Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 609-3-.01 - Requirements for Licensure by Examination for Speech - Language Pathology or Audiology for Applications Received Prior to January 1, 2007
In order to be eligible for licensure as a speech-language pathologist or as an Audiologist prior to January 1, 2007, the applicant must satisfy the following requirements:
(a) Degree. The applicant shall submit
evidence of completion of a master's or higher degree, with a major emphasis in
speech-language pathology or audiology, or both, from an accredited educational
institution;
(b) Academic Hours.
The applicant should submit certified evidence of the completion of 60 semester
hours of academic credit from one or more accredited colleges or universities
constituting a well-integrated program that includes 12 semester hours in
courses that provide fundamental information applicable to the normal
development and use of speech, hearing and language and 30 semester hours in
courses that provide information about, and training in, the management of
speech, hearing and language disorders or that provide information
supplementary to these fields. Of these 30 semester hours, no fewer than six
must be in audiology for the speech-language pathologist, or in speech language
pathology for the audiologist; no more than six of these 30 semester hours may
be in courses that provide academic credit for clinical practice. Of these 30
semester hours, at least 24, not including credit for thesis or dissertation,
must be in courses in their field in which the license is requested.
Furthermore, 30 of these 60 semester hours must be in courses acceptable toward
a graduate degree by the accredited or approved college or university in which
these courses are taken;
(c)
Supervised Clinical Practicum.
1. The
applicant shall submit certified evidence of direct clinical experiences in
both diagnosis and treatment with children and adults. The supervised practicum
must include experience in a variety of settings with client populations across
the life span from culturally/linguistically diverse backgrounds, and with
various types and severities of communication problems and related disorders,
differences and disabilities.
2.
The applicant shall submit certified evidence that of the required 300 clock
hours, a minimum of 25 clock hours must be with adults (person 18 years of age
and older) and a minimum of 25 clock hours must be with children (persons under
the age of 18).
3. The experience
must be obtained within an accredited academic institution or in one of its
cooperating programs.
(d) Paid Clinical Experience. In order to
meet the requirements for paid clinical experience, applicant must satisfy the
following:
1. Paid Clinical Experience (PCE)
Fellow. In order to be eligible to become a Paid Clinical Experience Fellow,
the applicant must have met the academic and clinical experience requirements
set out in Rule 609-3-01 above. See O.C.G.A. Section
43-44-8(a)(4).
2. Paid Clinical Experience Duration. The
applicant for licensure must submit evidence of satisfactory completion of no
less than nine months of full-time of paid clinical experience in the area in
which the license is requested. The applicant must specify the duration of the
PCE on the application.
(i) Full-Time.
"Full-time" is defined as at least 30 hours per week. The nine month equivalent
of full-time paid experience should be completed from continuous employment,
but must be completed no more than 24 months after initial
application.
(ii) Half-time. The
requirement may also be fulfilled by 18 months of half time paid experience of
at least 15 hours per week which should be completed from continuous
employment, but must be completed no more than 36 months after initial
application.
3. Required
Supervision During the PCE.
(i) At all times
during the period of PCE, the PCE Fellow shall be under the direction of one or
more supervisors.
(ii) Supervision
of the PCE Fellow must entail the personal and direct monitoring of the
Fellow's work.
(iii) Personal and
direct monitoring activities shall include but not be limited to observations,
evaluations of written reports, evaluation by professional colleagues and
discussions of clinical work.
(iv)
Personal and direct monitoring activities shall be conducted at a minimum of
one per month in order to evaluate the progress of the PCE Fellow.
4. Qualifications and
Responsibilities of the PCE Supervisor.
(i)
The PCE must be obtained under a supervisor who is either:
(I) a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist or
Audiologist who is licensed in the area(s) for which the PCE Fellow seeks
clinical experience and is ultimately liable for the quality of services
provided; or
(II) a person whose
education and experience is substantially equivalent to that of a licensed
Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist and who provides supervision when
that person holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American
Speech-Language and Hearing Association in the area in which the PCE Fellow is
applying for licensure, and is ultimately liable for the quality of services
provided. A person may obtain an equivalency statement from the American
Speech-Language and Hearing Association if she/he is not so certified, or may
submit qualifications to the Board for a ruling on whether or not this standard
is met.
(ii) The
supervisor shall supervise no more than two (2) PCE Fellows under the
provisions of this rule.
(e) Application for PCE Fellow Temporary
License.
1. Within 14 calendar days of
initiation of PCE, the supervisor and PCE Fellow applicant shall submit to the
Board an Application for Temporary License which may be obtained from the
website or the Board Office. This application must be accompanied by the
notarized application for full licensure and appropriate fees.
2. Upon receipt of the applications and
appropriate fees, the Board may, at its discretion, approve the plan for nine
(9) months of full-time PCE or up to but not longer than eighteen (18) months
of part-time PCE, and grant a temporary license to the applicant as a PCE
Fellow for the purpose of practicing during the PCE.
(i) The temporary license shall be valid for
a period of one year from the beginning date of the PCE period.
(ii) The temporary license may be renewed for
one additional year if the approved PCE period extends beyond one year, but may
not be renewed solely for the purposes of the applicant's completion of other
license requirements.
(iii) If the
PCE Fellow has been approved for permanent license, the temporary license shall
be rescinded. If the PCE Fellow is not approved for permanent license, the
temporary license may be voided or continued through the remaining period of
validity of the license.
(f) Documentation of Completion of the PCE.
1. Within 14 calendar days of completing the
approved PCE period, the PCE Fellow and supervisor shall complete and provide
to the Board the appropriate notarized forms to document completion of the
PCE.
2. The documentation shall
provide information on the approximate hours per week engaged in diagnostic
evaluations, therapy, recordkeeping, staff meetings and in-service
training.
3. The supervisor and PCE
Fellow shall provide the documentation of the monitoring activities.
4. The documentation shall include a
statement on the supervisor's assessment of the PCE Fellow's clinical
competency as demonstrated by performance during the PCE.
(g) Change(s) to the PCE. The PCE Fellow
shall notify the Board within 14 calendar days of any changes in the PCE during
the approved period, including but not limited to:
1. the dates and duration of any breaks in
service,
2. change in PCE
supervisor,
3. change in the place
of employment, or 4. change of employer.
(h) Any week in which the PCE Fellow has not
worked a minimum of 30 hours shall not be counted toward the PCE. The Board may
approve the changes at its discretion, and specify allowable adjustments in the
PCE.
(i) Failure to Obtain a
Temporary License for the PCE.
1. A person who
fails to apply for and be approved for a temporary license shall be considered
practicing without a license and may be subject to sanction of Title 43 of the
Official Code of Georgia Annotated.
2. A supervisor who allows a person to
practice without a temporary license for the PCE may be subject to sanction of
Title 43 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.
(j) Examination. The applicant shall be
required to pass an examination, as specified in Chapter
609-3-.06.
Notes
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