HB 1950

Present law authorizes a person who has completed the educational requirements for licensure as a speech language pathologist and has received at least a master's degree from an approved educational institution to apply for and receive from the board of communications disorders and sciences ("board"") a provisional license to practice as a clinical fellow during the person's period of supervised clinical experience. This bill clarifies that an American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) certificate of clinical competence is not required for an applicant to be eligible for such a provisional license, and prohibits the board from requir ing by rule such certificate as an eligibility requirement. RECIPROCITY Present law authorizes a speech language pathologist or audiologist who holds an American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) certification or equivalent, or holds a doctor of audiology degree (Au.D.) from an accredited institution of higher learning and has passed the examinat ion required for licensure or is licensed in another state and who has made application to the board for a license in this state to perform activities and services of a speech language pathology or audiological nature without a val id license pending disposition of application. This bill rewrites the above provision to, instead, clarify that a person who has made application to the board for licensure in this state as a speech language pathologist or audiologist may perform activities and services of a speech language pathology or audiological nature without a valid license while disposition of the person's application is pending, if (i) the person h as passed the examination required for licensure or is licensed in another state, and (ii) the person meets either of the following criteria:  The person i s an applicant for licensure as a speech language pathologist, the person holds an American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) certificate of clinical competence, or an equivalent certification acceptable to the board .  The person is an applicant for licensure as an audiologist, the person holds a doctor of audiology degree (Au.D.) from an accredited institution of higher education."