16 Tex. Admin. Code § 111.50 - Assistant in Speech-Language Pathology License-Licensing Requirements-Education and Clinical Observation and Experience
(a) An individual shall not practice as an
assistant in speech-language pathology without a current license issued by the
department. An applicant for an assistant in speech-language pathology license
must meet the requirement under the Act and this section. The applicant must
meet the following requirements:
(1) possess
a baccalaureate degree with an emphasis in communicative sciences or
disorders;
(2) have acquired at
least twenty-four (24) semester credit hours in speech-language pathology
and/or audiology with a grade of "C" or above with the following conditions:
(A) at least 18 of the 24 semester credit
hours must be in speech-language pathology;
(B) at least three (3) of the 24 semester
credit hours must be in language disorders;
(C) at least three (3) of the 24 semester
credit hours must be in speech disorders;
(D) the 24 semester credit hours excludes
course work such as special education, deaf education, or sign language;
and
(E) the 24 semester credit
hours must be academic course work and excludes any clinical experience;
and
(3) have earned no
fewer than twenty-five (25) hours of clinical observation in the area of
speech-language pathology and twenty-five (25) hours of clinical assisting
experience in the area of speech-language pathology obtained within an
educational institution or in one of its cooperating programs. If these hours
are not completed, the applicant must complete the Clinical Deficiency Plan
under subsection (e).
(b)
The baccalaureate degree shall be completed at a college or university which
has a program accredited by the ASHA Council on Academic Accreditation or holds
accreditation or candidacy status from a recognized regional accrediting
agency.
(1) Original or certified copy of the
transcripts showing the conferred degree shall be submitted and reviewed as
follows:
(A) only course work earned within
the past ten (10) years with a grade of "C" or above is acceptable;
(B) a quarter hour of academic credit shall
be considered as two-thirds of a semester credit hour; and
(C) academic courses, the titles of which are
not self-explanatory, shall be substantiated through course descriptions in
official school catalogs or bulletins or by other official means.
(2) In the event the course work
and clinical experience set out in subsection (a), were earned more than ten
(10) years before the date of application for the assistant license, the
applicant shall submit proof of current knowledge of the practice of
speech-language pathology to be evaluated by the department. Proof of current
knowledge may include: recently completing continuing education or other
courses; or holding a current license in another state.
(c) An applicant who possesses a
baccalaureate degree with a major that is not in communicative sciences or
disorders may qualify for the assistant license. The department shall evaluate
transcripts on a case-by-case basis to ensure equivalent academic preparation,
and shall determine if the applicant satisfactorily completed twenty-four (24)
semester credit hours in communicative sciences or disorders and meets the
requirements of §111.50(b)(2), which may include some leveling
hours.
(d) Degrees and/or course
work received at foreign universities shall be acceptable only if such course
work and clinical practicum hours may be verified as meeting the requirements
of subsection (a). The applicant must bear all expenses incurred during the
procedure. The department shall evaluate the documentation, which shall include
an original transcript and an original report from a credential evaluation
services agency acceptable to the department.
(e) An applicant who has not acquired the
twenty-five (25) hours of clinical observation and twenty-five (25) hours of
clinical experience referenced in subsection (a)(3), shall not meet the minimum
qualifications for the assistant license. These hours must be obtained through
an accredited college or university, or through a Clinical Deficiency Plan. All
hours must be completed under direct supervision. In order to acquire these
hours, the applicant shall first obtain the assistant license by submitting the
forms, fees, and documentation referenced in §111.55 and include the
prescribed Clinical Deficiency Plan to acquire the clinical observation and
clinical assisting experience hours lacking.
(1) The licensed speech-language pathologist
who will provide the applicant with the training to acquire these hours must
meet the requirements set out in the Act and §111.154 and shall submit:
(A) the Supervisory Responsibility Statement
Form prescribed under §111.51; and
(B) the prescribed Clinical Deficiency
Plan.
(2) The department
shall evaluate the documentation and fees submitted to determine if the
assistant license shall be issued. Additional information or revisions may be
required before approval is granted.
(3) The Clinical Deficiency Plan shall be
completed within sixty (60) days of the issue date of the assistant's license
or the licensed assistant must submit a new plan.
(4) Immediately upon completion of the
Clinical Deficiency Plan, the licensed speech-language pathologist identified
in the plan shall submit a statement or information that the licensed assistant
successfully completed the clinical observation and clinical assisting
experience and that all hours worked by the licensed assistant were under the
in-person, direct supervision of the licensed speech-language pathologist. This
statement shall specify the number of hours completed and verify completion of
the training identified in the Clinical Deficiency Plan.
(5) Department staff shall evaluate the
documentation required in paragraph (4) and inform the licensed assistant and
licensed speech-language pathologist who provided the training if
acceptable.
(6) A licensed
assistant may continue to practice under the in-person, direct supervision of
the licensed speech-language pathologist who provided the licensed assistant
with the training while the department evaluates the documentation identified
in paragraph (4). All hours worked by the licensed assistant must be under the
in-person, direct supervision of the licensed speech-language
pathologist.
(7) In the event
another licensed speech-language pathologist shall supervise the licensed
assistant after completion of the Clinical Deficiency Plan, a Supervisory
Responsibility Statement Form shall be submitted to the department seeking
approval for the change in supervision. If the documentation required by
paragraph (4), has not been received and approved by the department, approval
for the change in supervision shall not be granted.
Notes
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