(a)   Audiologists. In addition to the requirements set forth in § 5-48-7.2, persons seeking initial licensure as an audiologist providing in-person or telepractice services shall meet the following requirements:

(1)  Submit an official transcript indicating possession of an earned doctorate degree in audiology from a regionally accredited educational institution or other national accrediting organization as may be approved by the board;

(2)  Pass a national examination in audiology approved by the board;

(3)  Present evidence of practicum experience that is equivalent to a minimum of twelve (12) months of full-time, supervised experience, that may be completed as part of the graduate degree, as delineated in this chapter;

(4)  Applicants with a master’s degree holding licensure from another state must present verification of a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or other national accrediting association as may be approved by the board.

Ask a business law question, get an answer ASAP!
Thousands of highly rated, verified business lawyers.
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 5-48.2-5

  • Audiologist: means an individual who is licensed by the board to practice audiology either in person or via telepractice. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48.2-3
  • Audiology: means the audiologist applies the principles, methods, and procedures related to hearing and the disorders of the hearing and balance systems, to related language and speech disorders, and to aberrant behavior related to hearing loss. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48.2-3
  • Board: means the state board of examiners of speech-language pathology and audiology established pursuant to § 5-48-2. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48.2-3
  • Department: means the Rhode Island department of health. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48.2-3
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Regionally accredited: means the official guarantee that a college or university or other educational institution is in conformity with the standards of education prescribed by a regional accrediting commission recognized by the United States Secretary of Education. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48.2-3
  • Speech-language pathologist: means an individual who is licensed by the board to practice speech-language pathology either in person or via telepractice. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48.2-3
  • Speech-language pathology: means the activities defined in § 5-48-1 and in this section. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48.2-3
  • Telepractice: means the use of telecommunication technology to deliver speech-language pathology and audiology services remotely. See Rhode Island General Laws 5-48.2-3
  • Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.

(b)   Qualifications for audiologists licensed in alternate jurisdictions. Persons licensed as an audiologist in alternate jurisdictions on or before January 1, 2008, shall meet the requirements of Rhode Island that were in effect at the time of initial licensure in the alternate jurisdiction.

(c)   Speech-language pathologists. In addition to the requirements set forth in § 5-48-7, an applicant seeking licensure to practice as a speech-language pathologist who provides in-person or telepractice services in Rhode Island must have attained a master’s degree or a doctoral degree or equivalent in speech-language pathology from an accredited educational institution accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or other national accrediting association as may be approved by the board. The degree shall consist of course work in accordance with the current minimum requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence issued by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or other national accrediting association as may be approved by the board.

(d)   Qualifications for a provisional license for speech-language pathologists. To be eligible for provisional licensure by the department, the speech-language pathologist must submit an application with the required application fee and be in compliance with the requirements of this chapter and § 5-48-7.1.

History of Section.
P.L. 2023, ch. 221, § 1, effective June 21, 2023; P.L. 2023, ch. 222, § 1, effective June 21, 2023.