|
The information below is collected from state licensure boards or regulatory agencies responsible for regulating the professions of Speech-Language Pathology and/or Audiology. 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
- Master's or doctoral degree from an accredited institution
- Completed a supervised clinical practicum (300 clock hours)
- Completed 9 months of postgraduate professional experience for speech-language pathology and 11 months for audiologists
- Passage of the Educational Testing Services Praxis Series Examination
- Completion of a course on HIV and acquired immune deficiency syndrome
- Completion of a two (2) hour continuing education course relating to the prevention of medical errors
Audiologist License Applicant
- Completed a doctoral degree from an accredited instiution
- Completed a supervised clinical practicum (300 clock hours)
- Completed 11 month professional employment experience or a one year clinical work experience
- Passage of the Educational Testing Services Praxis Series Examination
- Completion of a course on HIV and acquired immune deficiency syndrome
- Completion of a two (2) hour continuing education course relating to the prevention of medical errors
Exemptions
- Students
- Physicians, clinical psychologists, nurses, or hearing aid specialists acting within the scope of their profession and licensed by the state
- Persons certified in the areas of speech-language impairment or hearing impairment in the state under chapter 1012 or any person under the direct supervision of such a certified person, or of a licensee under this chapter when the person under such supervision is performing hearing screenings in a school setting for pre-kindergarten through grade 12
- Laryngectomized individuals rendering guidance and instruction to other larynegectomized individuals, who are under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist or a licensed physician qualified to perform this surgical procedure
- Non-licensed individuals working in a hospital setting who provide newborn infant hearing screenings, so long as training, clinical interpretation of the screenings, and the protocol for follow-up are provided by a licensed audiologist
- Persons licensed by another state as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist who provide services for no more than 5 calendar days per month or 15 calendar days per year under the direct supervision of a Florida-licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist; a person whose state of residence does not license speech-language pathology or audiology may also qualify for this provision if they hold a CCC; in either case, the Board shall hold the supervising Florida licensee fully accountable for the services provided by the out-of-state licensee
Reciprocity/Endorsement
The Board shall certify as qualified for license by endorsement as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist to any individual who either:
- Holds a valid license or certificate in another state or territory of the United States if the licensure criteria were substantially equivalent to or more stringent than the licensure criteria that existed in this state at the time the license was issued;
or
- Currently holds a CCC or board certification in audiology from ABA
Interim Practice/Temporary Licensure
- Applicants for a license in speech-language pathology that have not completed 9 months of supervised professional employment and passed the exam must obtain a provisional license.
- Applicants for an audiology license with a master's degree earned before 2008 that has not completed 11 months of supervised clinical experience and passed the exam must obtain a provisional license.
- Effective January 1, 2008, doctoral degree audiologists who have not passed the licensure exam must obtain a provisional license.
- Provisional licenses are valid for 18 months and may not exceed 24 months.
Continuing Education Requirement for Licensure Renewal
Thirty hours biennially, 50 biennially for dual licensees
Hearing Aid Dispensing
Audiologists may dispense under audiology license; each licensee who fits and sells hearing aids must establish a regular place of business and have their license conspicuously displayed.
Support Personnel
- To be certified as a speech-language pathology assistant, a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university including completion of 24 semester hours as specified by the Board from a CHEA accredited institution is necessary.
- Certified audiology assistants must have a high school diploma or its equivalent
- A licensee who employs a speech-language pathology assistant or an audiology assistant shall provide such assistant with on-the-job training and shall maintain responsibility for all services performed or omitted by such assistant. Following the completion of on-the-job training, the speech-language pathology assistant shall engage only in those services that are planned, designed and supervised by the supervising speech-language pathologist or supervising audiologist.
- On-the-job training is via instruction, demonstration, continuous visual observation and record of each service, signed by both the licensee and the assistant.
- The assistant shall be clearly identified as an assistant by means of a name tag or similar identification.
- The supervising audiologist/speech-language pathologist may not delegate to an audiology assistant/speech-language assistant any tasks that call for a diagnostic interpretation or put the client at physical risk.
- Assistants must be under the direct supervision of a licensee. Direct supervision requires the physical presence of the licensee in the same facility when the assistant is carrying out assigned responsibilities, in order for the licensee to be available for consultation and direction.
- Twenty CEs are required for the biennium certificate renewal of assistants; two of these hours must be in an approved course related to the prevention of medical errors.
- Supervision by licensees may not exceed two full-time or three part-time assistants.
Board Oversight
Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology within the FL Department of Health
Board Composition
The Board shall comprise seven individuals appointed by the Governor; two members shall be speech-language pathologists, two members shall be audiologists, one member shall be a physician who is a neurologist, an otolaryngologist, or a pediatrician. There shall also be two communicatively impaired public members who are not, and have never been, licensed as a speech-language pathologist or as an audiologist and who are in no way connected with the practice of such profession; at least one of the two public members shall be a hearing aid user; at least one member of the Board shall be 60 years of age or older.
Web site
Florida Department of Health
Questions regarding this document? Call ASHA at 800-498-2071 and ask for the State Advocacy Team.
|