American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

In This Section:

Tennessee 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

  1. Be at least 18 years old
  2. Possess at least a master's degree in speech-language pathology or audiology from an accredited institution
    and
  3. Possess a current Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA
    4. or
    Have successfully completed and documented a minimum of 400 clock hours of supervised clinical practicum from an accredited institution recognized by ASHA,
  4. A clinical fellowship or clinical externship in the area in which licensure is sought,
  5. A clinical fellowship in the area in which licensure is sought,
    6. and
  6. Passage of the Specialty Area Tests in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology of the Professional Assessments for Beginning Teachers (Praxis test)

Audiology (on or after January 1, 2009)

  1. Applicants for licensure as an audiologist on or after January 1, 2009 must possess a doctoral degree from an accredited education program approved by the Board of Communications Disorders and Sciences (Board)
    2. and
  2. Possess a current CCC in audiology issued through ASHA,

OR

  1. Complete 1820 clock hours of supervised clinical practicum by a licensed audiologist or ASHA or ABA certified audiologist and
  2. Passage of Praxis test
  3. The doctoral degree requirement shall not apply to audiologists licensed in Tennessee or any other state prior to January 1, 2009.

Note: Audiologists and SLP's must pay a state privilege tax.

Exemptions

  1. Licensed persons performing within their scope of practice
  2. Department of Education credentialed speech and hearing specialists
  3. Federal employees
  4. Students appropriately designated speech-language pathology or audiology interns or trainees
  5. Physicians
  6. The activities and services of a speech language pathologist or audiologist obtaining their year of paid professional experience under sunder supervision of a licensed or ASHA certified speech-language pathologist or audiologist
  7. Hearing instrument dispensers
  8. Persons performing audiometric tests under direct physician supervision
  9. A speech-language pathologist or audiologist who holds ASHA certification or equivalent or holds a doctor of audiology degree (AuD) from an accredited institution and has passed the examination or is licensed in another state and who has made application to the Board for a Tennessee license may perform services and activities of a speech-language pathology or audiological nature without a valid license upon written authorization of the Board and pending disposition of the application.

Reciprocity/Endorsement

  1. If licensed in another state, must obtain an official Board statement from that state which indicates the condition of said license and under what provision the license was granted; the standards in effect in the other state must be equivalent or exceed the current requirements for Tennessee.
  2. CCC holders
  3. The Board shall waive the examination requirement for those applicants licensed in another state with equivalent standards.

Interim Practice/Temporary Licensure

Board registration is required for:

  1. Clinical Externs; registration is effective for 15 continuous months; length of externship is set by the accredited institution; work must be performed under a licensed ASHA certified or ABA certified audiologist and supervisors shall supervise no more than two clinical externs concurrently.
  2. Clinical Fellows; term is no less than nine months and no more than one year for master's degrees and four years for doctoral degrees; supervising licensees shall supervise no more than three Clinical Fellows concurrently.
  3. Persons from another state who meet the requirement for licensure may offer speech-language pathology or audiology services (but not sell hearing instruments) in Tennessee for no more than five days per calendar year.
  4. An SLP licensed in another state with equivalent or higher standards may offer speech-language pathology services in state for no more than 30 days in any calendar year without a Tennessee license.
  5. Persons who reside in another state, territory, or foreign country that does not grant certification or licensure as a speech-language pathologist may offer services for not more than 30 days per calendar year provided that the person meets current Tennessee state licensure requirements.

Continuing Education for Licensure Renewal

  1. Licensees must complete ten hours of continuing education per calendar year.
  2. Dual licensees must complete 20 hours of continuing education per year distributed equally between each specialty.

Board Oversight

Board of Communications Disorders and Sciences

Board Composition

The Board of Communication Disorders and Sciences shall comprise seven state residents who shall be appointed by the Governor; five members shall be licensed speech-language pathologists or audiologists who have been practicing for at least five years; of these five members, there shall be at least two speech-language pathologists and two audiologists, the fifth shall be either; in addition, there shall be one otolaryngologist and one consumer member; in making appointments to the Board, the Governor shall strive to ensure that at least one person serving on the Board is at least 60 years of age and that at least one member is a racial minority; when a vacancy occurs with one of the five nonphysician positions, the Tennessee Association of Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists shall recommend three persons to fill each vacancy and the Governor will make an appointment from those so nominated.

Resources

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

Health Related Board: Communications Disorders and Sciences

 

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

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