Rule 609-3-.01 - Requirements for Licensure by Examination for Speech - Language Pathology or Audiology for Applications Received Prior to January 1, 2007In 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.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 609-3-.01
O.C.G.A. Secs. 43-44-3, 43-44-6, 43-44-8, 43-44-10, and 43-44-11.
Original Rule entitled "License Without Examination" adopted. F. Nov. 25, 1974; eff. Dec. 15, 1974.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Application Fee" adopted. F. Oct. 17, 1978; eff. Nov. 6, 1978.Amended: F. Apr. 2, 1979; eff. Apr. 22, 1979.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Fees" adopted. F. Oct. 30, 1986; eff. Nov. 19, 1986.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Academic and Clinical Training" adopted. F. June 22, 1989; eff. July 12, 1989.Amended: F. Dec. 21, 1993; eff. Jan. 10, 1994.Amended: F. Feb. 28, 1994; eff. Mar. 20, 1994.Amended: F. Mar. 9, 1994; eff. Mar. 29, 1994.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Requirements for Licensure by Examination" adopted. F. Apr. 3, 2000; eff. Apr. 23, 2000.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Mar. 23, 2005; eff. Apr. 12, 2005.Amended: F. Aug. 15, 2006; eff. Sept. 4, 2006.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Requirements for Licensure by Examination for Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology for applications received prior to January 1, 2007" adopted. F. Mar. 15, 2007; eff. Apr. 4, 2007.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Oct. 29, 2007; eff. Nov. 18, 2007.