La. Admin. Code tit. 28 § CXXXI-721

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 5, May 20, 2024

Section CXXXI-721 - Special Education Examiners

A. State statute requires that each school district have assessment teams for the purpose of identifying and evaluating the individual needs of each child with exceptionalities. These teams may include any number of the specialists outlined in this Section. Persons serving on multidisciplinary teams who have competent authority numbers may continue to serve in this capacity.

B. Audiologist

1. Provisional certificate-valid for three years.

a. Eligibility requirements:

i. graduate degree in audiology or equivalent, as specified in R.S. 37:2651 et seq.;

ii. must work under supervision of a licensed audiologist.

b. Non-renewable.

2. Qualified licensed audiologist. Beginning June 1, 2024, a licensed audiologist who holds a current, valid Louisiana license with the Louisiana Board of Examiners Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology is considered certified by BESE.

a. - b. Repealed.

C. Educational Diagnostician-valid for five years.

1. Eligibility requirements:

a. hold current national certification as an educational diagnostician (NCED) through the National Certification of Educational Diagnostician Board.

2. Renewal guidelines:

a. may be renewed every five years at the request of the LEA; and

b. Repealed.

c. hold current national certification as an educational diagnostician (NCED) through the National Certification of Educational Diagnostician Board.

3. Reinstatement of a Lapsed Certificate. If certificate holder allows a period of five consecutive calendar years to pass in where not a regularly employed as an educational diagnostician for at least one semester, or 90 consecutive days, the certificate lapses for disuse. To reinstate a lapsed certificate, the holder must present evidence of six semester hours of credit earned in state-approved courses during the five-year period immediately preceding the request for reinstatement.

D. School Psychologist

1. Standard certificate-valid for five years.

a. Eligibility requirements:

i. completion of a school psychology training program that meets requirements of the current Standards for Training and Field Placement Programs in School Psychology established by the National Association of School Psychologists; or

ii. evidence of current and continuous certification as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist.

b. Levels

i. Level A-Applicants must meet requirements for the standard certificate and possess a doctoral degree from an institution accredited in accordance with 34 CFR 602, in school psychology or in psychology with a program of study emphasizing child development and knowledge and skills in education and assessment.

ii. Level B-Applicants must meet requirements for the standard certificate and possess a graduate or specialist degree from a school psychology training program in an institution accredited in accordance with 34 CFR 602.

c. Renewal Guidelines. The standard certificate must be renewed by the expiration date, every five years. A one-month grace period is allowed before the certificate is considered lapsed. The certificate may be renewed upon completion of the following:

i. at least one year of experience, or equivalent, as a school psychologist; and

ii. one of the following:

(a). six semester hours of additional graduate credit in any of the areas specified in the Standards for Training and Field Placement Programs in School Psychology established by the National Association of School Psychologists;

(b). an equivalent number of Continuing Professional Development/Education Units (9.0 CEU or 90 contact hours) in a variety of activities designed to maintain and expand a school psychologist's skills, and to ensure the provision of quality services;

(c). a combination of graduate credit hours and Continuing Professional Development/Education Units equivalent to six semester hours (each semester hour equals 1.5 Continuing Professional Development/Education Units), for a total of 9.0 Continuing Professional Development/Education Units; or

(d). evidence of current and continuous certification as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist since the last date of state certification or renewal.

2. Provisional certificate: valid for one year and renewable once for the completion of internship for the standard Type A or B certificate.

a. Eligibility requirements:

i. completed academic preparation in school psychology that meets requirements of current Standards for Training and Field Placement Programs in School Psychology established by the National Association of School Psychologists, except for the internship. The internship shall be completed during the time of the provisional certificate, in accordance with internship requirements in current Standards for Training and Field Placement Programs in School Psychology established by the National Association of School Psychologists; and

ii. holder of a lapsed standard Type A or B certificate who has not met requirements for certification renewal.

b. Renewal guidelines: may be renewed for one additional year when necessary to complete the internship, and upon written request of applicant and of the director of the training program or intern supervisor.

3. Lapsed school psychologist certificates may be reinstated upon verification that the following conditions have been met. Credits submitted must have been earned within the five years of the last renewal request. A provisional certificate may be awarded for a one year period, during which time the individual must meet renewal requirements for the standard certificate:

a. at least one year of experience or equivalent as a school psychologist; and

b. one of the following:

i. six semester hours of additional graduate credit in any of the areas specified in the Standards for Training and Field Placement Programs in School Psychology established by the National Association of School Psychologists;

ii. an equivalent number of continuing professional development/education units (9.0 CEU or 90 contact hours) in a variety of activities designed to maintain and expand a school psychologist's skills, and to ensure the provision of quality services;

iii. a combination of graduate credit hours and continuing professional development/education units equivalent to six semester hours (each semester hour equals 1.5 continuing professional development/education units), for a total of 9.0 continuing professional development/education units; or

iv. evidence of current and continuous certification as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist since the last date of state certification or renewal.

4. Beginning January 1, 2025, the requirements for initial issuance of a school psychologist certificate will be those of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). A psychologist who meets the qualifications of NASP is considered certified by BESE.

E. Supervisor of School Psychological Services- eligibility guidelines:

1. hold valid Louisiana Level A or Level B School Psychologist certification under current requirements; and

2. have at least three years of supervised experience as a school psychologist, of which at least two years have been in Louisiana.

F. Speech Pathology Assistant-valid for three years and renewable.

1. The word assistant designates that direct supervision by a certified and licensed speech/language pathologist is required.

2. Ancillary speech/language pathology assistant certificates authorize service as a speech pathology assistant only, not as a regular classroom teacher.

3. Eligibility requirements:

a. baccalaureate degree in speech/language pathology or related field from an institution accredited in accordance with 34 CFR 602 ; and

b. complete at least 100 clock hours of supervised clinical practicum.

4. Renewal guidelines:

a. may be renewed for three years by request of the LEA;

5. Reinstatement of a Lapsed Certificate. If certificate holder allows a period of five consecutive calendar years to pass in where not a regularly employed speech pathology assistant for at least one semester, or 90 consecutive days, the certificate lapses for disuse. To reinstate a lapsed certificate, the holder must present evidence of six semester hours of credit earned in state-approved courses during the five-year period immediately preceding the request for reinstatement.

G. Speech Pathologist

1. Provisional Certificate in Speech Pathology-valid for three years.

a. Eligibility requirements: graduate degree in speech pathology, or related field, from a college or university accredited in accordance with 34 CFR 602.

b. Renewal guidelines: nonrenewable.

2. Qualified certificate in speech pathology. Beginning June 1, 2024, a licensed speech pathologist who holds a current, valid Louisiana license with the Louisiana Board of Examiners to serve as a speech pathologist is considered certified by BESE.

H. Speech Therapist/American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA)-A person who provides speech therapy services to students with speech and/or language impairments. Valid for three years.

1. Eligibility requirements:

a. verification that applicant holds ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence;

b. ASHA verification that individual has met requirements for Certificate of Clinical Competence with a possible exception of the clinical fellowship year; or

c. verification from the director of an ASHA-certified training program, in which the applicant has completed a graduate degree, that ASHA requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence have been met with the possible exception of the clinical fellowship year.

2. For those who have not completed the clinical fellowship year, this designation will be noted on the certificate.

3. Renewal guidelines:

a. LEA may request renewal of the certificate; and

b. certificate may be changed to "valid for life with continuous service" with verification of three years of service as a speech therapist and is considered valid for continuous service as long as the ASHA license is valid.

4.Repealed.

La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § CXXXI-721

Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 32:1824 (October 2006), amended LR 35:2325 (November 2009), LR 38:43 (January 2012), LR 39:1465 (June 2013), Amended LR 451462 (10/1/2019), Promulgated by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, LR 32:1809 (October 2006), amended LR 38:768 (March 2012), LR 46:1380 (October 2020), LR 48448 (3/1/2022), Repromulgated LR 481054 (4/1/2022), Amended LR 50665 (5/1/2024).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:6(A)(10), (11), and (15), R.S. 17:7(6), R.S. 17:10, R.S. 17:22(6), R.S. 17:391.1- 391.10, and R.S. 17:411.