Alabama Administrative Code
Title 290 - ALABAMA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Chapter 290-3-2 - EDUCATOR CERTIFICATION
Section 290-3-2-.30 - Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLA) Certificate Approach
Universal Citation: AL Admin Code R 290-3-2-.30
Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 11, August 30, 2024
(1) Overview of the SLA Certificate. A public school superintendent may request a nonrenewable Level I SLA Certificate, valid for three scholastic years, to employ an applicant who has an earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited senior institution in speech-language pathology or communication sciences and disorders (with a speech-language emphasis) as a full-time speech-language pathology assistant under appropriate supervision. Requirements for issuance of a renewable Level II SLA Certificate, valid for five scholastic years, include 12 semester hours of graduate credit in an Alabama-approved Alternative Class A program in an area of special education and/or a master's degree level speech-language pathology program that holds accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA).
(2) Limitations on Issuance and Proper Certification.
(a)
An administrator of a nonpublic school may not recommend issuance of a SLA
Certificate.
(b) An SLA Certificate
is not appropriate certification for any other assignment.
(c) A superintendent who fails to provide an
appropriate supervisor as required in Rule 290-3-2-.30(3)(f) forfeits the
opportunity to request SLA Certificates in the future.
(3) Requirements for Issuance of a Nonrenewable Level I SLA Certificate. A Level I SLA Certificate, which is valid for three scholastic years and is not renewable, may be issued when all of the following requirements have been met:
(a) A criminal history background check as
required by the Alabama Child Protection Act of 1999, as amended, and Rule
290-3-2-.02(8).
(b) A recommendation on the current
application for this approach from a superintendent who wishes to employ the
applicant as a full-time speech-language pathology assistant.
(c) An earned bachelor's degree with a
minimum overall grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 from a regionally
accredited senior institution in speech-language pathology or communication
sciences and disorders (with a speech-language emphasis). For issuance of
the Level I SLA with a valid period beginning July 1, 2017, and thereafter, the
bachelor's degree must be posted with a minimum overall GPA of at least
2.75. The overall GPA is the GPA posted on the official transcript of
the degree granting institution that was used as the basis for granting the
degree.
1. The degree must be earned prior to
October 1 in order for the SLA Certificate to be valid the previous July
1.
2. The GPA requirement does not
apply to an applicant holding a valid Professional Educator Certificate or a
valid Professional Leadership Certificate.
(d) For certificates with a valid period
beginning prior to July 1, 2011, verification of
current passing scores attained on the basic skills
assessments and the Praxis II subject assessment of the Alabama Educator
Certification Assessment Program (AECAP) on test administration dates prior to
May 1 of the first scholastic year of the valid period of the Level I SLA
Certificate. The Praxis II requirement becomes effective when a subject
assessment is implemented. Additional information is in Rule
290-3-2-.01(6).
(e) Verification of
current passing scores attained on the basic skills
assessments and the Praxis II subject area test(s) of the Alabama Educator
Certification Assessment Program (AECAP) on test administration dates prior to
October 1 of the first scholastic year of the valid period of the Level I SLA
Certificate. The Praxis II requirement becomes effective when a subject area
test(s) is implemented. Additional information is in Rule
290-3-2-.01(6).
(f) The employing superintendent's
designation of an appropriate supervisor who is one of
the following:
1. A speech-language
pathologist who holds a valid Class A or Class AA Professional Educator
Certificate in speech or language impairment.
2. A special education coordinator or special
education supervisor who holds a valid Professional Educator Certificate
in an area of special education.
(g) All other requirements on the current
application for this approach.
(4) Requirements for Issuance of a Renewable Level II SLA Certificate. A Level II SLA Certificate, which is valid for five scholastic years and is renewable, may be issued when all of the following requirements have been met:
(a) A recommendation on the current
application for this approach from a superintendent who wishes to employ the
applicant as a full-time speech-language pathology assistant.
(b) A valid or expired Level I SLA
Certificate.
(c) Verification on
Supplement EXP of at least two full years of full-time employment in one or
more Alabama public school systems as a speech-language pathology assistant,
while holding a valid Level I SLA Certificate.
(d) Verification on Supplement SLA-S that the
two years of employment required in Rule 290-3-2-.30(4)(c) were supervised by
an appropriate supervisor as required in Rule 290-3-2-.30(3)(f).
(e) Documentation of having completed
one of the following prior to October 1 of the
scholastic year for which the Level II SLA Certificate is to be issued:
1. A valid Class A Professional Educator
Certificate in an area of special education.
2. Twelve semester hours of graduate credit
with a grade of "B" or above from a regionally accredited senior institution.
The credit must be from one of the following three
options:
(i) An Alternative Class A special
education program.
(ii) A master's
degree level speech-language pathology program that holds accreditation by the
Council of Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
(CAA).
(iii) A combination of
courses from (i) and (ii).
3. Verification of a
current passing score attained on the prescribed
Praxis II subject area test(s) of the Alabama Educator Certification Assessment
Program (AECAP) on a test administration date prior to October 1 of the
scholastic year for which the Level II SLA Certificate is to be issued. The
Praxis II requirement becomes effective when a subject area test(s) is
implemented. Additional information is in Rule
290-3-2-.01(6).
(f) Other requirements on the
current application for this approach, which include the employing
superintendent's designation of an appropriate supervisor as required in Rule
290-3-2-.30(3) (f).
(5) Requirements for the Renewal of a Level II SLA Certificate.
(a)
Continuation of a Level II
SLA Certificate may be requested on the current application for
this approach by a public school superintendent who wishes to employ the
applicant as a full-time speech-language pathology assistant when
all requirements have been met. All requirements to be
applied toward the continuation of a certificate must be completed during the
valid period of the current certificate, but no later than June 30 of the
calendar year of expiration of the certificate.
1. If the individual holds a valid Class A
Professional Educator Certificate in an area of special education:
(i) Verification on Supplement EXP of at
least three full years of full-time employment in one or more Alabama public
school systems as a speech-language pathology assistant, while holding a valid
Level II SLA Certificate. In addition to the experience,
one of the following options must be met:
(I) Fifty clock hours of allowable
professional development. Additional information is in Rule
290-3-2-.29 (12).
(II) Three semester hours
of allowable credit. Additional information is in Rule
290-3-2-.29(11).
(ii) Verification on Supplement
SLA-S that the three years of employment required in Rule
290-3-2-.30(5)(a)1.(i) were supervised by an appropriate supervisor as required
in Rule 290-3-2-.30(3) (f).
(iii)
Other requirements on the current application for this approach, including the
employing superintendent's designation of an appropriate supervisor as required
in Rule 290-3-2-.30(3) (f).
(iv)
Other requirements applicable to renewing an Alabama certificate. Additional
information is in Rule
290-3-2-.29.
2. If the individual does not hold
a valid Class A Professional Educator Certificate in an area of special
education:
(i) Verification on Supplement EXP
of at least three full years of full-time employment in one or more Alabama
public school systems as a speech-language pathology assistant, while holding a
valid Level II SLA Certificate.
(ii) Verification on Supplement SLA-S that
the three years of employment required in Rule 290-3-2-.30(5)(a)2.(i) were
supervised by an appropriate supervisor as required in Rule
290-3-2-.30(3)(f).
(iii) Unless the
individual has completed all courses and other Alternative Class A
State-approved program requirements except the internship, twelve additional
semester hours of graduate credit with a grade of "B" or above from a
regionally accredited senior institution. The credit must be earned during the
valid period of the Level II SLA Certificate to be renewed but no later than
June 30 of the calendar year of expiration of the certificate. The credit must
be from one of the following three options:
(I) An Alternative Class A special education
program.
(II) A master's degree
level speech-language pathology program that holds accreditation by the Council
on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
(CAA).
(III) A combination of
courses from (I) and (II).
(iv) The requirement for 12 additional
semester hours of graduate credit earned during the valid period of the Level
II SLA Certificate to be renewed continues until the individual completes
one of the following:
(I) Earns a master's degree in
speech-language pathology or communication sciences and disorders (with a
speech-language emphasis) and holds at least a Class A Professional Educator
Certificate in speech and language impairment;
(II) Holds a valid Class A Professional
Educator Certificate in an area of special education; or
(III) Completes all courses and other
Alternative Class A State-approved program requirements for a Class A
Professional Educator Certificate in an area of special education except the
internship.
(v) Other
requirements on the current application for this approach, including the
employing superintendent's designation of an appropriate supervisor as required
in Rule 290-3-2-.30(3)(f).
(vi)
Other requirements applicable to renewing an Alabama certificate. Additional
information is in Rule
290-3-2-.29.
(b)
Reinstatement of an expired Level II SLA Certificate
may be requested on the current application for this approach by a public
school superintendent who wishes to employ the individual as a full-time
speech-language pathology assistant when all requirements have been met.
1. If the individual held a Class A
Professional Educator Certificate in an area of special education, requirements
for reinstatement of a Level II SLA Certificate are the same as the
requirements for reinstatement of a Class A Professional Educator Certificate
found in Rule
290-3-2-.29.
Additional information about allowable credit is in Rule
290-3-2-.29(11).
Additional information about allowable professional development is in Rule
290-3-2-.29(12).
2. If the individual does not hold a valid
Class A Professional Educator Certificate in an area of special education:
(i) Eighteen additional semester hours of
graduate credit with a grade of "B" or above from a regionally accredited
senior institution. The credit must be earned within the five years prior to
the beginning date of the reinstated certificate and prior to October 1 of the
scholastic year for which the new Level II SLA Certificate is to be issued. The
credit must be from one of the following three
options:
(I) An Alabama Alternative Class A
special education program.
(II) A
master's degree level speech-language pathology program that holds
accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and
Speech-Language Pathology (CAA).
(III) A combination of courses from (I) and
(II).
3. All
other requirements on the current application for this approach, which include
the employer's designation of an appropriate supervisor as required in Rule
290-3-2-.30(3)(e).
4. All
current requirements of the Alabama Educator
Certification Assessment Program (AECAP). Additional information is in Rule
290-3-2-.01(6).
(6) Valid Period.
(a) The Level I SLA
Certificate shall be valid for three scholastic years and is not
renewable.
(b) The Level II SLA
shall be valid for five scholastic years and is renewable. Additional
information about renewing a Level II SLA is in Rule 290-3-2-.30(5).
(7) Historical Information. Class B Professional Educator Certificates in speech or language impairment have not been initially issued with a valid period beginning after July 1, 2007.
Rule was previously .18 and renumber to .30 as per certification file December 10, 2010.
Author: Dr. Thomas R. Bice
Statutory Authority: Code of Ala. 1975, Ala. Const. Amend. 284, §§ 16-3-11, 16-23-1, 16-23-2.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Alabama may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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