Rhode Island 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 or doctorate degree or equivalent (coursework must be in accordance with current minimum requirements for the certificate of clinical competence)
2. Supervised clinical practicum in accordance with current minimum requirements for the certificate of clinical competence
3. Cumulative or equivalent total of 9 months of full-time professional postgraduate employment
4. Passage of a national exam as approved by the Board

Exemptions

1. Hearing aid dealers/fitters
2. Licensed physicians
3. Other qualified persons licensed, registered, certified, or otherwise credentialed under any other law who are practicing the profession/business for which they are licensed, registered, or certified (no one may be exempt under this provision for that portion of his/her time spent as a private practitioner; if he/she provides services for which a fee may be paid apart from his or her position with government, a license is required)

Reciprocity

The Board may waive the examination requirement for:

1. CCC holders
2. Persons licensed in another state with equivalent standards

Interim Practice/Temporary Licensure

Clinical fellows must obtain a provisional license.

Continuing Education Requirement for Licensure Renewal

Twenty clock hours per biennium

Hearing Aid Dispensing

Audiologists may dispense under an audiology license.

Support Personnel

1. Speech-language pathology aides must:
• hold a bachelor's degree and have successfully completed no less than 18 hours of  graduate credit, including 3 hours in normal processes in speech, language, and hearing; 9 hours in disorders in speech, language, and hearing; and 6 hours in assessment/management of disorders
• 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 prior to providing services
3. All support personnel must be registered with the Board within 30 days of beginning work.
4. A licensed speech-language pathologist may supervise one SLP aide and a licensed audiologist may supervise three audiology aides.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Supervising professionals must follow all provisions of the ASHA policy regarding support personnel unless otherwise addressed in these provisions.

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.