§ 5-48.3-3. State participation in compact.
(a) A license issued to an audiologist or speech-language pathologist by a home state
to a resident in that state shall be recognized by each member state as authorizing
an audiologist or speech-language pathologist to practice audiology or speech-language
pathology, under a privilege to practice, in each member state.
(b) A state shall implement or utilize procedures for considering the criminal history
records of applicants for initial privilege to practice. These procedures shall include
the submission of fingerprints or other biometric-based information by applicants
for the purpose of obtaining an applicant's criminal history record information from
the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the agency responsible for retaining that
state's criminal records.
(1) A member state shall fully implement a criminal background check requirement, within
a time frame established by rule, by receiving the results of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation record search on criminal background checks and use the results in making
licensure decisions.
(2) Communication between a member state, the commission and among member states regarding
the verification of eligibility for licensure through the compact shall not include
any information received from the Federal Bureau of Investigation relating to a federal
criminal records check performed by a member state under Pub. L. 92-544.
(c) Upon application for a privilege to practice, the licensing board in the issuing remote
state shall ascertain, through the data system, whether the applicant has ever held,
or is the holder of, a license issued by any other state, whether there are any encumbrances
on any license or privilege to practice held by the applicant, whether any adverse
action has been taken against any license or privilege to practice held by the applicant.
(d) Each member state shall require an applicant to obtain or retain a license in the
home state and meet the home state's qualifications for licensure or renewal of licensure,
as well as, all other applicable state laws.
(e) For an audiologist:
(1) Shall meet one of the following educational requirements:
(i) On or before, December 31, 2007, has graduated with a master's degree or doctorate
in audiology, or equivalent degree regardless of degree name, from a program that
is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education
Accreditation, or its successor, or by the United States Department of Education and
operated by a college or university accredited by a regional or national accrediting
organization recognized by the board; or
(ii) On or after, January 1, 2008, has graduated with a Doctoral degree in audiology, or
equivalent degree, regardless of degree name, from a program that is accredited by
an accrediting agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation,
or its successor, or by the United States Department of Education and operated by
a college or university accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization
recognized by the board; or
(iii) Has graduated from an audiology program that is housed in an institution of higher
education outside of the United States:
(A) For which the program and institution have been approved by the authorized accrediting
body in the applicable country; and
(B) The degree program has been verified by an independent credentials review agency to
be comparable to a state licensing board-approved program.
(2) Has completed a supervised clinical practicum experience from an accredited educational
institution or its cooperating programs as required by the commission;
(3) Has successfully passed a national examination approved by the commission;
(4) Holds an active, unencumbered license;
(5) Has not been convicted or found guilty, and has not entered into an agreed disposition,
of a felony related to the practice of audiology, under applicable state or federal
criminal law; and
(6) Has a valid United States Social Security or National Practitioner Identification
number.
(f) For a speech-language pathologist:
(1) Shall meet one of the following educational requirements:
(i) Has graduated with a master's degree from a speech-language pathology program that
is accredited by an organization recognized by the United States Department of Education
and operated by a college or university accredited by a regional or national accrediting
organization recognized by the board; or
(ii) Has graduated from a speech-language pathology program that is housed in an institution
of higher education outside of the United States for which the program and institution
have been approved by the authorized accrediting body in the applicable country and
the degree program has been verified by an independent credentials review agency to
be comparable to a state licensing board-approved program.
(2) Has completed a supervised clinical practicum experience from an educational institution
or its cooperating programs as required by the commission;
(3) Has completed a supervised postgraduate professional experience as required by the
commission;
(4) Has successfully passed a national examination approved by the commission;
(5) Holds an active, unencumbered license;
(6) Has not been convicted or found guilty, and has not entered into an agreed disposition,
of a felony related to the practice of speech-language pathology, under applicable
state or federal criminal law; and
(7) Has a valid United States Social Security Number or National Practitioner Identification
Number.
(g) The privilege to practice is derived from the home state license.
(h) An audiologist or speech-language pathologist practicing in a member state shall comply
with the state practice laws of the state in which the client is located at the time
service is provided. The practice of audiology and speech-language pathology shall
include all audiology and speech-language pathology practice as defined by the state
practice laws of the member state in which the client is located. The practice of
audiology and speech-language pathology in a member state under a privilege to practice
shall subject an audiologist or speech-language pathologist to the jurisdiction of
the licensing board, the courts and the laws of the member state in which the client
is located at the time service is provided.
(i) Individuals not residing in a member state shall continue to be able to apply for
a member state's single-state license as provided under the laws of each member state;
provided, however, the single-state license granted to these individuals shall not
be recognized as granting the privilege to practice audiology or speech-language pathology
in any other member state. Nothing in this compact shall affect the requirements established
by a member state for the issuance of a single-state license.
(j) Member states may charge a fee for granting a compact privilege.
(k) Member states shall comply with the bylaws and rules and regulations of the commission.