Arizona State Characteristics of Licensure Law

Last updated November 2008

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

Initial Licensure Requirements

Audiology

1. Doctoral degree from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university in an accredited program consistent with the standards of this state's universities
2. Completed supervised clinical rotations from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university in an accredited program consistent with the standards of this state's universities
3. Passage of an examination
4. Not have had a license revoked or suspended by a state within the past two years and not ineligible for licensure in any state due to a prior revocation or suspension 
   or
   For applicants with a Master's degree in audiology (before December 31, 2007) who wish to fit and dispense hearing aids, a waiver must be sought for the education and clinical rotation requirements and passage of an audiology exam is required unless already practicing audiology and can meet the exam waiver requirements. Individual must also pass the hearing aid dispenser's exam and not have had a licensed revoked/suspended by another state in the past two years. Rules shall be adopted prescribing criteria for approved postgraduate professional experience.
   

Speech-Language Pathology

1. A master's degree in speech-language pathology or the equivalent from an accredited college or university
2. Shall have completed a supervised clinical practicum
3. Completed postgraduate professional experience in the field of speech-language pathology approved by the director (of the Department of Health Services).
4. Pass an exam
5. Not have had a license revoked/suspended by a state within the last two years
6. To be licensed as a school SLP an applicant must submit proof of an employee or contractor relationship with a local education agency or state supported institution and hold a certificate in speech and language therapy awarded by the state board of education. The director (of the Department of Health Services) shall adopt rules for approved postgraduate professional experience.

Exemptions

1. A person engaged in the practice of recommending hearing aids if such practice is part of the academic curriculum of an accredited institution of higher education
2. A person engaged in the practice of measuring human hearing for the purpose of selection of hearing aids provided that the person or employer does not sell hearing aids or hearing aid accessories
3. Physicians
4. Nurses
5. Employees of a Local Education Agency or state supported institution who hold a temporary or standard certificate in speech and language therapy awarded by the State Board of Education
6. Teachers of the deaf
7. Audiology or speech-pathology students, interns, or trainees
8. A person conducting school hearing screening programs

Reciprocity/Endorsement

1. The advisory committee may recommend to the director to waive the educational requirements if an applicant submits proof satisfactory to the department that the applicant received professional education in another country equivalent to the education and practicum requirements of the state.
2. The department may waive the exam requirement if (i) the applicant is currently licensed in a state, district, or U.S. territory that has standards that are at least equivalent to the state or (ii) the applicant holds a CCC in speech-language pathology.
3. The department will waive the education and clinical rotation requirements for an audiology license if the applicant (i) is licensed in a state that has standards that are equivalent to those of AZ (ii) has a master's degree in audiology from an accredited program before Dec. 31, 2007 and has completed postgraduate professional experience as approved by the director.
4. The department shall waive the audiology exam if (i) the applicant is licensed and practicing audiology in this state or another that has standards that are equivalent (ii) the applicant is currently practicing under an agency of the U.S. government or another state and holds a certificate in audiology from a recognized credentialing body approved by the director.
5. The department shall waive the hearing aid dispensing exam if (i) the applicant holds a license that includes dispensing issued by another state with equivalent standards (ii) the applicant passes the jurisprudence and ethics exam within 6 months after initial licensure.
   

Interim Practice/Temporary Licensure

1. The department may issue a temporary license to a person who does not meet the professional experience requirement if the applicant meets all remaining requirements and includes with the application a plan for meeting the postgraduate professional experience.
2. A person issued a temporary license shall only practice under the supervision of a state licensed individual.
3. A temporary license may be renewed only once.

Continuing Education for Licensure Renewal

Ten (10) hours of continuing education within the prior twelve months.

Hearing Aid Dispensing

To fit and dispense hearing aids, licensed doctoral degree audiologists must also pass an exam in jurisprudence and ethics within 6 months after initial HAD licensure and must not have had a license revoked or suspended by a state within the past two years. To fit and dispense with a Master's degree in audiology (before December 31, 2007) one must seek a waiver for the education and clinical rotation requirements and pass an audiology exam unless already practicing audiology and can meet the exam waiver requirements. Individual must also pass the hearing aid dispenser's exam and not have had a licensed revoked/suspended by another state in the past two years.

Support Personnel

1. To be eligible for licensure as a speech-language pathologist assistant, an applicant shall have: completed an approved training program or the equivalent from an accredited college or university consisting of 60 semester credit hours and a minimum of 100 hours of clinical interaction under the supervision of a licensed master's level speech-language pathologist and not had a license revoked/suspended by a state within the past two years.
2. All services of a SLP assistant are performed under the direction and supervision of a state licensed SLP who has at least two years of full-time professional experience.
3. The licensed supervisor may direct not more than two full-time or three part-time SLP assistants at one time.
4. A minimum of 20% direct supervision and 10% indirect supervision is required of all the time that the assistant is providing services during the first 90 days of employment.
5. After the first 90 days a minimum of 10% direct and 10% indirect supervision is required.
6. All periods of supervisions are to be documented and each client should be informed when the services of a SLP assistant are being provided.

Registering Place of Business

Any person who holds a license must notify the director, in writing, of the address where the person engages in audiology, speech-language pathology or the fitting and dispensing of hearing aids.

Board Oversight

Arizona Department of Health Services, Division of Licensing Services, Office of Special Licensing, Speech and Hearing.

Board Composition

The Advisory Committee shall comprise the director, two licensed physicians (one of whom is a specialist in otolaryngology), two licensed audiologists (one of whom dispenses hearing aids), two licensed speech-language pathologists, two public members (one of whom is hearing impaired), and two licensed hearing aid dispensers who are not licensed to practice audiology.

Web site

Hearing Aid Dispensers, Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists

Questions regarding this document? Call ASHA at 800-498-2071 and ask for the State Advocacy Team.