201 Ky. Admin. Regs. 17:011

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 6, December 1, 2024

Section 201 KAR 17:011 - Requirements for interim licensure as a speech language pathologist

RELATES TO: KRS 334A.035, 334A.050

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 334A.080 requires the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology to promulgate responsible administrative regulations, including administrative regulations which delineate qualifications for licensure and renewal of licensure. KRS 334A.035 and 334A.050 require the board to promulgate administrative regulations concerning licensure as a speech-language pathologist, including a requirement that an applicant meet specified education and experience criteria as determined by the board. This administrative regulation establishes criteria for interim licensure for speech-language pathologists.

Section 1. Education and Experience.

(1) In addition to the citizenship requirements of KRS 334A.050, each applicant for interim licensure in speech-language pathology in Kentucky shall provide a certified transcript confirming attainment of a master's degree in the area of speech-language pathology or communication disorders from a program accredited by the Council for Academic Accreditation of the American Speech Language Hearing Association, or possess equivalent education.

(2) An applicant shall have "equivalent" education if the applicant holds:

(a) A doctoral degree in speech-language pathology or communication disorders or a related area from a program accredited by the Council for Academic Accreditation of the American Speech Language Hearing Association; or

(b) A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university, and has completed all coursework and clinical practicum requirements leading to a doctorate or master's degree from a university program accredited by the Council for Academic Accreditation of the American Speech Language Hearing Association. A signed letter from the department chair or a director of graduate studies confirming all coursework and clinical hours have been met shall be provided if an official transcript is not yet available.

(3) The applicant shall submit to the board a written description verifying completion of the required academic coursework and supervised clinical experience on the Application for Interim License, with official transcript or letter from the university verifying satisfactory completion of degree requirements. Credit shall not be allowed for courses listed on the application unless satisfactory completion is verified by an official transcript. The applicant receiving academic credit (semester hours, quarter hours, or other unit of credit) with a passing grade as defined by the training institution shall constitute satisfactory completion.

(4) Application for approval of academic coursework and supervised clinical experience shall be made as soon as possible after completion of these experiences, and shall be due within thirty (30) days after the professional postgraduate experience is begun.

(5) A written plan for the postgraduate professional experience shall be submitted with the application for interim licensure within thirty (30) days after initiating the postgraduate professional experience. The applicant shall proceed to obtain postgraduate professional experience under a supervisor who is a speech-language pathologist who holds a valid Kentucky speech language pathology license or Education Professional Standards Board Master's level certification as a teacher of exceptional children in the areas of speech and communication disorders. An applicant for interim licensure shall submit a completed Application for Interim Licen-sure to the board.

(6) Postgraduate professional experience.

(a) After completion of academic coursework and clinical practicum, the applicant shall successfully complete a period of postgraduate professional experience.

(b) The experience shall consist of at least thirty-six (36) weeks of full-time professional experience to consist of a minimum of thirty-five (35) work hours per week or its part-time equivalent as follows:

1. At least eighty (80) percent of the major responsibilities during postgraduate professional experience shall be in direct contact with clients or patients, consultations, recordkeeping, and administrative duties.

2. The postgraduate professional experience shall not total less than 1,260 hours accumulated within twenty-four (24) months of the beginning date of the experience.

3. Professional experience of less than five hours per week shall not meet the requirement and shall not be counted toward the postgraduate professional experience.

4. Experience of more than thirty-five (35) hours per week shall not be used to reduce the postgraduate professional experience to less than thirty-six (36) weeks.

5. Once initiated, the postgraduate professional experience shall be completed within twenty-four (24) months.

6. Extension of the postgraduate professional experience may be granted in the event of:

a. Illness;

b. Change in employment status;

c. Family care issue; or

d. Other extraordinary occurrence impacting one's ability to complete the postgraduate experience.

(c) The experience shall be completed under the supervision of an individual who holds a valid Kentucky speech-language pathology license or Education Professional Standards Board Masters level certification as a teacher of exceptional children in the areas of speech and communication disorders.

1. The postgraduate professional experience supervisor shall not engage in fewer than thirty-six (36) supervisory activities during the postgraduate professional experience.

2. This supervision shall include eighteen (18) on-site observations of direct client contact at the interim licensee's work site.

a. One (1) hour shall equal one (1) on-site observation.

b. A maximum of six (6) on-site observations may be accrued in one (1) day.

c. At least six (6) on-site observations shall be accrued during each third of the experience.

d. These on-site observations shall be of the interim licensee providing screening, evaluation, assessment, habilitation, and rehabilitation.

3. The supervision shall include eighteen (18) other monitoring activities.

a. At least six (6) other monitoring activities shall be completed during each of the three (3) segments of the postgraduate professional experience.

b. These other monitoring activities may be executed by correspondence, review of video tapes or audio tapes, evaluation of written reports, phone conferences with the interim licensee, or evaluations by professional colleagues.

4. The supervisor periodically shall conduct a formal evaluation of the applicant's progress in the development of professional skills.

5. A person with an interim license shall take and pass a national PRAXIS examination in speech-language pathology. Official documentation of scores shall be sent to the board directly from Educational Testing Services. A person with an interim license shall continue to practice under supervision if a successful score is not achieved. If the applicant is unable to obtain a passing score within twenty (24) months, they shall seek board approval to continue to practice. The applicant shall:

a. Submit a written, signed letter to the board requesting board approval; and

b. Appear before the board.

Section 2. Incorporation by Reference.

(1) "Application for Interim Licensure", January 2012, is incorporated by reference.

(2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Kentucky Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Department of Professional Licensing, 500 Mero Street, 2SC32, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

201 KAR 17:011

13 Ky.R. 560; eff. 10-2-1986; 26 Ky.R. 869; 1520; eff. 1-26-2000; 36 Ky.R. 869; 1437; eff. 2-5-2010; 38 Ky.R. 1628; 1836; eff. 6-1-2012; Crt eff. 2-21-2020; TAm eff. 10-16-2020.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 334A.080