Rhode Island Support Personnel Laws and Regulations

The following information includes laws and regulations for speech-language pathology and audiology support personnel 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.

School Setting Requirements

Support personnel are not used in Rhode Island schools.

Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

1. Speech-language pathology aides must:
   • Hold a bachelor's degree and have successfully completed no less than 18 hours of specified graduate credits.
   • Complete 25% of practicum hours required for professional personnel by ASHA.
2. Audiometric aides must:
   • Hold a high school diploma.
   • Receive intensive on-the-job training by the supervising licensed audiologist, in accordance with ASHA/AAA guidelines, prior to providing services.
3. All support personnel must be registered with the Board within 30 days of beginning work.
4. All clients must be informed when services are being rendered by support personnel.
5. A licensed speech-language pathologist may supervise one SLP aide and a licensed audiologist may supervise three audiology aides.
6. For audiometric aides, there must be direct on-site observation of the first 10 hours of direct client contact and 5% of all clinical sessions after the first 10 hours for every 40 consecutive hours worked and indirect supervision of 5% of each 40 consecutive hours worked.
7. For speech-language pathology aides, there must be direct on-site observation of the first 10 hours of direct client contact and 10% of clinical sessions after the first 10 hours of each 40 consecutive hours worked and indirect supervision of 10% of each 40 consecutive hours worked.
8. Supervising professionals must follow all provisions of the ASHA policy regarding support personnel unless otherwise addressed in these provisions.

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:

Rules and Regulations for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Support Personnel [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 [PDF]

Questions regarding this information? Call ASHA at 800-498-2071 and ask for the State Advocacy Team.