Idaho 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
Audiology
- Master's or doctoral degree with an emphasis in audiology or not less than 75 semester credit hours of post baccalaureate study that culminates in a doctoral or other recognized degree from a nationally accredited school for audiology with a curriculum acceptable to the Speech & Hearing Services Licensure Board (Board)
- Passage of a Praxis exam
- Meet the current supervised academic clinical practicum and supervised postgraduate professional experience approved by the Board
- Never have had a license for audiology revoked as part of disciplinary action and not found by the Board to have engaged in conduct that would constitute grounds for disciplinary action
Speech-Language Pathology
- Master's or doctoral degree from a nationally accredited school of speech-language pathology with a curriculum acceptable to the Board
- Passage of a Praxis exam
- Meet the current supervised, academic clinical practicum and supervised postgraduate professional experience approved by the Board
- Never have had a license for speech-language pathology revoked as part of disciplinary action and not found by the Board to have engaged in conduct that would constitute grounds for disciplinary action
Exemptions
- Any person licensed or regulated by the state of Idaho engaging in the profession or practice for which he or she is licensed or regulated including, but not limited to, any certified or accredited teacher of the deaf, nurse, physician, occupational therapist, physical therapist, surgeon, or any other licensed or regulated practitioner of the healing arts
- Any person working under the direct supervision of those persons regulated in this section, so long as such employee does not hold himself or herself out as an audiologist, speech-language pathologist, speech-language pathology aide or assistant, hearing aid dealer or fitter, or a person engaged in the practice of audiology, speech-language pathology, or hearing aid dealing and fitting
- Any person working in an Idaho public school setting who has received a pupil personnel services certificate with a speech-language pathologist or audiologist endorsement, or any person working as a speech-language pathology aide or assistant as defined in Section 54-2903, Idaho Code in a public school setting. Such persons, while practicing in the public school setting, shall be exempt from all provisions of this chapter. Outside the public school setting such persons must comply with the licensure requirements.
- Persons pursuing a course of study leading to a degree in audiology, speech-language pathology, or hearing aid dealing/fitting at a college or university, provided that activities and services constitute a part of a planned course of study at that institution
- Persons residing in another state or country and authorized to practice audiology, speech-language pathology or hearing aid dealing and fitting who provides consultation to a state licensee or who conducts a lecture, clinic, or demonstration while engaged in consultation so long as such person does not open an office or appoint a place to meet clients or receive calls in this state.
Reciprocity/Endorsement
Persons licensed in another state must have:
- A current, active license at the licensure level being sought, issued by a regulatory authority in another state; the applicant must not have been disciplined or sanctioned within the last five years nor voluntarily surrendered a license.
- ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCCs) or proof of education and successful completion of the PRAXIS exam
- For applicants who received their professional education outside of the United States, equivalent education requirements must be met. The Board shall have the discretion to require by rule that such applicants provide additional information to the Board concerning such professional education or may require successful completion of additional coursework before proceeding with the application process.
Interim Practice/Temporary Licensure
- A provisional permit may be required to engage in the practice of audiology or speech-language pathology while completing either the required postgraduate experience or a comparable experience as part of a doctoral program in audiology.
- A provisional permit may be required to engage in fitting and dealing hearing aids.
- The holder of a provisional permit may practice only under a licensed supervisor.
- The supervisor and permit holder must make contact in person each work day. A minimum of 60 contacts must be completed within the first 6 months of supervision.
- Supervisors may supervise only two permit holders at a time and is required to work within the same facility.
- Permit holders must submit a quarterly report of their activities to the Bureau.
- 18 months is the maximum time allowed for permits.
- Permit holders with ASHA CCCs in audiology or are certified by National Board for Certification in Hearing Instrument Sciences (NBC-HIS) are exempt from the 60 contacts, the requirement to work in the same facility and the plan of training for the licensure exam from date of permit until date of next licensing exam. Failure to take the exam rescinds the exemption.
Continuing Education Requirement for Licensure Renewal
Must complete 10 contact hours of CE annually; a maximum of five hours may be carried forward
Board Oversight
Bureau of Occupational Licenses, Speech & Hearing Services Licensure Board
Board Composition
The Board shall comprise seven members appointed by the Governor: three speech-language pathologists, two audiologists, one hearing aid dealer/fitter, and one public member.
Resouces
The information contained herein was collected and summarized annually. For detailed information on state licensure requirements, contact the state board and visit The Idaho State Speech & Hearing Services Licensure Board website.
Questions regarding state advocacy issues? Call ASHA at 800-498-2071 and ask for the State Advocacy Team.