Michigan Licensing Requirements for Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology

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 Board of Audiology
2. Applicants without a doctor of audiology degree (AuD) must completion of at least nine months of supervised clinical experience in audiology
3. Successful completion of a Praxis Series II test or the National Teacher's Exam in audiology
4. Applicants with an AuD degree must submit an official transcript from an accredited educational institution approved by the Board of Audiology
5. Applicants with ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCCs) or American Board of Audiology (ABA) certification are deemed to have met the education, clinical experience, and examination requirements.
6. Fingerprint and criminal background checks also required.

Speech Language Pathology

1. Master's or doctoral degree acceptable to the Board of Speech-Language Pathology, from an accredited educational program approved by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and the Board of Speech-Language Pathology
2. 1,260 hours of a supervised postgraduate clinical experience
3. Passage of an exam acceptable to the Board of Speech-Language Pathology
4. Graduates of non-accredited postsecondary institutions must possess a master's or doctoral degree that is substantially equivalent, complete a supervised postgraduate clinical experience, pass the Praxis exam, and demonstrate a working knowledge of the English language (passage of TOEFL exam) if their educational program was taught in another language.
5. Certified teacher with an endorsement in speech and language impairment on January 12, 2009, and works with a school district, nonpublic school, or state department that provides educational services must apply for a limited license. Such licensees are eligible for renewal provided they continue to meet the requirements of this subsection.
6. Individuals with ASHA CCCs and who maintain their CCCs must apply for a license on or 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 Board of Speech-Language Pathology
7. Self-care or uncompensated care by friend or family member who does not represent that they are a licensed speech-language pathologist

Reciprocity/Endorsement

1. Audiology applicants currently licensed in another state with substantially equivalent requirements or ASHA CCCs or ABA 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 (CASLPA). Fingerprints and criminal background checks also required.
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 Board of Speech-Language Pathology. If licensed more than five years or more from date of application individual must possess a master's or doctoral degree from an accredited education program and pass the Praxis series II exam. If licensed less than 5 years prior, must meet the educational and exam requirements listed above in addition to a completed supervised postgraduate clinical experience. Applicants certified by ASHA or CASLPA must have all prior licenses verified and show proof of any disciplinary actions taken or pending.

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 CCCs, or American Board of Audiology certification.
2. Speech-language pathology applicants for an educational limited license must possess a master's or doctorate degree and submit a plan from an accredited educational program for the supervised postgraduate clinical experience signed by a licensed supervisor. An educational limited license shall be for two years and shall not be renewed more than two times.

Continuing Education for Licensure Renewal

Audiologists: Twenty clock hours of CE per 2-year period; retain documents for three years after renewal; failure to complete continuing education requirement is considered a violation of the Public Health Code.

Board Oversight

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

Board Composition

The Board of Audiology 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 Board of Speech-Language Pathology shall be comprised of 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 state advocacy issues? Call ASHA at 800-498-2071 and ask for the State Advocacy Team.