[Section 4503 effective July 1, 2024.]

§ 4503. State participation in the Compact

(a) A license issued to an audiologist or speech-language pathologist by a home state to a resident in that state shall be recognized by each member state as authorizing an audiologist or speech-language pathologist to practice audiology or speech-language pathology, under a privilege to practice, in each member state.

(b) A state must implement or utilize procedures for considering the criminal history records of applicants for initial privilege to practice. These procedures shall include the submission of fingerprints or other biometric-based information by applicants for the purpose of obtaining an applicant’s criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the agency responsible for retaining that state’s criminal records.

(1) A member state must fully implement a criminal background check requirement, within a time frame established by rule, by receiving the results of the Federal Bureau of Investigation record search on criminal background checks and use the results in making licensure decisions.

(2) Communication between a member state, the Commission, and among member states regarding the verification of eligibility for licensure through the Compact shall not include any information received from the Federal Bureau of Investigation relating to a federal criminal records check performed by a member state under Pub. L. No. 92-544.

(c) Upon application for a privilege to practice, the licensing board in the issuing remote state shall ascertain, through the data system, whether the applicant has ever held, or is the holder of, a license issued by any other state; whether there are any encumbrances on any license or privilege to practice held by the applicant; and whether any adverse action has been taken against any license or privilege to practice held by the applicant.

(d) Each member state shall require an applicant to obtain or retain a license in the home state and meet the home state’s qualifications for licensure or renewal of licensure as well as all other applicable state laws.

(e) An audiologist:

(1) must meet one of the following educational requirements:

(A) on or before December 31, 2007, has graduated with a master’s degree or doctorate in audiology, or equivalent degree regardless of degree name, from a program that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or its successor, or by the U.S. Department of Education and operated by a college or university accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization recognized by the board;

(B) on or after January 1, 2008, has graduated with a Doctoral degree in audiology, or equivalent degree, regardless of degree name, from a program that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or its successor, or by the U.S. Department of Education and operated by a college or university accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization recognized by the board; or

(C) has graduated from an audiology program that is housed in an institution of higher education outside the United States:

(i) for which the program and institution have been approved by the authorized accrediting body in the applicable country; and

(ii) the degree program has been verified by an independent credentials review agency to be comparable to a state licensing board-approved program;

(2) has completed a supervised clinical practicum experience from an accredited educational institution or its cooperating programs as required by the Commission;

(3) has successfully passed a national examination approved by the Commission;

(4) holds an active, unencumbered license;

(5) has not been convicted or found guilty, and has not entered into an agreed disposition, of a felony related to the practice of audiology, under applicable state or federal criminal law; and

(6) has a valid U.S. Social Security or National Practitioner Identification number.

(f) A speech-language pathologist:

(1) must meet one of the following educational requirements:

(A) has graduated with a master’s degree from a speech-language pathology program that is accredited by an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and operated by a college or university accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization recognized by the board; or

(B) has graduated from a speech-language pathology program that is housed in an institution of higher education outside the United States:

(i) for which the program and institution have been approved by the authorized accrediting body in the applicable country; and

(ii) the degree program has been verified by an independent credentials review agency to be comparable to a state licensing board-approved program;

(2) has completed a supervised clinical practicum experience from an educational institution or its cooperating programs as required by the Commission;

(3) has completed a supervised postgraduate professional experience as required by the Commission;

(4) has successfully passed a national examination approved by the Commission;

(5) holds an active, unencumbered license;

(6) has not been convicted or found guilty, and has not entered into an agreed disposition, of a felony related to the practice of speech-language pathology, under applicable state or federal criminal law; and

(7) has a valid U.S. Social Security or National Practitioner Identification number.

(g) The privilege to practice is derived from the home state license.

(h) An audiologist or speech-language pathologist practicing in a member state must comply with the state practice laws of the state in which the client is located at the time service is provided. The practice of audiology and speech-language pathology shall include all audiology and speech-language pathology practice as defined by the state practice laws of the member state in which the client is located. The practice of audiology and speech-language pathology in a member state under a privilege to practice shall subject an audiologist or speech-language pathologist to the jurisdiction of the licensing board, the courts, and the laws of the member state in which the client is located at the time service is provided.

(i) Individuals not residing in a member state shall continue to be able to apply for a member state’s single-state license as provided under the laws of each member state. However, the single-state license granted to these individuals shall not be recognized as granting the privilege to practice audiology or speech-language pathology in any other member state. Nothing in this Compact shall affect the requirements established by a member state for the issuance of a single-state license.

(j) Member states may charge a fee for granting a compact privilege.

(k) Member states must comply with the bylaws and rules and regulations of the Commission. (Added 2023, No. 36, § 2, eff. July 1, 2024.)