Washington 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 Washington schools.

Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

Speech-Language Pathology

An applicant for certification as a speech-language pathology assistant must have the following minimum qualifications:

1. An associate of arts or sciences degree, or a certificate of proficiency, with transcripts showing forty-five quarter hours or thirty semester hours of speech-language pathology course work and transcripts showing forty-five quarter hours or thirty semester hours of general education credit from a board-approved institution of higher education as defined in WAC 246-828-025 (1)(b). Transcripts must reflect, or applicant must demonstrate, one hundred hours of supervised patient/client/student work experience completed within a one-year time frame, or clinical experience practicum, with at least fifty of those hours under direct supervision; or
2. A bachelor of arts or bachelor of sciences degree with transcripts from a speech, language, and hearing program from a board-approved institution of higher education as defined in WAC 246-828-025 (1)(b). Transcripts must reflect, or applicant must demonstrate, one hundred hours of supervised patient/client/student work experience completed within a one-year time frame, or clinical experience practicum, with at least fifty of those hours under direct supervision; or
3. A completed work experience verification form and competency checklist form developed by the board and submitted as part of the application verifying 600 hours of supervised experience within three years of application. Both forms must be submitted by July 1, 2011, to qualify for certification.
4. A speech-language pathology assistant may only perform procedures or tasks delegated by the speech-language pathologist and must maintain patient/client/student confidentiality as directed by the speech-language pathologist. (5) The speech-language pathology assistant must be continually supervised by the speech-language pathologist.

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 for Speech-Language Pathology Assistants

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.