Ohio 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

Audiology

Effective January 1, 2006

1. Doctor of audiology degree obtained before or after January 1, 2006, or the equivalent from an audiology program accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or at least a master's degree or equivalent obtained prior to January 1, 2006
   Note: The educational requirements shall be deemed met when an applicant is certified by the American Board of Audiology.
2. Applicants applying based on equivalency shall hold a post baccalaureate doctoral degree with a major emphasis in audiology consisting of a minimum of 3 years of didactic coursework, have completed a minimum of 350 clock hours of clinical experience prior to the fourth year of training, have completed a minimum of 2,000 clock hours of clinical extern experience in the fourth year of academic training, have completed a course of study that has included content on ethical practice standards, and have passed examinations approved by the Board.
3. Supervised professional experience-30 hours per week for 36 weeks full-time or 15 hours per week for 72 weeks. Requirements are deemed to be met when an applicant has graduated from a 4-year postgraduate doctor of audiology program from a college or university and the university chairperson provides a letter to the Board attesting to the fact that the fourth year of the program is predominantly a clinical externship and prior to beginning the externship the applicant shall have met the academic coursework requirements/practicum and passed the examination.
4. Passage of an examination

Applicants applying based on at least a master's degree in audiology obtained prior to January 1, 2006, shall have

1. Master's degree or equivalent (75 semester hours)
2. Three hundred seventy-five hour clinical practicum (accepts ASHA or ABA standards for experience)
3. Written evidence of the completion of 9 months full-time postgraduate professional experience or a minimum of 30 hours per week for a minimum of 36 weeks. Part-time experience shall be for a minimum of 15 hours per week for a minimum of 72 weeks. Requirements for the professional experience shall be deemed to be met if certified by ASHA or ABA.
4. Passage of an examination

Speech-Language Pathology

1. Master's degree or equivalent (75 semester hours)
2. Three hundred seventy-five hour clinical practicum (accepts ASHA or ABA standards for experience)
3. Written evidence of the completion of 9 months full-time postgraduate professional experience or a minimum of 30 hours per week for 36 weeks or 15 hours per week for 72 weeks. Requirements for professional experience shall be deemed to be met if certified by ASHA. Individuals must be supervised by state-licensed or ASHA certified individuals with 2 years of work experience.
4. Passage of an examination

Exemptions

1. Federal employees
2. Students appropriately identified as speech-language pathology or audiology interns or trainees
3. HAD fitters
4. Physicians and their employees/supervisees
5. Nurses

Reciprocity

The Board shall waive the examination and educational and professional experience requirements for applicants who:

1. Present proof of current licensure in another state with equivalent standards
2. Hold the CCC
3. Have ABA certification

Interim Practice/Temporary Licensure

• Clinical fellows in speech-language pathology must obtain a conditional license.
• Conditional licenses for audiology are no longer being issued.

Continuing Education Requirement for Licensure Renewal

Twenty clock hours of continuing education per 2-year period

Hearing Aid Dispensing

Audiologists may dispense under an audiology license.

Support Personnel

1. Speech-language pathology aides and audiology aides must be licensed.
2. Speech-language pathology aides and audiology aides must have a high school diploma or equivalent and an approved plan on file with the Board that includes the location where the aide will work, a description of the activities to be performed by the aide, a description of the training the aide has or is to receive that will enable him/her to perform the planned activities, and a description of the direct supervision that the aide will receive in the performance of his/her duties.
3. An aide shall be clearly identified as such by a badge worn during all contact with persons served.
4. A licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist must be able to provide direct and immediate supervision to an aide; "direct supervision" is defined as that given by a supervisor who is either present in the room in which the clinical services are being given or who is immediately available to provide assistance to the aide within that particular contact with person served.
5. A licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist shall not supervise any more than two aides unless approved by the Board.

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.