Alaska State Characteristics of Licensure Law

Last updated December 2007

The information below is collected from state licensure boards or regulatory agencies responsible for regulating the professions of Speech-Language Pathology and/or Audiology. It is intended for informational use only, and should not be construed as legal advice.

Contact the state's licensure board or regulatory agency for exact licensure, certification, or registration requirements in your jurisdiction.

Initial Licensure RequirementsAudiology

Audiology

Master's degree or doctorate in audiology from an accredited educational institution approved by the Department of Community and Economic Development, and has either (i) a CCC in audiology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or the equivalent of the certificate or (ii) practiced audiology for 2 years as of January 1, 1986, or is in the process of completing the year of supervised experience required for the CCC.

Speech-Language Pathology

A Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech-language pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or an equivalent certification.

Exemptions

A licensed physician
Federal employees
A student properly identified as a speech-language pathology or audiology intern or trainee
Employees of, or contractors with, a school district while practicing for the school district
A nurse who performs hearing sensitivity evaluations
Hearing aid dealers
An individual holding a class A certificate issued by the Conference of Executives of American Schools of the Deaf may teach the hearing impaired
An individual may engage in hearing testing as part of a hearing conservation program that complies with OSHA regulations
Professors of audiology or speech-language pathology may use the title "audiologist" or "speech-language pathologist" but may not practice if not licensed in the state.

Reciprocity/Endorsement

Holders of ASHA CCC's or equivalent.

Interim Practice/Temporary Licensure

The department may also issue a temporary license to a nonresident for the practice of audiology in the state for 30 consecutive days or less in a calendar year, if the individual is licensed to practice audiology in another state, territory of the United States, foreign country, or province with equivalent standards.
The department may issue a temporary license to a nonresident for the practice of speech-language pathology in the state for 60 consecutive days or less in a calendar year if the individual is licensed to practice speech-language pathology in another state, territory of the United States, foreign country, or province with equivalent standards.
The department may issue a temporary license to a non-resident for the practice of speech-language pathology for 60 days or less if the individual meets Alaska's licensure requirements but resides in a geographic location that does not license speech-language pathologists.
A person, resident or not, who is in the process of completing a year of supervised clinical competence in speech-language pathology from ASHA.

Independent Practice

Audiologists and speech-language pathologists who practice independently must also obtain an Alaska Business License.

Continuing Education Requirement for Licensure Renewal

N/A

Hearing Aid Dispensing

An audiologist may dispense under an audiology license but must comply with certain consumer practices.

Support Personnel

Speech-language pathology assistants must register.
Speech-language pathology assistants must have an associate of applied science degree in disabilities with a speech-language support emphasis either from the University of Alaska Anchorage in affiliation with Prince William Sound Community College or from another approved program or a bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology from an accredited institution and submit proof satisfactory to the department that the individual has completed 100 hours of field work supervised by a licensed speech-language pathologist.
A supervising speech-language pathologist must be state licensed or credentialed by the state department of education (valid Type A or Type C teaching certificate with an endorsement in speech-language pathology, speech and hearing sciences, or communication disorders).
A supervisor must design and implement a plan for supervision of the assistant. A plan for supervision must provide for direct supervision of the assistant for at least 50% of the SLPA services during the first 90 days of employment and after the first 90 days, for at least 20% of the SLPA services.
Assistants must complete 15 hours of approved continuing education biennially.
A supervising speech-language pathologist may not supervise more than two individuals or carry a higher caseload of clients while supervising an assistant than when the SLP was not supervising an assistant.