2005 North Carolina Code - General Statutes § 90-295. Qualifications of applicants for permanent licensure.

§ 90‑295.  Qualifications of applicants for permanent licensure.

To be eligible for permanent licensure by the Board as a speech and language pathologist or audiologist, the applicant must:

(1)       Possess at least a master's degree in speech and language pathology or audiology or qualifications deemed equivalent by the Board under regulations duly adopted under this Article. Such degree or equivalent qualifications shall be from an accredited institution.

(2)       Submit transcripts from one or more accredited colleges or universities presenting evidence of the completion of 60 semester hours constituting a well‑integrated program of course study dealing with the normal aspects of human communication, development thereof, disorders thereof, and clinical techniques for evaluation and management of such disorders.

a.         Twelve of these 60 semester hours must be obtained in courses that provide information that pertains to normal development and use of speech, language and hearing.

b.         Thirty of these 60 semester hours must be in courses that provide information relative to communication disorders and information about and training in evaluation and management of speech, language, and hearing disorders. At least 24 of these 30 semester hours must be in courses in the professional area (speech and language pathology or audiology) for which the license is requested, and no less than six semester hours may be in audiology for the license in speech and language pathology or in speech and language pathology for the license in audiology. Moreover, no more than six semester hours may be in courses that provide credit for clinical practice obtained during academic training.

c.         Credit for study of information pertaining to related fields that augment the work of the clinical practitioner of speech and language pathology and/or audiology may also apply toward the total 60 semester hours.

d.         Thirty of the total 60 semester hours that are required for a license must be in courses that are acceptable toward a graduate degree by the college or university in which they are taken. Moreover, 21 of those 30 semester hours must be within the 24 semester hours required in the professional area (speech and language pathology or audiology) for which the license is requested or within the six semester hours required in the other area.

(3)       Submit evidence of the completion of a minimum of 300 clock hours of supervised, direct clinical experience with individuals who present a variety of communication disorders. This experience must have been obtained within the training institution or in one of its cooperating programs.

(4)       Present written evidence from a licensed and/or American Speech and Hearing Association certified speech and language pathologist or audiologist supervisor of nine months of full‑time professional experience in which bona fide clinical work has been accomplished in the major professional area (speech and language pathology or audiology) in which the license is being sought. This experience must follow the completion of the requirements listed in subdivisions (1), (2) and (3). Full time is defined as at least nine months in a calendar year and a minimum of 30 hours per week. Half time is defined as at least 18 months in two calendar years and a minimum of 20 hours per week. The supervision must be performed by a person who holds a valid license under this Article, or certificate of clinical competence from the American Speech‑Language‑Hearing Association, in the specific area for which licensure is sought.

(5)       Pass an examination established or approved by the Board. (1975, c. 773, s. 1; 1987, c. 665, s. 3.)