Florida 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. 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
Speech-Language Pathologists
- Master's or doctoral degree from an accredited institution recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or its successor or the U.S. Department of Education or from an institution with the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada; foreign educated must prove equivalency
- Completed a supervised clinical practicum (300 clock hours)
- Completed nine months of postgraduate professional experience for speech-language pathology
- Completion of a course on HIV and acquired immune deficiency syndrome
- Completion of a two-hour continuing education course relating to the prevention of medical errors
Audiologists
- Completed a doctoral degree from an accredited institution recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or its successor or the U.S. Department of Education or the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada; foreign educated must prove equivalency
- 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-hour continuing education course relating to the prevention of medical errors
Exemptions
- Students actively engaged in a training program and under direct supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist
- 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, as 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 five 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 Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC). In either case, the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology shall hold the supervising Florida licensee fully accountable for the services provided by the out-of-state licensee.
Reciprocity/Endorsement
The Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology 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 the American Board of Audiology (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 have not completed 11 months of supervised clinical experience and passage of 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.
- The board may waive the education, practicum, and professional employment experience requirements for an applicant who received a professional education in another country if the board is satisfied that the applicant meets equivalent education and practicum requirements and passes the examination in audiology or speech-language pathology. This rule expires for audiology Jan. 1, 2013.
- Provisional licenses are valid for 21 months or until a license is issued.
Continuing Education Requirement for Licensure Renewal
30 hours biennially, 50 biennially for dual licensees
Board Oversight
Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology within the Florida Department of Health
Board Composition
The Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology 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 of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology shall be 60 years of age or older.
Resources
The information contained herein was collected and summarized annually. For detailed information on state licensure requirements, contact the state board and visit this website:
Florida Department of Health
Questions regarding state advocacy issues? Call ASHA at 800-498-2071 and ask for the State Advocacy Team.