La. Admin. Code tit. 46 § LXXV-131

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section LXXV-131 - Supervision Requirements for Speech-Language Pathology Assistant and Provisional Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Licensees

A. A supervising speech-language pathologist must have a minimum of one year of full-time professional speechlanguage pathology experience following the postgraduate professional/employment experience. Full time employment in a school system for the school year is considered to meet this requirement.

B. Prior to the initiation of supervision of an assistant or provisional assistant, training in the area of supervision is strongly recommended.

C. An individual may not be supervised by a provisional licensee, restricted licensee, assistant licensee, an individual on inactive status, a telehealth registrant, or an immediate family member.

D. The supervision requirements specified in these regulations are minimum requirements. It is the responsibility of the speech-language pathologist to design and provide a supervision system that protects patient/client care and maintains the highest possible standards of quality.

E. Supervision must involve the direct participation of the supervisor in order for the supervisor to monitor, observe, evaluate, and make suggestions for improvement regarding the supervisee's employment.

F. The supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the assistant does not make decisions regarding evaluation, management and future disposition of clients.

G. The supervisor is responsible for initial consultation with the assistant regarding coursework and practicum experiences prior to caseload assignment. The supervising speech-language pathologist shall assign only those tasks for which the assistant has been trained.

H. Decision-making regarding specification of on-going treatment protocol and necessary modifications, is the responsibility of the supervisor. The level of supervision required is considered the minimum necessary to ensure appropriate patient/client care.

I. The supervising speech-language pathologist shall be readily available for consultation with the assistant licensee. This includes personal contact, telephone, or other means of communication.

J. Speech-language pathology assistants and provisional speech-language pathology assistants must submit a supervisory agreement signed by the supervisor and supervisee as prescribed by the board. The form must be submitted to the board by the supervisee within 30 days of employment. If there is a change in supervisor(s) at any time, a new supervisory agreement must be submitted to the board within 30 days of the change in supervision. If there are multiple supervisors for the same supervisee, all supervisors must sign a supervisory agreement.

K. Speech-language pathologists may share the supervision responsibility for speech-language pathology assistants or provisional speech-language pathology assistants, but each supervising speech-language pathologist shall complete and submit the necessary supervision forms.

L. Supervisory records, including supervision logs and other documentation of supervision, shall be maintained by both the supervisor and supervisee for a period of three years. Documentation of supervision may be requested by the board. Submission of inaccurate or falsified supervision documentation may result in disciplinary action.

M. The board will accept supervision given out-of-state by a licensed or ASHA certified speech-language pathologist in the area of licensure. Licensees must submit at the time of license renewal, appropriate proof of supervision consistent with Louisiana supervision requirements.

N. Assistants who are not working in the field of speechlanguage pathology shall submit a notarized statement at the time of license renewal attesting to the fact that they did not work in the profession during the license period.

O. Although more than one speech-language pathologist may provide supervision of an assistant licensee and provisional assistant licensee, at no time may a licensed speech-language pathologist supervise or be listed as a supervisor for more than three assistant or provisional assistant licensees. When multiple supervisors are used, the supervisors are encouraged to coordinate and communicate with each other.

P. Provisional speech-language pathology assistants and speech-language pathology assistants must undergo direct supervision as well as indirect supervision in every work setting in which the licensee is employed.

Q. Documentation of supervision shall be submitted annually at the time of license renewal on Form 200 provided by the board.

R. Supervision Requirements for the Speech-Language Pathology Assistant

1. A minimum of one clock hour of direct supervision shall be completed in the primary work setting each week for each licensee. If the assistant is employed in more than one work setting, additional direct supervision must occur in the secondary work setting.

2. A minimum of one clock hour of indirect supervision shall be completed each week for each licensee. These methods should include, but are not limited to:

a. specifying protocols for speech-language screenings and assessments conducted by the assistant licensee;

b. specifying protocols for hearing screenings conducted by the assistant licensee;

c. approving treatment plans or protocols and documenting approval;

d. monitoring patient/client progress toward meeting established objectives;

e. monitoring, scheduling, charting and data collection;

f. directing maintenance of equipment;

g. directing research projects, in-service training and public relations programs;

h. conducting telephone conferences.

3. If circumstances prohibit a supervisor from completing the minimum supervision requirements (§131.R.1 and 2) in a given week, the remaining supervision shall be completed the following week in conjunction with the required supervision hours for that week.

4. When the supervising speech-language pathologist is unavailable for supervision for more than one week, arrangements shall be made for another qualified supervisor or the speech-language pathology assistant shall be transferred to other duties.

5. Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Full-Time and Part-Time Supervision Requirements

Hours Worked	Required Direct Supervision	Required Indirect Supervision
21-40 hours	1 hour/week	1 hour/week
20 hours or less	1 hour/every 2 weeks	1 hour/every 2 weeks

6. Assistant licensees shall be supervised only by a speech-language pathologist licensed under the provisions of R.S. 37:2659(B) with the exception of hearing screenings which may be supervised by an audiologist, licensed under the provisions of R.S. 37:2659(A).

S. Supervision Requirements for the Provisional SpeechLanguage Pathology Assistant

1. A minimum of three clock hours of direct supervision shall be completed in the primary work setting each week for each licensee. If the provisional speechlanguage pathology assistant is employed in more than one work setting, additional direct supervision must occur in the secondary work setting.

2. A minimum of two clock hours of indirect supervision shall be completed each week for each licensee.

3. These activities should include, but are not limited to:

a. specifying protocols for speech-language screenings and assessments conducted by the assistant licensee;

b. specifying protocols for hearing screenings conducted by the assistant licensee;

c. approving treatment plans or protocols and documenting approval;

d. monitoring patient/client progress toward meeting established objectives;

e. monitoring scheduling, charting and data collection;

f. directing maintenance of equipment;

g. directing research projects, in-service training and public relations programs;

h. conducting telephone conferences.

4. If extenuating circumstances prohibit a supervisor from completing the minimum supervision requirements (§131.S.1 and 2) in a given week, the remaining supervision shall be completed the following week in conjunction with the required supervision hours for that week.

5. When the supervising speech-language pathologist is out for more than one week, arrangements shall be made for another qualified supervisor or the provisional speechlanguage pathology assistant shall be transferred to other duties.

6. When supervision requirements have not been met, in accordance with §131 licensees shall complete additional months of supervision to replace months of incomplete supervision.

7. After three administrative complaints have been accepted by the board against a licensed supervisor, that supervisor may no longer be allowed to supervise for a period of five years.

8. Provisional Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Full-Time and Part-Time Supervision Requirement

Hours Worked	Required Direct Supervision	Required Indirect Supervision
21-40 hours	3 hours/week	2 hours/week
20 hours or less	1.5 hours/every 2 weeks	1 hour/every 2 weeks

9. Provisional assistant licensees shall be supervised by a speech-language pathologist licensed under the provisions of R.S. 37:2659(B) with the exception of hearing screenings which may be supervised by an audiologist, licensed under the provisions of R.S. 37:2659(A).

La. Admin. Code tit. 46, § LXXV-131

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, LR 14:707 (October 1988), amended LR 22:353 (May1996), LR 27:200 (February 2001), repromulgated LR 27:1691 (October 2001), amended LR 30:2316 (October 2004), LR 33:2197 (October 2007), LR 37:2396 (August 2011), amended by the Department of Health, Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, LR 45260 (2/1/2019), Amended LR 482745 (11/1/2022), Repromulgated LR 492961 (12/1/2022).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 37:2650 et seq.