HB 747

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to health professionals treating speech or
3	hearing disorders; amending s. 468.1155, F.S.; revising
4	requirements for the Department of Health in issuing a
5	provisional license to practice speech-language pathology
6	or audiology; revising licensing requirements for
7	applicants who graduated or are currently enrolled in a
8	speech-language pathology or audiology program at a
9	university located outside of the United States or Canada;
10	authorizing the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and
11	Audiology to waive certain requirements for applicants who
12	received professional education in another country under
13	certain circumstances; amending s. 468.1165, F.S.;
14	revising requirements for applicants to obtain
15	professional employment in order to be licensed by the
16	department to practice speech-language pathology or
17	audiology; amending s. 468.1185, F.S.; revising
18	requirements for the department to issue a license to an
19	applicant to practice speech-language pathology or
20	audiology; amending s. 468.1215, F.S.; revising
21	requirements for a person to be certified as an audiology
22	assistant; requiring an audiologist or speech-language
23	pathologist to give an assistant a board-approved plan for
24	training and to maintain responsibility for services
25	performed by the assistant; providing an effective date.
26
27	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
28
29	Section 1.  Section 468.1155, Florida Statutes, is amended
30	to read:
31	468.1155  Provisional license; requirements.--
32	(1)(a)  A provisional license shall be required of all
33	applicants for a license in speech-language pathology who cannot
34	document a minimum of 9 months of supervised professional
35	employment experience and a passing score on the national
36	examination. A provisional license shall be required of all
37	applicants for a license in audiology who cannot document a
38	minimum of 11 months of supervised clinical experience and a
39	passing score on the national examination.
40	(b)  Individuals who are required to hold a provisional
41	license under paragraph (a) shall apply to the department and be
42	certified by the board for licensure prior to initiating the
43	professional employment experience required pursuant to s.
44	468.1165.
45	(2)  The department shall issue a provisional license to
46	practice speech-language pathology to each applicant who the
47	board certifies has:
48	(a)  Completed the application form and remitted the
49	required fees, including a nonrefundable application fee.
50	(b)  Received a master's degree or completed the academic
51	requirement of is currently enrolled in a doctoral degree
52	program with a major emphasis in speech-language pathology from
53	an institution of higher learning that which is, or at the time
54	the applicant was enrolled and graduated was, accredited by an
55	accrediting agency recognized by the Council for Higher
56	Education Accreditation or its successor or the United States
57	Department of Education or from an institution that which is a
58	member in good standing with the Association of Universities and
59	Colleges of Canada. An applicant who graduated from or is
60	currently enrolled in a program at a university or college
61	outside the United States or Canada must present documentation
62	of the determination of equivalency of the program to standards
63	established by an accrediting body recognized by the Council for
64	Higher Education Accreditation or its successor or the United
65	States Department of Education in order to qualify.
66	1.  The applicant must have completed the program
67	requirements by academic course work, practicum experience, or
68	laboratory or research activity, as verified by the program,
69	including:
70	a.  Knowledge of basic human communication and swallowing
71	processes, including their biological, neurological, acoustic,
72	psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural bases.
73	b.  Knowledge of the nature of speech, language, hearing,
74	and communication disorders and differences and swallowing
75	disorders, including their etiologies; anatomical or
76	physiological characteristics; acoustic, psychological,
77	developmental, and linguistic and cultural correlates; voice and
78	resonance, including respiration and phonation; receptive and
79	expressive language in speaking, listening, reading, writing,
80	and manual modalities; hearing, including the impact on speech
81	and language; swallowing; cognitive aspects of communication;
82	social aspects of communication; and communication modalities.
83	c.  Knowledge of the principles and methods of prevention,
84	assessment, and intervention for people having communication and
85	swallowing disorders, including consideration of anatomical or
86	physiological, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and
87	cultural correlates of the disorders, articulation, fluency,
88	voice and resonance, receptive and expressive communication,
89	hearing, swallowing, cognitive aspects of communication, social
90	aspects of communication, and communication modalities.
91	2.  The program must include appropriate supervised
92	clinical experiences.
93
94	The board may waive the requirements for education, practicum,
95	and professional employment experience for an applicant who
96	received a professional education in another country if the
97	board is satisfied that the applicant meets the equivalent
98	education and practicum requirements and passes the examination
99	in speech-language pathology. 60 semester hours that include:
100	1.  Fundamental information applicable to the normal
101	development and use of speech, hearing, and language;
102	information about training in management of speech, hearing, and
103	language disorders; and information supplementary to these
104	fields.
105	2.  Six semester hours in audiology.
106	3.  Thirty of the required 60 semester hours in courses
107	acceptable toward a graduate degree by the college or university
108	in which these courses were taken, of which 24 semester hours
109	must be in speech-language pathology.
110	(c)  Completed 300 supervised clinical clock hours with 200
111	clock hours in the area of speech-language pathology or
112	completed the number of clock hours required by an accredited
113	institution meeting national certification standards.  The
114	supervised clinical clock hours shall be completed within the
115	training institution or one of its cooperating programs.
116	(3)  The department shall issue a provisional license to
117	practice audiology to each applicant who the board certifies
118	has:
119	(a)  Completed the application form and remitted the
120	required fees, including a nonrefundable application fee.
121	(b)  Effective January 1, 2008, earned a doctoral degree in
122	audiology, but has not passed the license examination required
123	for a license in audiology or has completed the academic
124	requirements of Received a master's degree or is currently
125	enrolled in a doctoral degree program with a major emphasis in
126	audiology from an institution of higher learning that which is,
127	or at the time the applicant was enrolled and graduated was,
128	accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Council
129	for Higher Education Accreditation or its successor or the
130	United States Department of Education or from an institution
131	that which is a member in good standing with the Association of
132	Universities and Colleges of Canada. An applicant who graduated
133	from or is currently enrolled in a program at a university or
134	college outside the United States or Canada must present
135	documentation of the determination of equivalency of the program
136	to standards established by an accrediting body recognized by
137	the Council for Higher Education Accreditation or its successor
138	or the United States Department of Education in order to
139	qualify.
140	1.  The program must ensure that the student obtained
141	knowledge of foundation areas of basic body systems and
142	processes related to hearing and balance.
143	2.  The program must ensure that the student obtained
144	skills for the diagnosis, management, and treatment of auditory
145	and vestibular or balance conditions and diseases.
146	3.  The program must ensure that the student can
147	effectively communicate with patients and other health care
148	professionals.
149	4.  The program must ensure that the student obtained
150	knowledge of professional ethical systems as they relate to the
151	practice of audiology.
152	5.  The program must ensure that the student obtained
153	clinical experiences that encompass the entire scope of practice
154	and focus on the most current evidence-based practice.
155
156	The board may waive the education, practicum, and professional
157	employment experience requirements for an applicant who received
158	a professional education in another country if the board is
159	satisfied that the applicant meets equivalent education and
160	practicum requirements and passes the examination in audiology.
161	(c)  Has earned a master's degree with a major emphasis in
162	audiology which was conferred before January 1, 2008, from an
163	institution of higher learning which was, or at the time the
164	applicant was enrolled and graduated, accredited by an
165	accrediting agency recognized by the Council for Higher
166	Education Accreditation or its successor or the United States
167	Department of Education or from an institution that is a member
168	in good standing with the Association of Universities and
169	Colleges of Canada.
170	1.  An applicant who graduated from or is currently
171	enrolled in a program at a university or college outside the
172	United States or Canada must present documentation of the
173	determination of equivalency of the program to standards
174	established by an accrediting body recognized by the Council for
175	Higher Education Accreditation or its successor or the United
176	States Department of Education in order to qualify.
177	2.  The board may waive the education, practicum, and
178	professional employment experience requirements for an applicant
179	who received a professional education in another country if the
180	board is satisfied that the applicant meets equivalent education
181	and practicum requirements and passes the examination in
182	audiology. This paragraph expires January 1, 2013. The applicant
183	must have completed 60 semester hours that include:
184	1.  Fundamental information applicable to the normal
185	development and use of speech, hearing, and language;
186	information about training in management of speech, hearing, and
187	language disorders; and information supplementary to these
188	fields.
189	2.  Six semester hours in speech-language pathology.
190	3.  Thirty of the required 60 semester hours in courses
191	acceptable toward a graduate degree by the college or university
192	in which these courses were taken, of which 24 semester hours
193	must be in audiology.
194	(c)  Completed 300 supervised clinical clock hours with 200
195	clock hours in the area of audiology or completed the number of
196	clock hours required by an accredited institution meeting
197	national certification standards. The supervised clinical clock
198	hours shall be completed within the training institution or one
199	of its cooperating programs.
200	(4)  An applicant who has received a master's degree or is
201	currently enrolled in a doctoral degree program with a major
202	emphasis in speech-language pathology as provided in subsection
203	(2), or audiology as provided in subsection (3), and who seeks
204	licensure in the area in which the applicant is not currently
205	licensed, must have completed 30 semester hours in courses
206	acceptable toward a graduate degree and 200 supervised clinical
207	clock hours in the second discipline from an accredited
208	institution.
209	(4)(5)  The board, by rule, shall establish requirements
210	for the renewal of a provisional license. However, a provisional
211	license may not exceed a period of 24 months.
212	Section 2.  Section 468.1165, Florida Statutes, is amended
213	to read:
214	468.1165  Professional employment experience
215	requirement.--Every applicant for licensure as a speech-language
216	speech pathologist must or audiologist shall demonstrate, prior
217	to licensure, a minimum of 9 months of full-time professional
218	employment, or the equivalent in part-time professional
219	employment, pertinent to the license being sought. Each
220	applicant for licensure as an audiologist must demonstrate,
221	prior to licensure, a minimum of 11 months of full-time
222	professional employment or the equivalent in part-time
223	professional employment. The board, by rule, shall establish
224	standards for obtaining and verifying the required professional
225	employment experience.
226	Section 3.  Subsections (2) and (3) of section 468.1185,
227	Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
228	468.1185  Licensure.--
229	(2)(a)  The board shall certify for licensure any applicant
230	who has:
231	1.(a)  Satisfied the education and supervised clinical
232	clock hour requirements of s. 468.1155.
233	2.(b)  Satisfied the professional experience requirement of
234	s. 468.1165.
235	3.(c)  Passed the licensure examination required by s.
236	468.1175.
237	(b)  An applicant for an audiologist license who has
238	obtained a doctoral degree in audiology has satisfied the
239	education and supervised clinical requirements of subparagraph
240	(2)(a)1. and the professional experience requirements of
241	subparagraph (2)(b)2.
242	(3)  The board shall certify as qualified for a license by
243	endorsement as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist an
244	applicant who:
245	(a)  Holds a valid license or certificate in another state
246	or territory of the United States to practice the profession for
247	which the application for licensure is made, if the criteria for
248	issuance of such license were substantially equivalent to or
249	more stringent than the licensure criteria which existed in this
250	state at the time the license was issued; or
251	(b)  Holds a valid Has received the certificate of clinical
252	competence of the American Speech-Language and Hearing
253	Association or board certification in audiology from the
254	American Board of Audiology.
255	Section 4.  Subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section
256	468.1215, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
257	468.1215  Speech-language pathology assistant and audiology
258	assistant; certification.--
259	(2)  The department shall issue a certificate as an
260	audiology assistant to each applicant who the board certifies
261	has:
262	(a)  Completed the application form and remitted the
263	required fees, including a nonrefundable application fee.
264	(b)  Earned a high school diploma or its equivalent.
265	Completed at least 24 semester hours of coursework as approved
266	by the board at an institution accredited by an accrediting
267	agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education
268	Accreditation.
269	(3)  An audiologist or speech-language pathologist who
270	employs a speech-language assistant or audiology assistant must
271	provide the assistant with a plan approved by the board for on-
272	the-job training and must maintain responsibility for all
273	services performed by the assistant. The board, by rule, shall
274	establish minimum education and on-the-job training and
275	supervision requirements for certification as a speech-language
276	pathology assistant or audiology assistant.
277	(4)  The provisions of this section shall not apply to any
278	student, intern, or trainee performing speech-language pathology
279	or audiology services while completing the supervised clinical
280	experience clock hours as required in s. 468.1155.
281	Section 5.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2006.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.