Mississippi State Characteristics of Licensure Law

The information below is collected from state licensure boards or regulatory agencies responsible for regulating the professions of SLP and/or AUD. 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 Requirements

1. Master's degree or equivalent from an ASHA CAA accredited program
   Note: For the purposes of this section, "or equivalent" shall mean at least a master's degree, e.g., MS, MA, or MEd with a major emphasis in SLP, audiology, communicative disorders, or speech and hearing science from an institution recognized by the State Board of Health.
2. Completion of 9 months of supervised professional employment
3. Passage of an exam

Exemptions

1. Physicians or physician-supervised personnel who conduct hearing testing
2. Hearing aid dispensers
3. Federal employees
4. Public and private school employees
5. Students appropriately designated as speech-language pathology or audiology interns or trainees
6. Hearing tester employed by a private industry or firm for services relative to its employees and employment practices

Reciprocity

1. The Board may waive the examination for licensure of any applicant currently licensed in another state with equivalent standards.
2. The Board may waive the examination for licensure of any applicant who is a CCC holder.

Interim Practice/Temporary Licensure

1. The Board shall issue a temporary license to an applicant who fulfills all requirements for licensure except for professional employment and/or examination (clinical fellows).
2. A nonresident who meets the qualifications for licensure may offer speech-language pathology or audiology services for no more than 5 days in any calendar year if provided in cooperation with a state licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist.
3. A nonresident licensed under the laws of another state with equivalent requirements or who holds a CCC may offer speech-language pathology or audiology services for no more than 30 days in any calendar year if provided in cooperation with a state licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist.

Continuing Education for Licensure Renewal

Twenty contact hours per 2-year renewal period; excess hours may not be carried over from one renewal period to the next.

Hearing Aid Dispensing

Audiologists may dispense hearing aids under an audiology license.

Support Personnel

1. Speech-language pathology and audiology aides must be 18 years old, have a high school diploma, and have completed a training program administered by a supervising licensee.
2. Speech-language pathology and audiology aides must register with the Department.
3. A licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist may not supervise more than three aides.
4. The supervising licensee must directly supervise the first 5 hours the aide works with clients; afterwards, the supervisor must directly observe the aide during 20% of the time that the aide works with clients per week.
5. Aides must be clearly identified as aides by means of a name tag or other appropriate identification.

Note

• The abbreviation SLP or SP stands for Speech Language Pathology or Pathologist, as appropriate, the abbreviation AUD stands for Audiology or Audiologist, as appropriate, and the abbreviation HAD stands for Hearing Aid Dealer.
• All jurisdictions require applicants to achieve a passing score on a national exam, and all but Nevada, North Dakota, and Virginia require applicants to complete a post graduate professional experience requirement.
• The term "clinical fellow," used throughout, means a person completing the post graduate professional experience requirement.

Questions concerning data contained in this document can be addressed by calling 800-498-2071 and asking to speak to someone on the State Policy Team.