Current through April 3, 2024
To become licensed as a Speech Language Pathologist or
Audiologist in Tennessee, a person must comply with the following procedures
and requirements:
(1) An applicant
shall download a current application from the Board's Internet Web page or
shall obtain a current application packet from the Board's Administrative
Office, respond truthfully and completely to every question or request for
information contained in the application form, and submit it, along with all
documentation and fees required, to the Board's Administrative Office. It is
the intent of this rule that all steps necessary to accomplish the filing of
the required documentation be completed prior to filing an application and that
all materials be filed simultaneously.
(2) An applicant shall submit with his
application a certified birth certificate or a notarized photocopy of a
certified birth certificate.
(3) An
applicant shall submit with his application a "passport" style photograph taken
within the preceding twelve (12) months and attach it to the appropriate page
of the application.
(4) An
applicant shall disclose the circumstances surrounding any of the following:
(a) Conviction of a crime in any country,
state, or municipality, except minor traffic violations.
(b) The denial of certification or licensure
application by any other state or country, or the discipline of the certificate
holder or licensee in any state or country.
(c) Loss or restriction of certification or
licensure privileges.
(d) Any
judgment or settlement in a civil suit in which the applicant was a party
defendant, including malpractice, unethical conduct, breach of contract, or any
other civil action remedy recognized by the country's or state's statutory,
common law, or case law.
(5) An applicant shall cause to be submitted
to the Board's Administrative Office directly from the vendor identified in the
Board's licensure application materials, the result of a criminal background
check.
(6) If applying by
Certificate of Clinical Competence, an applicant shall file with the
application documentation of proof of possessing the following certification:
(a) Audiology applicants shall file with
their application documentation that they possess a current Certificate of
Clinical Competence (CCC) in the area of Audiology issued through
ASHA.
(b) Speech Language Pathology
applicants shall file with their application documentation that they possess a
current Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in the area of Speech Language
Pathology issued through ASHA.
(7) An applicant shall have successfully
completed the following requirements and cause the supporting documentation to
be provided to the Board's Administrative Office:
(a) A master's or doctorate degree in Speech
Language Pathology or Audiology. Unless already submitted pursuant to Rule
1370-01-.10,
it is the applicant's responsibility to request that a graduate transcript be
submitted directly from the educational institution to the Board's
Administrative Office. The transcript must show that graduation with at least a
master's level degree has been completed, and must carry the official seal of
the institution.
(b) Documentation
of the required supervised clinical experience (practicum) with individuals
having a variety of communications disorders, as specified in Rule 1370-01.04
for the discipline for which licensure is being sought. The experience must be
obtained through an accredited institution. Unless already provided pursuant to
Rule
1370-01-.10,
the applicant shall have a letter transmitted directly from the authorized
individual at the accredited institution to the Board's Administrative Office
attesting to the standards of the practicum and the applicant's successful
completion.
(c) A Clinical
Fellowship or Clinical Externship in the area in which licensure is being
sought.
1. The applicant shall ensure that
the supervising Speech Language Pathologist or Audiologist submits a letter
which attests to the Clinical Fellowship or Clinical Externship pursuant to
Rule
1370-01-.10
directly to the Board's Administrative Office; or
2. An Audiologist initially licensed after
January 1, 2009 shall have a letter transmitted directly from the authorized
individual at the accredited institution to the Board's Administrative Office
attesting that the applicant has completed the clinical externship requirement
or equivalent 1820 supervised clinical clock hours.
(d) The examination for licensure pursuant to
Rule
1370-01-.08. When
the examination has been successfully completed, the applicant shall cause the
examining agency to submit directly to the Board's Administrative Office
documentation of the successful completion of the examination.
(8) Proof of good moral character
(a) An applicant shall submit evidence of
good moral character. Such evidence shall include at least one (1) recent
(dated within the preceding twelve (12) months) original letter from a
professional attesting to the applicant's personal character and professional
ethics and typed on the signator's letterhead.
(9) When necessary, all required documents
shall be translated into English and such translation, together with the
original document, shall be certified as to authenticity by the issuing source.
Both versions must be submitted simultaneously.
(10) Reciprocity
(a) If the applicant is licensed or was ever
licensed in another state, the applicant shall cause the appropriate licensing
Board in each state in which he holds or has held a license to send directly to
the Board an official statement which indicates the condition of his license in
such other state, including the date on which he was so licensed and under what
provision such license was granted (i.e. certificate of clinical competence,
examination, reciprocity, grandfathering, etc.).
(b) In order to be licensed in the State of
Tennessee by reciprocity, the Board must determine that the standards for
licensure in effect in that state when the individual was licensed there are at
least equivalent to, or exceed, the current requirements for licensure in
Tennessee.
(11) A Speech
Language Pathologist or Audiologist who holds an ASHA certification or
equivalent, or holds a Doctor of Audiology degree (AuD) from an accredited
institution of higher learning and has passed the examination required for
licensure under §
63-17-110(b)
(2), or is licensed in another state and who
has made application to the Board for a license in the State of Tennessee, may
perform activities and services of a Speech Language Pathology or Audiological
nature without a valid license pending disposition of the application. For
purposes of this rule, "pending disposition of the application" shall mean a
Board member or the Board's designee has determined the application is complete
and the applicant has received written authorization from the Board member or
the Board designee to commence practice, pursuant to T.C.A. §
63-1-142.
(12) Upgrade from provisional licensure to
full licensure
(a) If applying by Certificate
of Clinical Competence, an applicant shall file with the application
documentation of proof of possessing a current Certificate of Clinical
Competence in the area of Speech Language Pathology issued through
ASHA.
(b) If applying by a method
other than Certificate of Clinical Competence, an applicant shall submit with
the application documentation an original letter, dated within the preceding
twelve (12) months, from the applicant's supervisor attesting to the
application's successful completion of the required Clinical Fellowship
period.
(c) An applicant must
successfully complete all examinations for licensure pursuant to Rule
1370-01-.08.
Authority: T.C.A. §§
4-5-202,
4-5-204,
63-17-105,
63-17-110
through 63-17-113, 63-17-115, and 63-17117.
