Iowa Assistants (Support Personnel) Requirements

The following information includes audiology and speech-language pathology assistants and 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

Some districts use speech-language pathology assistants supervised by speech-language pathologists. There is no specific state certification required for speech-language pathology assistants. Any speech-language pathology assistant training is within the local education agency.

Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

An assistant is an unlicensed person who works under the supervision of an Iowa-licensed speech-language pathologist under rules outlined by the Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology (Board) and a plan developed by the licensee. Minimum requirements include:

SLP Assistant I: Works with an individual for whom significant improvement is expected within a reasonable amount of time; must be 18 and have a high school diploma or equivalent, completion of a three semester-hour course in introductory speech and language pathology for speech pathology assistants, and 15 hours of instruction in the specific tasks that the assistant will be performing or a training period of 75 clock hours on instruction and practicum experience. Supervision must include direct on-site observation for a minimum of 20 percent of the assistant's direct patient care.
SLP Assistant II: Works with an individual for whom maintenance of present level of communication is the goal, or for whom, based on the history and diagnosis, only slow improvement is expected; must be 18 and have a high school diploma or equivalent, completion of a three semester-hour course in introductory speech and language pathology for speech pathology assistants, and 15 hours of instruction in the specific tasks that the assistant will be performing or a training period of 75 clock hours on instruction and practicum experience. There must be 10 percent direct on-site supervision.
Not more than three assistants may be supervised by a licensee unless approved by the Board.

Audiology

School Setting Requirements

Audiology support personnel are not regulated in this setting.

Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

An assistant is an unlicensed person who works under the supervision of an Iowa-licensed audiologist under rules outlined by the Board and a plan developed by the licensee. Minimum requirements include:

Audiology Assistant I: Is more broadly trained and may be given a variety of duties depending upon the individual's training; must be 18 and have a high school diploma or equivalent, completion of a three semester-hour course in introductory audiology for audiology assistants and 15 hours of instruction in the specific tasks that the assistant will be performing or a training period of 75 clock hours on instruction and practicum experience. Supervision must include direct on-site observation for a minimum of 20 percent of the assistant's direct patient care.
Audiology Assistant II: Is trained specifically for a single task for screening; must be 18 and have a high school diploma or equivalent and 15 clock hours of instruction and practicum in the specific tasks the assistant will be performing. There must be 10 percent direct on-site supervision. At least half of the supervision time must be direct on-site observation.

Not more than three assistants may be supervised by a licensee unless approved by the Board.

Resources

For further information on laws and regulations for speech-language pathology and audiology support personnel in educational and other practice settings, please visit this website:

Laws and Rules for Speech-Language Pathology Assistants and Audiology Assistants

To see where your state stands on support personnel licensure trends, please view the trends charts which are updated annually:

Questions regarding state advocacy issues? Call ASHA at 800-498-2071 and ask for the State Advocacy Team.