{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/54.1-2603.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/54.1-2603.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/54.1-2603.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/54.1-2603.html"}],"law_id":85773,"edition_id":1,"section_id":85773,"structure_id":15274,"section_number":"54.1-2603","catch_line":"License required","history":"1979, c. 408, \u00a7 54-83.1:011; 1988, c. 765; 1999, cc. 967, 1005; 2014, c. 781.","full_text":"A\n\nIn order to practice audiology or speech pathology, it shall be necessary to hold a valid license.B\n\nNotwithstanding the provisions of subdivision 2 of § 54.1-2601, the Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology may license as school speech-language pathologists any person who holds a master’s degree in speech-language pathology. The Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology shall issue licenses to such persons without examination, upon review of credentials and payment of an application fee in accordance with regulations of the Board for school speech-language pathologists.\n\t\t\tPersons holding such licenses as school speech-language pathologists, without examination, shall practice solely in public school divisions; holding a license as a school speech-language pathologist pursuant to this section shall not authorize such persons to practice outside the school setting or in any setting other than the public schools of the Commonwealth, unless such individuals are licensed by the Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology to offer to the public the services defined in § 54.1-2600.\n\t\t\tThe Board shall issue any person licensed as a school speech-language pathologist a license that notes the limitations on practice set forth in this subsection.\n\t\t\tPersons who hold licenses issued by the Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology without these limitations shall be exempt from the requirements of this subsection.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":307187,"text":"In order to practice audiology or speech pathology, it shall be necessary to hold a valid license.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":307188,"text":"Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision 2 of § 54.1-2601, the Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology may license as school speech-language pathologists any person who holds a master’s degree in speech-language pathology. The Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology shall issue licenses to such persons without examination, upon review of credentials and payment of an application fee in accordance with regulations of the Board for school speech-language pathologists.\n\t\t\tPersons holding such licenses as school speech-language pathologists, without examination, shall practice solely in public school divisions; holding a license as a school speech-language pathologist pursuant to this section shall not authorize such persons to practice outside the school setting or in any setting other than the public schools of the Commonwealth, unless such individuals are licensed by the Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology to offer to the public the services defined in § 54.1-2600.\n\t\t\tThe Board shall issue any person licensed as a school speech-language pathologist a license that notes the limitations on practice set forth in this subsection.\n\t\t\tPersons who hold licenses issued by the Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology without these limitations shall be exempt from the requirements of this subsection.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15274,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12943,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:53:31","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:53:31","permalink":{"id":241423,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15274,"identifier":"1","token":"54.1\/III\/26\/1","url":"\/54.1\/III\/26\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12943,"edition_id":1,"name":"Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology","identifier":"26","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12758,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","permalink":{"id":241421,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12943,"identifier":"26","token":"54.1\/III\/26","url":"\/54.1\/III\/26\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12758,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12754,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":241105,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12758,"identifier":"III","token":"54.1\/III","url":"\/54.1\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12754,"edition_id":1,"name":"Professions and Occupations","identifier":"54.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":239313,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12754,"identifier":"54.1","token":"54.1","url":"\/54.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":75480,"structure_id":15274,"section_number":"54.1-2600","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/54.1-2600\/","token":"54.1\/III\/26\/1\/54.1-2600","metadata":false},{"id":72979,"structure_id":15274,"section_number":"54.1-2601","catch_line":"Exemptions","url":"\/54.1-2601\/","token":"54.1\/III\/26\/1\/54.1-2601","metadata":false},{"id":68755,"structure_id":15274,"section_number":"54.1-2602","catch_line":"Board membership; officers; duties of Director of Department","url":"\/54.1-2602\/","token":"54.1\/III\/26\/1\/54.1-2602","metadata":false},{"id":85773,"structure_id":15274,"section_number":"54.1-2603","catch_line":"License required","url":"\/54.1-2603\/","token":"54.1\/III\/26\/1\/54.1-2603","metadata":false},{"id":58139,"structure_id":15274,"section_number":"54.1-2604","catch_line":"Provisional license in audiology or speech-language pathology","url":"\/54.1-2604\/","token":"54.1\/III\/26\/1\/54.1-2604","metadata":false},{"id":75043,"structure_id":15274,"section_number":"54.1-2605","catch_line":"(Repealed effective July 1, 2027) Practice of assistant speech-language pathologists.","url":"\/54.1-2605\/","token":"54.1\/III\/26\/1\/54.1-2605","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":68755,"structure_id":15274,"section_number":"54.1-2602","catch_line":"Board membership; officers; duties of Director of Department","url":"\/54.1-2602\/","token":"54.1\/III\/26\/1\/54.1-2602","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":58139,"structure_id":15274,"section_number":"54.1-2604","catch_line":"Provisional license in audiology or speech-language pathology","url":"\/54.1-2604\/","token":"54.1\/III\/26\/1\/54.1-2604","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/54.1-2603\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1979. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 408 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1979 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 3 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1988, chapter 765; in 1999, chapters 967<\/a> and 1005<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 781<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":75480,"section_number":"54.1-2600","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2600\/"},{"id":72979,"section_number":"54.1-2601","catch_line":"Exemptions","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-2601\/"}],"permalink":{"id":241437,"object_type":"law","relational_id":85773,"identifier":"54.1-2603","token":"54.1\/III\/26\/1\/54.1-2603","url":"\/54.1-2603\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/54.1-2603\/","token":"54.1\/III\/26\/1\/54.1-2603","dublin_core":{"Title":"License required","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 54.1-2603","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> In order<\/span> to practice audiology or speech pathology, it shall be necessary to hold a valid license. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision 2 of § 54.1-2601<\/a>, the Board<\/span> of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology may license as school speech-language pathologists<\/span> any person who holds a master’s degree in speech-language pathology. The Board<\/span> of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology shall issue<\/span> licenses to such persons without examination, upon review of credentials and payment of an application fee in accordance with regulations of the Board<\/span> for school speech-language pathologists<\/span>.\n\t\t\tPersons holding such licenses as school speech-language pathologists<\/span>, without examination, shall practice solely in public school divisions; holding a license as a school speech-language pathologist<\/span> pursuant to this section shall not authorize such persons to practice outside the school setting or in any setting other than the public schools of the Commonwealth, unless such individuals are licensed by the Board<\/span> of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology to offer to the public the services defined in § 54.1-2600<\/a>.\n\t\t\tThe Board<\/span> shall issue<\/span> any person licensed as a school speech-language pathologist<\/span> a license that notes the limitations on practice set forth in this subsection.\n\t\t\tPersons who hold licenses issued by the Board<\/span> of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology without these limitations shall be exempt from the requirements of this subsection. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nLICENSE REQUIRED (\u00a7 54.1-2603)\n\nA. In order to practice audiology or speech pathology, it shall be necessary to\nhold a valid license.\n\nB. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision 2 of § 54.1-2601, the\nBoard of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology may license as school\nspeech-language pathologists any person who holds a master’s degree in\nspeech-language pathology. The Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology\nshall issue licenses to such persons without examination, upon review of\ncredentials and payment of an application fee in accordance with regulations of\nthe Board for school speech-language pathologists.\n\t\t\tPersons holding such licenses as school speech-language pathologists, without\nexamination, shall practice solely in public school divisions; holding a license\nas a school speech-language pathologist pursuant to this section shall not\nauthorize such persons to practice outside the school setting or in any setting\nother than the public schools of the Commonwealth, unless such individuals are\nlicensed by the Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology to offer to the\npublic the services defined in § 54.1-2600.\n\t\t\tThe Board shall issue any person licensed as a school speech-language\npathologist a license that notes the limitations on practice set forth in this\nsubsection.\n\t\t\tPersons who hold licenses issued by the Board of Audiology and\nSpeech-Language Pathology without these limitations shall be exempt from the\nrequirements of this subsection.\n\nHISTORY: 1979, c. 408, \u00a7 54-83.1:011; 1988, c. 765; 1999, cc. 967, 1005; 2014,\nc. 781.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}