Sec 36-1940.04. Speech-language pathologist assistant; licensure requirements; scope of practice; supervision

A. A person who wishes to be licensed as a speech-language pathologist assistant shall:

1. Submit a nonrefundable application fee as prescribed by section 36-1908.

2. Submit written evidence satisfactory to the director that the applicant has completed:

(a) An approved training program for speech-language pathology assistants or the equivalent from a nationally or regionally accredited college or university that consisted of a minimum of sixty semester credit hours of course work with the following curriculum content:

(i) Twenty to forty semester credit hours of general education.

(ii) Twenty to forty semester credit hours of speech-language pathology technical course work.

(b) A minimum of one hundred hours of clinical interaction that does not include observation, under the supervision of a licensed master's level speech-language pathologist.

3. Be of good moral character.

4. Not have had a license revoked or suspended by a state within the past two years and is not presently ineligible for licensure in any state because of a prior revocation or suspension.

B. The director shall grant a waiver of the requirements for licensure as provided by subsection A of this section until September 1, 2007 to individuals who have performed the functions of a speech-language pathology assistant if the individual:

1. Has completed a minimum of forty semester credit hours of speech-language pathology technical course work.

2. Has satisfactorily completed a minimum of two years of experience as a speech-language pathology assistant under the supervision of a licensed master's level speech-language pathologist.

3. Is of good moral character.

4. Has not had a license revoked or suspended by a state within the past two years and is not presently ineligible for licensure in any state because of a prior revocation or suspension.

C. A speech-language pathology assistant may do the following under the supervision of the licensed speech-language pathologist:

1. Conduct speech and language screenings without interpretation, using screening protocols specified by the supervising speech-language pathologist.

2. Provide direct treatment assistance, including feeding for nutritional purposes to patients, clients or students except for patients, clients or students with dysphagia, identified by the supervising speech-language pathologist by following written treatment plans, individualized education programs, individual support plans or protocols developed by the supervising speech-language pathologist.

3. Document patient, client or student progress toward meeting established objectives as stated in the treatment plan, individual support plan or individualized education program without interpretation of the findings, and report this information to the supervising speech-language pathologist.

4. Assist the speech-language pathologist in the collecting and tallying of data for assessment purposes, without interpretation of the data.

5. Act as a second-language interpreter during assessments.

6. Assist with informal documentation during an intervention session by collecting and tallying data as directed by the speech-language pathologist, preparing materials and assisting with other clerical duties as specified by the supervising speech-language pathologist.

7. Schedule activities and prepare charts, records, graphs or other displays of data.

8. Perform checks and maintenance of equipment.

9. Participate with the speech-language pathologist in research projects, in-service training and public relations programs.

10. Sign and initial treatment notes for review and co-signature by the supervising speech-language pathologist.

D. A speech-language pathology assistant shall not:

1. Conduct swallowing screening, assessment and intervention protocols, including modified barium swallow studies.

2. Administer standardized or nonstandardized diagnostic tests, formal or informal evaluations or interpret test results.

3. Participate in parent conferences, case conferences or any interdisciplinary team meeting without the presence of the supervising speech-language pathologist, except for individualized education program or individual support plan meetings if the licensed speech pathologist has been excused by the individualized education program team or the individual support plan team.

4. Write, develop or modify a patient's, client's or student's treatment plan, individual support plan or individualized education program in any way.

5. Provide intervention for patients, clients or students without following the treatment plan, individual support plan or individualized education program prepared by the supervising speech-language pathologist.

6. Sign any formal documents, including treatment plans, individual support plans, individualized education programs, reimbursement forms or reports.

7. Select patients, clients or students for services.

8. Discharge patients, clients or students from services.

9. Unless required by law, disclose clinical or confidential information orally or in writing to anyone not designated by the speech-language pathologist.

10. Make a referral for any additional service.

11. Communicate with the patient, client or student or with family or others regarding any aspect of the patient, client or student status without the specific consent of the supervising speech-language pathologist.

12. Claim to be a speech-language pathologist.

13. Write a formal screening, diagnostic, progress or discharge note.

14. Perform any task without the express knowledge and approval of the supervising speech-language pathologist.

E. All services provided by a speech-language pathology assistant shall be performed under the direction and supervision of a speech-language pathologist licensed pursuant to this chapter.

F. A licensed speech-language pathologist who supervises or directs the services provided by a speech-language pathology assistant shall:

1. Have at least two years of full-time professional experience as a licensed speech-language pathologist.

2. Provide direction and supervision to not more than two full-time or three part-time speech-language pathology assistants at one time.

3. Ensure that the amount and type of supervision and direction provided to a speech-language pathology assistant is consistent with the individual's skills and experience, the needs of the patient, client or student served, the setting in which services are provided and the tasks assigned and provide:

(a) A minimum of twenty per cent direct supervision and ten per cent indirect supervision of all of the time that a speech-language pathology assistant is providing services during the first ninety days of the person's employment.

(b) Subsequent to the first ninety days of a speech-language pathology assistant's employment, a minimum of ten per cent direct supervision and ten per cent indirect supervision of all of the time a speech-language pathologist assistant is providing service.

4. Inform a patient, client or student when the services of a speech-language pathology assistant are being provided.

5. Document all periods of direct and indirect supervision provided to a speech-language pathology assistant.

G. If more than one speech-language pathologist provides supervision to a speech-language pathology assistant, one of the speech-language pathologists shall be designated as the primary supervisor who is responsible for coordinating any supervision provided by other speech-language pathologists.