                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

(EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2027) LICENSE; APPLICATION; QUALIFICATIONS OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE
PATHOLOGY ASSISTANTS (§ 54.1-2620)

A. No person shall practice as a speech-language pathology assistant unless he
possesses a current, active, and valid license from the Board. The licensee
shall have the right to practice as a speech-language pathology assistant in the
Commonwealth for the period of his license as set by the Board, under the
supervision and direction of a licensed speech-language pathologist.

B. An application for such license shall be made to the Board in writing and
shall be accompanied by satisfactory proof that the applicant (i) has completed
a Board-approved eligibility pathway option, described in subsection C, and (ii)
has completed a minimum of 100 hours of supervised clinical experience under the
direct supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist.

C. In order to practice as a speech-language pathology assistant, an applicant
for licensure shall complete a Board-approved eligibility pathway that includes:

   1. (i) Obtaining a two-year speech-language pathology assistant program degree
   from an accredited institution, (ii) completing the prerequisite courses
   required by subsection D, and (iii) completing the clinical field work
   required by subsection E;

   2. (i) Obtaining a bachelor&#8217;s degree in communication sciences and
   disorders from an accredited institution; (ii) completing (a) the online
   education modules offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
   or (b) a program equivalent to the online education modules offered by the
   American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; (iii) completing the
   prerequisite courses required by subsection D; and (iv) completing the
   clinical field work required by subsection E; or

   3. (i) Obtaining a bachelor&#8217;s or associate&#8217;s degree from an
   accredited institution; (ii) completing a speech-language pathology assistant
   program with equivalent course work, or completing academic course work from
   an accredited institution of higher education in the following areas: (a)
   introductory or overview course in communication disorders, (b) phonetics, (c)
   speech sound disorders, (d) language development, (e) language disorders, and
   (f) anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing mechanisms; (iii) completing
   the prerequisite courses required by subsection D; and (iv) completing the
   clinical field work required by subsection E.

D. In order to practice as a speech-language pathology assistant, an applicant
for licensure shall complete three one-hour prerequisite courses from an
approved professional development provider, academic clinical practicum program,
or via employee training, on each of the following topics: (i) ethics, (ii)
universal safety precautions, and (iii) patient confidentiality.

E. In order to practice as a speech-language pathology assistant, an applicant
for licensure shall complete a minimum of 100 hours of clinical field work,
including (i) 80 hours of direct patient/client/student services under the
supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist and (ii) 20 hours of
indirect patient/client/student services under the supervision of a licensed
speech-language pathologist. Such hours may be completed via an academic
practicum or on the job under the supervision of a licensed speech-language
pathologist. Hours completed via an academic practicum or on the job shall be no
more than five years old at the time of application for licensure. Observation,
simulation, and graduate practicum hours shall not count toward such
requirement.

F. The Board may grant a license to practice as a speech-language pathology
assistant to an applicant licensed to practice in another jurisdiction if he (i)
meets the requirements of subsection B; (ii) holds a current, unrestricted
license to practice as a speech-language pathology assistant in another
jurisdiction in the United States; (iii) has not committed any act that would
constitute grounds for denial as set forth in &#xA7; 54.1-2706; and (iv) meets
other qualifications as determined in regulations promulgated by the Board.

G. The Board shall promulgate regulations (i) establishing the number of
speech-language pathology assistants that may practice under the supervision of
one licensed speech-language pathologist, not to exceed three speech-language
pathology assistants under the supervision of one licensed speech-language
pathologist, and (ii) defining (a) &#8220;direct supervision&#8221; as the
in-view observation and guidance by a licensed speech-language pathologist of a
speech-language pathology assistant while such speech language pathology
assistant performs an assigned activity and (b) &#8220;indirect
supervision&#8221; as the monitoring or reviewing of the activities performed by
a speech-language pathology assistant by a licensed speech-language pathologist,
excluding observation and guidance provided during the provision of direct
services to a student, patient, or client.

HISTORY: 2025, c. 649.