New York 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. For persons applying for licensure as an audiologist on or after January 1, 2009, to meet the professional education requirements for licensure as an audiologist in this state the applicant shall present evidence of the completion of a master's or higher degree program in audiology, that is either registered by the New York State Education Department or accredited by an acceptable accrediting agency, or determined by the Department to be an audiology program equivalent to such a registered or accredited program.
2. Applicants for an audiology license on or after January 1, 2009, completing an accredited doctoral program, shall not be required to meet the supervised experience requirement.
3. Master's degree or equivalent applicants (prior to 2009) must include 60 semester hours and 300 clock hours of supervised practicum and must complete 9 months of supervised experience or 1,420 hours if after 2009.
4. Passage of an exam determined by the New York State Education Department to be acceptable

Speech-Language Pathology

1. Master's degree or higher or equivalent as determined by the New York State Education Department
2. Supervised practicum of 400 clock hours
3. Thirty-six weeks of supervised experience 
4. Passage of an exam determined by the Department to be acceptable

Exemptions

1. Any other licensed professionals operating within their scope of practice
2. Any person employed by the federal, state, or a local government or by a public or non-public elementary or secondary school or an institution of higher learning from performing the duties of a speech-language pathologist, an audiologist, a teacher of the speech and hearing handicapped, or a teacher of the deaf in the course of such employment.
3. Any person from engaging in clinical or academic practice under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist for such period of time as may be necessary to complete an experience requirement for a professional license
4. Students in supervised clinical practice
5. Hearing aid dealers using audiometers or other testing equipment
6. A person licensed in another state if services are performed for no more than 30 days per calendar year and are provided under the supervision of or in conjunction with a New York licensee

Reciprocity/Endorsement

1. An applicant seeking endorsement in speech-language pathology or audiology from another state shall have completed a program in speech-language pathology or audiology that included a practicum and a minimum of 60 semester hours in the profession or the equivalent; provide evidence of two years of professional experience following licensure in another jurisdiction and within six years preceding this application; have met the exam requirements; hold certification for an acceptable certifying agency such as ASHA and present evidence of good standing as a licensee in each jurisdiction where the applicant is licensed.
2. Applicants seeking endorsement from another country shall present evidence of completion of a program in speech-language pathology or audiology or the equivalent; present evidence of three years of licensed professional experience in the U.S. or country where licensed and within six years preceding this application; have met the exam requirements or passed a written exam for licensure in the country where the applicant is licensed to practice; hold certification from an acceptable certifying agency and present evidence of good standing in each jurisdiction where licensed to practice.

Interim Practice/Temporary Licensure

N/A

Continuing Education for Licensure Renewal

1. An applicant must complete a minimum of 30 continuing competence hours per triennial renewal period; those failing to meet these requirements may be issued a conditional registration, duration of which shall not exceed 1 year.
2. Dual licensees shall complete continuing competency requirements for each registration except that 10 hours earned in a related subject may be credited to both registrations.
3. At least 20 hours shall be in recognized areas of study pertinent to the licensee's professional scope of practice
4. Speech-language pathologists and audiologists shall be exempt from the mandatory continuing competency requirement for the triennial registration period during which they are first licensed.
5. Licensed audiologists who are registered by the Department of State to dispense hearing aids must in their 30-hour triennial period include two continuing competency hours for each full year of registration on the selecting and/or fitting of hearing aids.

Board Oversight

New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions, State Board for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Board Composition

The State Board for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology shall comprise at least seven members, three of whom shall be audiologists, and four of whom shall be speech-language pathologists; each speech-language pathologist and audiologist on the Board shall be licensed and have practiced in the state for at least five years.

Resource

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

New York Office of the Professions

Questions regarding state advocacy issues? Call ASHA at 800-498-2071 and ask for the State Advocacy Team.