As used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings, except where the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1)  “Accredited/approved” means that an institution/program holds regional accreditation from one of six (6) regional accrediting bodies: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

(2)  “Act” means chapter 48 of this title entitled, “speech-language pathology and audiology,” as well as the provisions of this chapter, where the context so indicates.

(3)  “Audiologist” means an individual who is licensed by the board to practice audiology either in person or via telepractice.

(4)  “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. A hearing disorder is defined as altered sensitivity, acuity, function, processing, and/or damage to the integrity of the physiological auditory/vestibular systems, in individuals or groups of individuals who have or are suspected of having such disorders.

(5)  “Audiology support personnel” shall operate under the title “audiometric aide” or “audiology assistant” and means an individual who meets minimum qualifications established by the board, which are less than those established by the act as necessary for licensing as an audiologist; does not act independently; is limited to hearing screening with pass/fail criteria; and works under the direction and supervision of an audiologist licensed under the act who has been actively working in the field for twenty-four (24) months after completion of the postgraduate professional experience and who accepts the responsibility for the acts and performances of the audiometric aide or audiology assistant while working under the act.

(6)  “Board” means the state board of examiners of speech-language pathology and audiology established pursuant to § 5-48-2.

(7)  “Clinical fellow” means the person who is practicing speech-language pathology under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist while completing the postgraduate professional experience as required by the act and who holds a current provisional license in accordance with the requirements described in this chapter.

(8)  “Clinical fellowship or traineeship” means the direct clinical work, consultation, or other duties relevant to clinical speech-language pathology work with individuals presenting disorders in communication, for a cumulative or equivalent total of nine (9) months of full-time employment following completion of professional speech-language pathology education under supervision pursuant to § 5-48-7 and the provisions of this chapter.

(9)  “Department” means the Rhode Island department of health.

(10)  “Director” means the director of the Rhode Island department of health.

(11)  “Graduate program” means a post-baccalaureate accredited program leading to a master’s or doctoral degree, including a professional doctoral degree, whether offered through an accredited graduate or professional school.

(12)  “Newborn hearing screener” means an audiometric aide or audiology assistant working in a hospital-based newborn hearing screening program under the direction of the department of health newborn hearing screening program, or its appointee.

(13)  “Person” means an individual, partnership organization, or corporation, except that only individuals can be licensed under this chapter.

(14)  “The practice of audiology” means an audiologist rendering or offering to render any service in audiology either in person or via telepractice as defined in § 5-48-1 and in this section.

(15)  “The practice of speech-language pathology” means rendering or offering to render any service in speech-language pathology either in person or via telepractice as defined in this section.

(16)  “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.

(17)  “School hearing screener” means an audiometric aide or audiology assistant working in a school-based hearing screening program under the direction of the Rhode Island department of elementary and secondary education or its appointee.

(18)  “Speech-language pathologist” means an individual who is licensed by the board to practice speech-language pathology either in person or via telepractice.

(19)  “Speech-language pathology” means the activities defined in § 5-48-1 and in this section.

(20)  “Speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) support personnel” means an individual who meets minimum qualifications established by the board, which are less than those established by the act as necessary for licensing as a speech-language pathologist; does not act independently; and works under the direction and supervision of a speech-language pathologist licensed under the act who has been actively working in the field for twenty-four (24) months after completion of the postgraduate professional experience and who accepts the responsibility for the acts and performances of the speech-language pathology assistant while working under this chapter.

(21)  “Telepractice” means the use of telecommunication technology to deliver speech-language pathology and audiology services remotely. Other terms such as teleaudiology, telespeech, and speech teletherapy are also used in addition to telepractice. Use of telepractice should be of equal quality to services provided in person and consistent with adherence to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)’s Code of Ethics (ASHA, 2016a), Scope of Practice in Audiology (ASHA, 2018), Scope of Practice in Speech-Language Pathology (ASHA, 2016b), and Assistants Code of Conduct (ASHA, 2020).