Colorado Licensing Requirements for Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists

The information below is collected from state licensure boards or regulatory agencies responsible for regulating the professions of speech-language pathology and/or audiology. The information is reviewed on an annual basis. Please be advised that laws, regulations and policies may change at any time, so always check with your state for the most up-to-date information.

Initial Licensure

Audiology

Doctorate from an audiology program that is accredited by a national, regional, or state agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or another program approved by the Director, or Master's degree from a program accredited a national, regional, or state agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or another program approved by the Director that was conferred before July 1, 2007, and has obtained a Certificate of Clinical Competence in audiology from ASHA.

Note: If providing services to patients, must submit proof of malpractice/professional liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 per incident and $3,000,000 aggregate per year.

Note: Audiologists may dispense hearing aids under an audiology license.

Speech-Language Pathology Certification

1. Master's or higher degree in communication sciences and disorders granted by an accredited institution of higher education recognized by the US Department of Education.
2. Clinical Fellowship
3. Passage of a national exam

Note: If providing services to patients, must submit proof of professional liability insurance in the amount of $1,000,000 per incident and $3,000,000 aggregate per year

Exemptions

Audiology

1. Employees or contractors of public schools
2. Individuals employed by the United States Armed Forces, Public Health Service, Coast Guard or Veteran's Administration
3. Students enrolled in a course of study at an accredited institution and practicing under the supervision of a licensed audiologist
4. Licensed individuals engaging in activities within their scope of practice

Speech-Language Pathology

1. School speech-language pathologists whose compensation is paid solely by an administrative unit or state-operated program
2. Licensed individuals engaging in activities within their scope of practice
3. Students enrolled in a course of study at an accredited institution and pursuing a degree in speech-language pathology in an accredited program
4. Clinical Fellows
5. Qualified speech-language pathologists from another state or country on a temporary basis of once in any 12 month period.

Reciprocity

Audiology applicants may apply for licensure by endorsement by holding an active license in good standing in another state or territory of the U.S. or in a foreign country, so long as the qualifications are substantially equivalent.

Speech-language pathology applicants may apply for certification by endorsement by holding a current, valid license in a jurisdiction with substantially equivalent qualifications.

Interim Practice

The director may issue a provisional certification as a speech-language pathologist to persons obtaining the required clinical fellowship. The provisional certification expires twenty-four (24) months after issues or upon issues of permanent certification.

Continuing Education

Continuing professional competency may be shown through:

a. participation in the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program;
b. participation in a program of continuing professional competency through an accrediting body or an entity approved by the Director; or
c. receiving an exemption for military service.

Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact

Colorado is a member state of the Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact. Information on the current status of the ASLP-IC can be found on the ASLP-IC website.

Regulatory Oversight

Department of Regulatory Agencies:

• Office of Audiology Licensure
• Office of Speech-Language Pathology Certification

Resources

For further information on laws and regulations for speech-language pathologists and audiologist, please visit these websites:

• Colorado Audiology Practice Act [PDF]
• Colorado Audiology Rules and Regulations 
• Colorado Speech-Language Pathology Practice Act [PDF]
• Colorado Speech-Language Pathology Rules and Regulations

Questions regarding state advocacy issues? Call ASHA at 800-498-2071 and ask for the State Advocacy Team.