Michigan State Characteristics of Licensure Law

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

1. Master's or doctoral degree in audiology from a regionally accredited college or university approved by the Audiology Board
2. Completion of at least nine months of supervised clinical experience in audiology
3. Successful completion of an examination in audiology
4. Applicants with an AuD degree must submit an official transcript from an accredited educational institution approved by the Audiology Board
5. If an applicant has held CCC or American Board of Audiology certification up to September 1, 1995, then they are deemed to have met the education, clinical experience, and examination requirements.

Speech Language Pathology

1. Master's or doctoral degree acceptable to the board, from an accredited program approved by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and the Speech Language Pathology Board
2. Nine months or the equivalent of full-time supervised postgraduate clinical experience
3. Passage of an exam acceptable to the Speech Language Pathology Board
4. A certified teacher with an endorsement in speech and language impairment and who works with the schools must apply for a license on or before the expiration of two years after the effective date of the rules promulgated under this part. Such licensees are eligible for renewal provided they continue to meet the requirements of this subsection.
5. Individuals with ASHA CCCs and who maintain their CCCs must apply for a license on or before before the expiration of two years after the effective date of the rules promulgated under this part. Renewal is permitted provided such individuals continue to meet the requirements of this part.

Exemptions

1. Individuals employed by a regionally accredited college or university, and involved in research or teaching of communication disorders, as long as the individual does not engage in the practice of audiology or hold himself/herself out as licensed or otherwise authorized as an audiologist
2. Individuals employed by the Department of Community Health conducting hearing sensitivity screenings
3. Individuals certified by an agency acceptable to the Occupational Health Standards Commission engaging in hearing screening as part of a hearing conservation program under the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act
4. A certified, registered, or otherwise statutorily recognized member of another profession, including a person licensed in the practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine and surgery and an unlicensed person to whom tasks have been delegated under his or her supervision
5. Licensed hearing aid dealers (so long as the individual does not hold himself out to the public as possessing a license or title)
6. Supervised students in an accredited speech language pathology educational program approved by the Speech Language Pathology Board
7. Self-care or uncompensated care by friend or family member

Reciprocity/Endorsement

1. Audiology applicants currently licensed in another state with substantially equivalent requirements or ASHA CCCs or American Board of Audiology certification will be presumed to meet the education, clinical experience, and exam requirements for Michigan as will Canadian audiologists certified by the Canadian Association of Speech Language Pathologists.
2. Foreign trained applicants for audiology must prove substantially equivalent education requirements via an accredited credential evaluation agency and must be authorized to practice in the jurisdiction where the individual was educated or is a citizen. Applicants must also pass a test of the English language and complete nine months of supervised clinical experience in the United States.
3. Speech language pathology applicants may receive a license by endorsement from another state that has licensure requirements substantially equivalent to Michigan's as determined by the Speech Language Pathology Board.

Interim Practice/Temporary Licensure

1. Individuals with a degree but who have yet to complete the nine months of supervised clinical experience shall submit an application for a limited license. Applicants must be a graduate of an accredited education program in audiology and have been accepted for training by an audiologist with a state license, ASHA CCC's, or American Board of Audiology certification.
2. Speech language pathology applicants for a temporary license must possess a master's or doctorate degree and submit a plan for the supervised postgraduate clinical experience signed by a licensed supervisor. Licensure period may not exceed 12 months.

Continuing Education for Licensure Renewal

Audiologists: 20 clock hours of CE per two-year period; retain documents for three years after renewal; failure to complete CE requirement is considered a violation of the Public Health Code.

Board Oversight

Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Audiology Board
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Speech Language Pathology Board

Board Composition

The Audiology Board shall be comprised of nine members. There shall be five audiologists, two physician/osteopathic members holding a certificate of qualification from the American Board of Otolaryngology, and two public members, neither of whom is an audiologist or physician or has family or financial ties to an audiologist or physician.

The Speech Language Pathology Board shall comprise 11 members. Six individuals licensed as speech language pathologists, three public members, and two physicians, one of whom is a board-certified otolaryngologist.

Resources

The information contained herein was collected and summarized annually. For detailed information on state licensure requirements, contact the state board and visit these websites:

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs: Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists

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