2007 California Business and Professions Code Article 3. Licenses

CA Codes (bpc:2532-2532.8)

2532.  No person shall engage in the practice of speech-language
pathology or audiology or represent himself or herself as a
speech-language pathologist or audiologist unless he or she is
licensed in accordance with this chapter.



2532.1.  (a) Each person desiring to obtain a license shall make
application to the board, upon a form as prescribed by the board.
   (b) A separate license shall be granted in both speech-language
pathology and audiology.  An applicant may be granted both licenses
upon successful completion of the requirements for both licenses.




2532.2.  To be eligible for licensure by the board as a
speech-language pathologist or audiologist, the applicant shall
possess all of the following qualifications:
   (a) Possess at least a master's degree in speech-language
pathology or audiology from an educational institution approved by
the board or qualifications deemed equivalent by the board.
   (b) Submit transcripts from an educational institution approved by
the board evidencing the successful completion of at least 60
semester units of courses related to the normal development,
function, and use of speech, hearing, and language; and courses that
provide information about, and training in, the management of speech,
hearing, and language disorders.  At least 24 of the required 60
semester units shall be related to disorders of speech, voice, or
language for speech-language pathology applicants or to disorders of
hearing and the modification of communication disorders involving
speech and language resulting from hearing disorders for audiology
applicants.  These 60 units do not include credit for thesis,
dissertation, or clinical practice.
   (c) Submit evidence of the satisfactory completion of supervised
clinical practice with individuals representative of a wide spectrum
of ages and communication disorders.  The board shall establish by
regulation the required number of clock hours, not to exceed 300
clock hours, of supervised clinical practice necessary for the
applicant.
   The clinical practice shall be under the direction of an
educational institution approved by the board.
   (d) Submit evidence of no less than 36 weeks of satisfactorily
completed supervised professional full-time experience or 72 weeks of
professional part-time experience obtained under the supervision of
a licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist or a
speech-language pathologist or audiologist having qualifications
deemed equivalent by the board.  This experience shall be evaluated
and approved by the board.  The required professional experience
shall follow completion of the requirements listed in subdivisions
(a), (b), and (c).  Full time is defined as at least 36 weeks in a
calendar year and a minimum of 30 hours per week.  Part time is
defined as a minimum of 72 weeks and a minimum of 15 hours per week.

   (e) Pass an examination or examinations approved by the board.
The board shall determine the subject matter and scope of the
examinations and may waive the examination upon evidence that the
applicant has successfully completed an examination approved by the
board.  Written examinations may be supplemented by oral examinations
as the board shall determine.  An applicant who fails his or her
examination may be reexamined at a subsequent examination upon
payment of the reexamination fee required by this chapter.
   A speech-language pathologist or audiologist who holds a license
from another state or territory of the United States or who holds
equivalent qualifications as determined by the board and who has
completed no less than one year of full-time continuous employment as
a speech-language pathologist or audiologist within the past three
years is exempt from the supervised professional experience in
subdivision (d).



2532.3.  (a) Upon approval of an application filed pursuant to
Section 2532.1, and upon the payment of the fee prescribed by
subdivision (i) of Section 2534.2, the board may issue a temporary
license for a period of six months from the date of issuance to a
speech-language pathologist or audiologist who holds an unrestricted
license from another state or territory of the United States or who
holds equivalent qualifications as determined by the board and has
made application to the board for a license in this state.
   (b) A temporary license shall terminate upon notice thereof by
certified mail, return receipt requested, if it is issued by mistake
or if the application for permanent licensure is denied.
   (c) Upon written application, the board may reissue a temporary
license to any person who has applied for a regular renewable license
pursuant to Section 2532.1, and who, in the judgment of the board,
has been excusably delayed in completing his or her application or
the minimum requirements for a regular license.  The board may not
reissue a temporary license more than twice to any one person.



2532.4.  (a) The board may direct applicants to be examined for
knowledge in whatever theoretical or applied fields in
speech-language pathology or audiology it deems appropriate.  It may
examine the applicant with regard to his or her professional skills
and his or her judgment in the utilization of speech-language
pathology or audiology techniques and methods.
   (b) The examination may be written or oral or both.  The
examination shall be given at least once a year at the time and place
and under such supervision as the board may determine.  The board
shall determine what shall constitute a passing grade.
   (c) The board shall keep an accurate recording of any oral
examination and keep the recordings as well as any written
examination as part of its records for at least two years following
the date of examination.



2532.5.  Every person holding a license under this chapter shall
display it conspicuously in his or her primary place of practice.



2532.6.  (a) The Legislature recognizes that the education and
experience requirements of this chapter constitute only minimal
requirements to assure the public of professional competence.  The
Legislature encourages all professionals licensed and registered by
the board under this chapter to regularly engage in continuing
professional development and learning that is related and relevant to
the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology.
   (b) On and after January 1, 2001, and until January 1, 2002, the
board shall not renew any license or registration pursuant to this
chapter unless the applicant certifies to the board that he or she
has completed, after April 12, 1999, and prior to his or her renewal
date in 2001, not less than the minimum number of continuing
professional development hours established by the board pursuant to
subdivision (c) for the professional practice authorized by his or
her license.  On and after January 1, 2002, the board shall not renew
any license or registration pursuant to this chapter unless the
applicant certifies to the board that he or she has completed in the
preceding two years not less than the minimum number of continuing
professional development hours established by the board pursuant to
subdivision (c) for the professional practice authorized by his or
her license or registration.
   (c) (1) The board shall prescribe the forms utilized for and the
number of hours of required continuing professional development for
persons licensed or registered under this chapter.
   (2) The board shall have the right to audit the records of any
applicant to verify the completion of the continuing professional
development requirements.
   (3) Applicants shall maintain records of completion of required
continuing professional development coursework for a minimum of two
years and shall make these records available to the board for
auditing purposes upon request.
   (d) The board shall establish exceptions from the continuing
professional development requirements of this section for good cause
as defined by the board.
   (e) (1) The continuing professional development services shall be
obtained from accredited institutions of higher learning,
organizations approved as continuing education providers by either
the American Speech-Language Hearing Association or the American
Academy of Audiology, the California Medical Association's Institute
for Medical Quality Continuing Medical Education Program, or other
entities or organizations approved as continuing professional
development providers by the board, in its discretion.
   (2) No hours shall be credited for any course enrolled in by a
licensee that has not first been approved and certified by the board,
if the board has sufficient funding and staff resources to implement
the approval and certification process.
   (3) The continuing professional development services offered by
these entities may, but are not required to, utilize pretesting and
posttesting or other evaluation techniques to measure and demonstrate
improved professional learning and competency.
   (4) An accredited institution of higher learning, an organization
approved as continuing education providers by either the American
Speech-Language Hearing Association or the American Academy of
Audiology, and the California Medical Association's Institute for
Medical Quality Continuing Education Program shall be exempt from any
application or registration fees that the board may charge for
continuing education providers.
   (5) Unless a course offered by entities listed in paragraph (4)
meets the requirements established by the board, the course may not
be credited towards the continuing professional development
requirements for license renewal.
   (6) The licensee shall be responsible for obtaining the required
course completion documents for courses offered by entities specified
in paragraph (1).
   (f) The board, by regulation, shall fund the administration of
this section through professional development services provider and
licensing fees to be deposited in the Speech-Language Pathology and
Audiology Board Fund.  The fees related to the administration of this
section shall be sufficient to meet, but shall not exceed, the costs
of administering the corresponding provisions of this section.
   (g) The continuing professional development requirements adopted
by the board shall comply with any guidelines for mandatory
continuing education established by the Department of Consumer
Affairs.


2532.7.  (a) Upon approval of an application filed pursuant to
Section 2532.1, and upon payment of the fee prescribed by Section
2534.2, the board may issue a required professional experience (RPE)
temporary license for a period to be determined by the board to an
applicant who is obtaining the required professional experience
specified in subdivision (d) of Section 2532.2.
   (b) Effective July 1, 2003, no person shall obtain the required
professional experience for licensure in either an exempt or
nonexempt setting, as defined in Section 2530.5, unless he or she is
licensed in accordance with this section.
   (c) Any experience obtained in violation of this act shall not be
approved by the board.
   (d) An RPE temporary license shall terminate upon notice thereof
by certified mail, return receipt requested, if it is issued by
mistake or if the application for permanent licensure is denied.
   (e) Upon written application, the board may reissue an RPE
temporary license for a period to be determined by the board to an
applicant who is obtaining the required professional experience
specified in subdivision (d) of Section 2532.2.



2532.8.  (a) The board shall deem a person who holds a valid
certificate of clinical competence in speech-language pathology or
audiology issued by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association'
s Council for Clinical Certification to have met the educational and
experience requirements set forth for speech-language pathologists or
audiologists in Section 2532.2.
   (b) If an applicant qualifying for licensure under this section
has obtained any equivalent qualifications in violation of the laws
and regulations governing the practices of speech-language pathology
or audiology or has not met the requirements for licensure, he or she
shall correct the deficiency to qualify for licensure.  If the
deficiency is not cured within one year from the date of the
deficiency notice, the application for licensure is deemed abandoned.