their license has lapsed. (b) Lapsed License Relicensure Requirements. An applicant shall: (i) Submit a completed relicensure application and payment of fee; and (ii) Submit evidence of clinical competency by: (A) Verifying current ASHA or ABA certification; or (B) Successful completion of: (I) The Praxis within five (5) years; and (II) Completion of twelve (12) CEUs for each year or portion thereof that the license was lapsed up to a maximum of one hundred and twenty (120) CEUs. (iii) Any application submitted on or after July 1, 2020 shall include fingerprints and other information necessary for a criminal history record background check as required by W.S. 7-19-201(a) (xxviii).

Section 11. Reinstatement of Licensure.

(a) Eligibility. An applicant may seek reinstatement of their license if that license has been revoked, surrendered, suspended, conditioned, restricted, or otherwise disciplined. For a license that has been surrendered, an applicant must wait a minimum of twelve (12) months before applying for reinstatement. (b) Application Reinstatement Requirements. The applicant shall: (i) Submit a completed reinstatement application and payment of fee; (ii) Submit evidence of complying with the requirements of a previous Board order; (iii) Submit evidence of applicant's ability to safely and competently practice; and (iv) Submit evidence demonstrating just cause for reinstatement; and (v) Any application submitted on or after July 1, 2020 shall include fingerprints and other information necessary for a criminal history record background check as required by W.S. 7-19-201(a) (xxviii).