Rule 609-6-.01 - Speech-Language Pathology AidesRegistration as a Speech-Language Pathology Aide. A person who seeks to assist in the practice of speech-language pathology must apply to the Board for registration as a speech-language pathology aide. The Board may approve registration as a speech-language pathology aide upon receipt of applicable fees and approval of the education and training of the applicant, the specific duties to be assigned, the amount and nature of the supervision available, and other factors as deemed relevant by the Board. Training shall not begin until the application for registration has been approved by the Board.
(a) Application for Registration. The person seeking registration as a speech-language pathology aide and the supervising speech-language pathologist shall submit an appropriate application to the Board on forms available on the website or the Board office. 1. Each application shall be accompanied by the appropriate fee (see Fee Schedule). Registration fees are not prorated during the biennial licensure period.2. If the application is approved, the applicant will be notified in writing that practice as an aide may begin following completion of the approved training program.3. An application file will become void, without notification to the applicant, if it has not been completed within six months of the date the application is received by the Board.4. All speech language pathology aides are required to register by March 31 of odd numbered years.5. Registration identification cards will be issued by the Board within three months following approval of the registration application and the training program.6. Pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 43-1-19, the Board has the authority to refuse to grant a registration as a speech-language pathology aide if it is in receipt of information that applicant has practiced without a valid registration.(b) Minimum Requirements. 1. Education. The minimum education requirement is graduation from high school or receipt of a GED certificate. The speech-language pathology aide applicant shall provide documentation of a high school diploma, GED certificate, or college transcript to the Board.2. Training. (i) Training shall not begin until the application for registration has been approved by the Board.(ii) Description. On a form provided by the Board, the supervisor shall submit a description of a minimum of 40 hours of proposed instruction in the specific duties that the aide will perform. This description shall include the ages and diagnoses of the clients for whom the services are intended, the specific duties trained, and the type and duration of training. Instruction must be provided by a Georgia licensed speech-language pathologist or through an accredited educational institution.(iii) Scope. Training for aides shall be defined by and shall be specific to the approved application and the assigned tasks. The Georgia licensed speech-language pathologist supervisor shall ensure that the scope and intensity of training will encompass all of the activities assigned to the aide. Training shall be competency based and provided through a variety of formal and informal instructional methods. Licensed supervisors shall inform the aides of their roles, functions, and of any related laws. The licensed supervisor shall maintain written documentation of training activities.(iv) Verification. The supervisor shall submit to the Board verification that the training was completed satisfactorily within thirty (30) working days of the applicant's employment as a speech-language pathology aide.(c) Supervision. 1. The supervisor of an aide shall be a Board-approved Georgia licensed speech-language pathologist who will be known as the supervisor of record. The aide may provide services only under the known supervisor(s) of record. If more than one supervisor is to be involved with the aide, an application shall be submitted by each supervisor.2. The supervisor of record shall: (i) accept full and complete responsibility for the duties performed by the aide;(ii) maintain the legal and ethical responsibilities for all assigned activities provided by the aide;(iii) make all decisions relating to the diagnosis, treatment, management and future disposition of the patient/client(s) served;(iv) have the responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of the patient/client(s) served by the aide;(v) be responsible for the aide's competence to perform Board approved activities;(vi) be responsible for the aide's adherence to the Principles and Standards of Conduct as defined in Board Rule; and(vii) not supervise an immediate family member.3. The supervisor of record who works full time (more than 34 hours per week) shall supervise no more than two (2) aides under the provisions of this rule. A supervisor of record who works part-time (less than 35 hours per week) shall supervise no more than one (1) aide under the provisions of this rule.4. The supervisor shall submit a plan of supervision which will specify the frequency, duration, and type of supervision he/she will provide to the aide.5. Supervision shall be a culmination of direct and indirect involvement that will permit verification of adequate performance that include, but are not limited to, a variety of techniques such as audio-and/or videotape recordings, telephone communications, conferences, e-mails, charts, logs and review of numerical data.6. Direct on-site observation of the aide shall be provided according to the following: (i) The supervisor of record shall be with the aide during the first ten (10) hours of direct client contact following training; and(ii) Then shall be with the aide one hour per week after the first ten (10) hours of direct client contact. These one hour observations must, over a period of time, include a sampling of all assigned activities;(iii) The direct observation must be documented. This documentation should include quality of interaction, performance, accuracy in implementation of assignments, accuracy in recording data, and the aide's ability to interact effectively with the client.(iv) Information obtained during direct observations shall include response data that is ninety percent (90%) accurate between the aide and the supervisor of record, on correct-incorrect judgment of target behavior.(v) Whenever response data falls below the 90% reliability level between the supervisor of record and the aide, the supervisor of record shall retrain the aide in those skills. Direct observation shall be increased until the reliability level returns to 90%.7. The supervisor of record shall retain documentation of all direct and indirect supervisory activities for two (2) years.8. Prior to services, the patient or family must be informed in writing, by the supervisor of record, that services will be rendered by a speech language pathology aide.9. The supervisor shall notify the Board within ten (10) working days of terminating a supervisor/aide agreement. Upon termination of a supervisor/aide agreement that particular aide registration would become void.(d) Duties and Authorizations.1. The aide is authorized to perform only those duties described on the application as approved by the Board.2. The aide is authorized to perform speech-language pathology activities only when the supervisor of record is in the same.3. The speech language pathology aide shall: (i) not perform standardized or non-standardized diagnostic tests, formal or informal evaluations, nor shall they provide clinical interpretation of test results;(ii) not screen patients/clients;(iii) not participate in conferences or counseling sessions regarding the patient/client without the presence of the supervisor of record or another speech language pathologist designated by the supervisor of record;(iv) not write, develop, or modify a patient/client's individual treatment plan.(v) not treat patients/clients without following the individualized treatment plan prepared by the supervision of record and or the designated speech-language pathologist;(vi) not sign any formal documents related to speech language pathology;(vii) not select patients/clients for services;(viii) not discharge patients/clients from services;(ix) not disclose clinical or confidential information either orally or in writing to anyone not designated by the supervisor of record;(x) not make referrals for additional services;(xi) not perform any task without the express knowledge and approval of the supervisor of record;(xii) not counsel or consult with the patient/client, family, or others regarding the patient/client status or service;(xiii) not assist the supervisor of record by completing a checklist or by tabulating results of a feeding or swallowing evaluation;(xiv) not demonstrate swallowing strategies or precautions to patients, family, or staff;(xv) not make advertisement or public announcement of services independent of the supervisor of record;(xvi) not represent herself/himself as a practitioner of speech-language pathology;4. The speech language pathology aide shall be clearly identified as a speech language pathology aide by a badge that is to be worn whenever working as a speech-language pathology aide.5. The aide registration shall become void when the authorized supervisor(s) is no longer available for supervision.(e) Change of Plan. If the duties and/or authorizations approved by the board change, a new application, fee and all required documents must be submitted to the board for consideration before such change can be made.(f) Re-registration of speech-language pathology aides. 1. All aide registration shall expire on March 31 of odd numbered years.2. Application and biennial renewal fee (see Fee Schedule) must be received in the Board Office by March 31 of odd numbered years.3. An audit shall be conducted to determine compliance with the direct observation guidelines enumerated above. A percent of renewal applicants, to be determined by the Board, shall be requested to submit the documentation of supervision to the Board by March 31 of odd numbered years. Failure to document the direct observation and/or to demonstrate compliance with the guidelines shall have the same effect as a revocation of said aide registration and may subject the supervisor to disciplinary action.4. Biennial renewal identification cards will be issued by the Board office within three months following receipt of acceptable renewal application and renewal fee.5. The failure to renew an aide registration by March 31 of odd numbered years shall have the same effect as a revocation of said registration; however, an aide registration may be restored, reissued, or reinstated at the discretion of the Board. If in its discretion, the Board denies such a request, such person may submit an application and supportive documentation to obtain a new registration. At all times, the applicant must meet the current standards for aide registration.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 609-6-.01
O.C.G.A. Secs. 43-1-4, 43-1-19, 43-44-3, 43-44-6, 43-44-13, 43-44-16.
Original Rule entitled "Introduction" adopted. F. Apr. 22, 1976; eff. May 12, 1976.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Speech Pathology and/or Audiology Aides - to Assist" adopted. F. Dec. 5, 1979; eff. Dec. 25, 1979.Amended: F. July 1, 1982; eff. July 21, 1982.Amended: F. Dec. 21, 1993; eff. Jan. 10, 1994.Repealed: New Rule entitled "Speech-Language Pathology Aides" adopted. F. July 29, 1994; eff. August 18, 1994.Amended: F. Mar. 25, 2005; eff. Apr. 13, 2005.Amended: F. June 23, 2005; eff. July 13, 2005.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Aug. 29, 2005; eff. Sept. 18, 2005.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Mar. 15, 2007; eff. Apr. 4, 2007.Repealed: New Rule of same title adopted. F. Dec. 11, 2008; eff. Dec. 31, 2008.