Ohio 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

1. Doctor of audiology degree obtained before or after January 1, 2006, or the equivalent from an audiology program accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or at least a master's degree or equivalent obtained prior to January 1, 2006.
   Note: The educational requirements shall be deemed met when an applicant is certified by ASHA and/or the American Board of Audiology.
2. Applicants applying based on equivalency shall hold a post-baccalaureate doctoral degree with a major emphasis in audiology consisting of a minimum of three years of didactic coursework, have completed a minimum of 350 clock hours of clinical experience prior to the fourth year of training, have completed a minimum of 2,000 clock hours of clinical extern experience in the fourth year of academic training, have completed a course of study that has included content on ethical practice standards, and have passed examinations approved by the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.
3. Requirements are deemed to be met when an applicant has graduated from a four-year postgraduate doctor of audiology program from a college or university and the university chairperson provides a letter to the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology attesting that the fourth year of the program is predominantly a clinical externship, and prior to beginning the externship the applicant shall have met the academic coursework requirements/practicum and passed the exam.
4. Passage of an examination

Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (prior to January 1, 2006)

1. Master's degree or equivalent (75 semester hours) from an accredited program recognized by the US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
2. Three hundred seventy-five hours of supervised clinical practicum , of which 25 clock hours shall be clinical observation prior to beginning initial clinical practicum and 350 clock hours shall be clinical practicum. Two hundred fifty of the 375 clock hours shall be at the graduate level in the area in which licensure is sought.
3. Written evidence of the completion of nine months full-time postgraduate professional experience or a minimum of 30 hours per week for a minimum of 36 weeks. Part-time experience consists of a minimum of 15 hours of professional experience per week for a minimum of 72 weeks. Requirements for the professional experience shall be deemed to be met if certified by ASHA or American Board of Audiology.
4. Passage of an examination

Exemptions

1. Persons employed as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist by any agency of the federal government
2. Students appropriately identified as speech-language pathology or audiology interns or trainees
3. HAD fitters
4. Physicians, osteopaths or persons delegated such tasks by a licensed physician
5. Nurses, occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants
6. Persons in the business of speech-language pathology or audiology providing licensed individuals are employed for direct practice
7. Persons with ASHA CCCs or licensed in another state, pending disposition of their application to the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology for a license
8. Persons not residents but licensed in another state with ASHA CCCs may practice for not more than one period of 30 consecutive calendar days in any year and must file a statement to the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology in advance.

Reciprocity/Endorsement

The Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology shall waive the examination and educational and professional experience requirements for applicants who:

1. Present proof of current licensure in another state with equivalent standards
2. Hold ASHA CCCs or American Board of Audiology certification
3. Have a license in audiology from a state with standards equal to standards in place in Ohio on December 31, 2005, and must have obtained their license by December 31, 2007

Interim Practice/Temporary Licensure

1. Persons required to meet the supervised professional experience must obtain a conditional license; such license is valid for 18 months.
2. Student Permits: Students who have completed one year of study in a speech-language pathology graduate program at an Ohio college/university may be recommended for a student permit; the student must complete course work along with 25 hours of observation and 75 hours of clinical experience consistent with the population to be served and the work setting to which they will be assigned; minimum supervision must be 25% direct for treatment activities and must take place periodically throughout the experience; students may carry no more than 50 cases.

Continuing Education Requirement for Licensure Renewal

Twenty clock hours of continuing education per two-year period; dual licensees must earn 20 continuing education hours within two years.

Board Oversight

Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Board Composition

The Board shall be comprised of eight state residents appointed by the governor; three members shall be licensed speech-language pathologists and three members shall be licensed audiologists who have been licensed and engaged in practice for at least five years prior to their appointment; at all times, one of the audiologists must be engaged in the practice of fitting and dispensing hearing aids; there shall be two public members and at least one of the public members shall be at least 60 years of age.

Telepractice

State Code of Ethics provision:

(7) Licensees may practice via telecommunications within the state where not prohibited by law.

1. Support personnel in off-site locations assisting in clinical care, shall be licensed aides under Chapter 4753 of the Revised Code.
2. Evaluation and/or treatment shall not be solely by correspondence.

Clinical Fellowship Supervision Rule (4753-3-07)

1. Professional experience shall entail the direct involvement of the supervisor in any and all ways, which may include telepratice that will permit the supervisor to monitor, improve, provide feedback, and evaluate the applicant's performance in professional employment.
2. When onsite supervision occurs via telepractice applications, supervision shall occur using real time, synchronous, encrypted videoconferencing and shall meet the supervision requirements as specified in this rule.
3. Asynchronous, recorded therapy sessions submitted for later review shall not meet the requirements for onsite supervision but may suffice as "Other Supervisory Activity" as outlined in the supervision log.

Resources

The information contained herein was collected and summarized annually. For detailed information on state licensure requirements, contact the state board and visit the Ohio Board of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology website.

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