Colorado Support Personnel Requirements
The following information includes speech-language pathology and audiology support personnel requirements in educational and other practice settings. The information is reviewed on an annual basis. Please be advised that regulations and policy may change at any time, so always check with your state for the most up-to-date information.
Speech-Language Pathology
School Setting Requirements
School Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
- Bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology, speech communication, or communication disorders-speech sciences or a bachelor's degree in any other field with 24 credits in speech-language hearing sciences from an accepted institution of higher education;
- Successful completion of a school speech-language pathology assistant program or equivalent, which meets or exceeds recommended guidelines established by a national association of speech-language-hearing professionals;
- Successful completion of a minimum of 100 hours school-based practicum, under the supervision of a nationally certified SLP; and
- Demonstrated knowledge and skills in the required competencies.
A school speech-language pathology assistant authorization is valid for five years. The Department of Education may renew the authorization for succeeding five-year periods.
Interim School Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
- Bachelor's degree in speech language hearing science (SLHS) or a bachelor's degree in a related discipline from an accepted institution of higher education,
- Successful completion of a minimum of 22 semester credit hours in SLHS leveling coursework, and
- Function in the capacity of a SLPA providing speech-language services to children birth through 21 under the supervision of a Colorado Department of Education licensed and nationally certified speech-language pathologist.
Interim School Speech-Language Pathology Assistant is issued for one year and is not renewable.
Statutory and Regulatory Requirements
Speech-language pathology assistants are not certified under the state certification law.
Audiology
School Setting Requirements
Audiology support personnel are not regulated in this setting.
Statutory and Regulatory Requirements
Hearing Aid Provider Trainees and Associates
- A hearing aid provider trainee is an individual who has not completed 300 hours of training with a licensed audiologist/hearing aid provider and can perform only upon the on-site, direct supervision of a licensed audiologist or hearing aid provider. The trainee must be supervised at all times.
- A hearing aid provider associate is an individual who has completed a minimum of 300 hours of on-site supervised practice with a licensed hearing aid provider or audiologist.
Trainee or associate status may remain for a maximum of three years from the date of issuance of the license or 60 days after notification of successful completion of the National Board for Certification-Hearing Instrument Science exam, whichever comes first.
Resources
For further information on laws and regulations for speech-language pathology and audiology support personnel in educational and other practice settings, please visit these websites:
School Setting Requirements:
Department of Education Fast Facts on SLPAs [PDF]
Rules from the Educator Licensing Act (See 4.11-Authorization: School SLPA, for Ages Birth-21) [PDF]
Department of Education Interim Authorization for Speech-Language Patholgy Assistant
Laws for School Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
Laws and Regulations for Hearing Aid Provider Trainees and Associates [PDF]
To see where your state stands on support personnel licensure trends, please view the trend chart which is updated at the end of each calendar year:
Support Personnel in Other Settings [PDF]
Questions regarding state advocacy issues? Call ASHA at 800-498-2071 and ask for the State Advocacy Team.