Missouri Laws 345.020 – License or registration required to practice
1. Licensure or registration shall be granted in either speech-language pathology or audiology independently. A person may be licensed or registered in both areas if the person is qualified. Each licensed or registered person shall display the license or certificate prominently in the person’s place of practice.
2. No person shall practice or hold himself or herself out as being able to practice speech-language pathology or audiology in this state unless the person is licensed in accordance with the provisions of sections 345.010 to 345.080. Nothing in sections 345.010 to 345.080, however, shall be construed to prevent a qualified person licensed in this state under any other law from engaging in the profession for which the person is licensed, and a licensed physician or surgeon may practice speech-language pathology or audiology without being licensed in accordance with the provisions of sections 345.010 to 345.080.
Attorney's Note
Under the Missouri Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class B misdemeanor | up to 6 months | up to $1,000 |
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 345.020
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
3. No person shall hold himself or herself out as being a speech-language pathologist in this state unless the person is licensed as provided in sections 345.010 to 345.080. Any person who, in any manner, represents himself or herself as a speech-language pathologist or who uses in connection with such person’s name the words or letters: “speech-language pathologist”, “speech pathologist”, “speech therapy”, “speech therapist”, “speech clinic”, “speech clinician”, “S.L.P.”, “language specialist”, “logopedist” or any other letters, words, abbreviations or insignia, indicating or implying that the person is a speech-language pathologist without a valid existing license is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
4. No person shall hold himself or herself out as being an audiologist in this state unless the person is licensed as provided in sections 345.010 to 345.080. Any person who, in any manner, represents himself or herself as an audiologist or who uses in connection with such person’s name the words: “audiology”, “audiologist”, “audiological”, “hearing clinic”, “hearing clinician”, “hearing therapist” or any other letters, words, abbreviations or insignia, indicating or implying that the person is an audiologist without a valid existing license is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.
5. No person shall hold himself or herself out as being a speech-language pathology assistant or aide or audiology aide in this state unless the person is registered as provided in sections 345.010 to 345.080.
6. Nothing in sections 345.010 to 345.080 shall prohibit a corporation, partnership, trust, association, or other like organization from engaging in the business of speech-language pathology or audiology without licensure if it employs licensed natural persons in the direct practice of speech-language pathology or audiology.