Texas State Characteristics of Licensure Law

Last Updated June 2008

Contact the state's licensure board or regulatory agency for exact licensure, certification, or registration requirements in your jurisdiction.

Initial Licensure Requirements

Audiology

1. Graduate degree from a program accredited by CAA
2. Twenty-five clock hours of supervised observation before the clinical experience
3. 1400 clock hours of supervised clinical experience required if master's or higher degree was earned on or after January 1, 2007
4. Thirty-six weeks of full-time or equivalent part-time supervised professional experience in audiology
5. Passage of an examination

Speech Language Pathology

1. Master's degree from an ASHA accredited program
2. 400 hours supervised clinical practicum (on or after January 1, 2005)
3. Thirty-six weeks of full-time or equivalent part-time supervised professional experience
4. Passage of an examination (score 600)

Exemptions

1. Licensed professionals performing services for which they are licensed
2. Students appropriately designated as speech-language pathology or audiology trainees
3. Physicians/surgeons
4. Hearing screeners trained by the TX Department of Health
5. Hearing aid fitters and dispensers
6. CAOHC technicians
7. Certificate holders in speech-language pathology or audiology from the TX Education Agency for services only within their jurisdiction and if limited to screening procedures performed without compensation
8. RN's conducting communication, speech, language, or hearing screenings

Reciprocity/Endorsement

1. The Board may waive the clinical and examination requirements and grant licensure to a CCC holder.
2. Internships completed out-of-state must submit copy of supervisor's master's degree in the area of communicative sciences and disorders and a copy of the supervisor's valid license to practice in that state.

Interim Practice/Temporary Licensure

1. The Board may grant a provisional license to an applicant licensed in another state with equivalent standards, has passed a national or other examination relating to speech-language pathology or audiology that is recognized by the Board, and is sponsored by a licensee; such license is valid until the Board approves or denies the applicant's state license.
2. An intern license is required before beginning the supervised professional experience; an audiology intern may fit and dispense hearing instruments under supervision.
3. The Board may grant a temporary certificate of registration for applicants who meet all requirements for licensure except for the examination; the certificate entitles the individual to practice until 8 weeks after the offering of the next examination; it is non-renewable but does allow the holder to fit and dispense hearing aids under supervision.
4. The Board may waive the exam requirement and issue a provisional license to CCC holders.
5. Applicants who have completed the academic and clinical requirements for licensure but have not yet received their degree, may be licensed as an intern.

Continuing Education for Licensure Renewal

Ten clock hours shall be required for yearly renewal; 20 for a two-year term; dual licensees must earn 15 clock hours for one-year terms and 30 for two-year terms.

Hearing Aid Dispensing

Audiologists and audiology interns may dispense under an audiology license or audiology intern license but must register with the Board and comply with the State and FDA guidelines for fitting and dispensing hearing aids.

Support Personnel

1. In order to obtain a license as a speech-language pathology or audiology assistant, the individual must have (a) a baccalaureate degree with an emphasis in communicative sciences and disorders, (b) show proof of completion of no fewer than 24 semester hours in speech-language pathology/audiology, and (c) no fewer than 25 hours of clinical observation and 25 hours of clinical assisting experience (note: if the applicant has a bachelor's degree in another major, the Board shall evaluate on a case-by-case basis).
2. The licensed practitioner must supervise the assistant at least 2 hours per week, with at least 1 hour of which is face-to-face supervision at the location where the assistant is employed.
3. Speech language pathology and audiology assistants must complete 20 hours of continuing education units every 2 years.

Board Oversight

Texas Department of Health, State Board of Examiners for Speech Language Pathology and Audiology

Board Composition

The Board consists of nine members appointed by the Governor; there shall be three licensed speech-language pathologists and three audiologists who must have been practicing for at least 5 years prior to appointment; there shall be three public members; one of the public members shall be a licensed physician certified in otolaryngology or pediatrics; the remaining two public members shall not be health care providers nor connected in any way with the health care industry or the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology.

Web site

Texas Department of State Health Services

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