Educational, Supervised Professional Practice, and Examination Requirements

To be licensed as a Speech-Language Pathologist, Speech-Language Pathologist Provisional Licensee, Audiologist, Speech-Language Pathology Assistant, or Audiology Assistant, an applicant must be of good moral character and meet the following educational, clinical, supervised professional practice, and examination requirements. Where standards created by professional organizations are referenced, the Board does not require that licensees maintain membership in said organization. Additionally, where clinical supervision is required, the Board will accept supervision from a supervisor with a current license in good standing in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology in Massachusetts, or a current license in good standing in a state or territory with equivalent standards to those of Massachusetts, or a certificate from the appropriate professional organization. (1) Applicants who apply for licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist must submit evidence that the applicant meets the 2020 Standards for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology, effective January 1, 2020, published by the ASHA Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology and available at http://www.asha.org/Certification/2020-slp-certification-standards/. (2) Applicants who apply for licensure as an Audiologist must submit evidence that the applicant either: (a) meets the January 1, 2020 ASHA Standards and Implementation Procedures for a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology available at https://www.asha.org/certification/2020-Audiology-Certification-Standards/ or (b) meets the April 1, 2020 requirements for board certification from the American Board of Audiology available at http://www.boardofaudiology.org. Applicants who apply for licensure as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant or Audiology Assistant must: (a) provide evidence of one of the following types of appropriate educational preparation; 1. possess an associate’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology from a training program approved by a national certifying body; or 2. possess a bachelor’s degree with a major in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology; or 3. possess a bachelor’s degree and a certificate from a Board approved Speech- Language Pathology or Audiology assistant program; or 4. possess an associate degree, bachelor degree, or advanced degree, and demonstrate having successfully completed 18 semester credit hours of coursework in Speech- Language Pathology and/or Audiology, six of which must be in disorders of speech, language, or hearing; or other coursework as the Board may approve. (b) Such applicants must also have completed 20 hours of observation of clinical practice by a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist. (4) Applicants who apply for provisional licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist Provisional Licensee must provide evidence of a bachelor's degree, or its equivalent; and a master's degree, or its equivalent, in the area of Speech-Language Pathology granted by an educational institution that incorporates academic course work and the minimum hours of supervised training required by ASHA or another national certifying body for Speech-Language Pathology approved by the Board. (a) A provisional license in Speech-Language Pathology authorizes an individual to practice Speech-Language Pathology as a clinical fellow under the supervision of a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist in order to complete the experience requirement for licensure. (b) The supervising Speech-Language Pathologist must meet the ASHA qualifications for a Clinical Fellow Mentor under the 2020 Standards for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology published by the ASHA Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology and available at http://www.asha.org/practice/supervision/supervision-of-clinical-fellows/. (c) The provisional license shall be valid, unless suspended, revoked, or otherwise cancelled by the Board, for the period of supervised practice required by ASHA or another national certifying body for Speech-Language Pathology approved by the Board.