§ 59-1605 — Qualifications for licensure.

A. To be eligible for licensure by the Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology as a speech-language pathologist, the applicant must: 1. Hold not less than a master's degree, or the equivalent, with a major emphasis in speech-language pathology or audiology from a regionally accredited academic institution offering a graduate program in speech-language pathology or audiology that meets or exceeds prevailing national standards; 2. Submit evidence of completion of supervised clinical practicum experience that meets or exceeds prevailing national standards from a regionally accredited educational institution or its cooperating programs, the content of which shall be approved by the Board and delineated in the rules; 3. Submit evidence of completion of supervised postgraduate professional experience as approved by the Board and described in the rules; 4. Obtain a passing score on examinations approved by the Board. The Board shall determine the score required to pass an examination. An applicant who fails the examination may retake the examination in accordance with the timeline and procedures of the approved testing organization, and the rules promulgated by the Board; 5. Attest to their status as either a United States citizen, a United States noncitizen national or a qualified alien; 6. Have not committed any acts described in Section 1619 of this title for which disciplinary action may be justified; and 7. Make application to the Board upon a form prescribed by the Board and pay to the Board the application fee. B. To be eligible for initial licensure by the Board as an audiologist, the applicant must: 1. Hold not less than a post-baccalaureate residential or post- masters' distance education professional Doctor of Audiology (AuD) degree, a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree with an emphasis in audiology or its equivalent as determined by the Board; 2. If applying with a Doctor of Audiology (AuD) professional degree, demonstrate preparation that includes three (3) years of didactic coursework and clinical education equivalent to a twelve- month full-time rotation or externship; 3. Submit to the Board a copy of the Doctor of Audiology (AuD) diploma and a transcript demonstrating clinical experience equivalent to a twelve-month full-time clinical rotation or externship; a copy of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) diploma with an emphasis in audiology and a transcript reflecting a twelve-month full-time clinical rotation or externship, or their equivalents as determined by the Board; provided, such equivalents shall be from an accredited academic institution in order to demonstrate completion of the clinical rotation or externship requirements; 4. Obtain a passing score on examinations approved by the Board. The Board shall determine the score required to pass an examination. An applicant who fails the examination may retake the examination in accordance with the timeline and procedures of the approved testing organization, and the rules promulgated by the Board; 5. Attest to their status as either a United States citizen, a United States noncitizen national or a qualified alien; 6. Have not committed any acts described in Section 1619 of this title for which disciplinary action may be justified; and 7. Make application to the Board upon a form prescribed by the Board and pay to the Board the application fee. C. To be eligible for licensure by the Board as a speech- language pathology clinical fellow, the applicant must currently be in the process of fulfilling the supervised clinical fellowship required by this section and possess a designation of the title "Clinical Fellow" indicating the status appropriate to the applicant's level of training. To be eligible for licensure as a clinical fellow, the applicant shall meet all requirements specified by paragraphs 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 of subsection A of this section. Speech-language pathologist applicants completing the supervised postgraduate professional experience in this state shall possess a license issued by the Board. D. To be eligible for licensure by the Board as a speech- language pathology or audiology assistant, the applicant must be assisting in the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology while under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist, subject to the rules of the Board. The licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist is legally and ethically responsible for the professional activities of such licensees. E. To be eligible for licensure by the Board as a speech- language pathologist, audiologist, speech-language clinical fellow or speech-language pathology assistant, the applicant must meet all the requirements specified in this section. The Board may authorize the executive secretary to issue a temporary license upon verification that the applicant meets all applicable requirements of licensure. A temporary license shall authorize the applicant to practice speech-language pathology or audiology for the time period between the submission of the application and the applicant's approval for licensure by the Board. A temporary license shall expire upon the Board's approval of a permanent license, or ten (10) calendar days following the Board's denial of an application for a permanent license.

Legislative History

Added by Laws 1973, c. 203, § 5, emerg. eff. May 17, 1973. Amended by Laws 1982, c. 56, § 2, operative Oct. 1, 1982; Laws 1994, c. 197, § 1, eff. July 1, 1994; Laws 1998, c. 202, § 5, eff. July 1, 1998; Laws 2004, c. 280, § 2, eff. July 1, 2004; Laws 2018, c. 230, § 3, emerg. eff. May 7, 2018; Laws 2019, c. 363, § 54, eff. Nov. 1, 2019.