                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

(EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2027) SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY
ASSISTANTS (§ 54.1-2621)

A. A licensed speech-language pathology assistant shall only engage in those
duties that adhere to the code of ethics of the Board and are planned, designed,
and supervised by a licensed speech-language pathologist, including:

   1. Assisting with speech, language, and hearing screenings without clinical
   interpretation of results;

   2. Administering and scoring screenings for clinical interpretation by the
   supervising speech-language pathologist;

   3. Assisting with, but not administering or interpreting the results of,
   client assessments, including setting up the testing environment, gathering
   and preparing materials, and taking notes;

   4. Administering and scoring assessments and progress monitoring tools without
   clinical interpretation of results, if the licensed speech-language pathology
   assistant meets the examiner requirements for such tools and the supervising
   speech-language pathologist has verified that such examiner requirements have
   been met;

   5. Performing routine activities for therapy sessions in accordance with a
   plan developed and directed by the speech-language pathologist who retains the
   professional responsibility for such client, including (i) implementing
   documented care plans or protocols, (ii) providing direct therapy services to
   address treatment goals, (iii) adjusting and documenting the amount and type
   of support or scaffolding provided to the client in treatment to facilitate
   progress, and (iv) developing and implementing activities and materials for
   teaching and practice of skills to address the goals of the client;

   6. Providing treatment through a variety of service delivery models as
   directed by the supervising speech-language pathologist;

   7. Utilizing telecommunications technology to provide services remotely to
   clients as directed by the supervising speech-language pathologist;

   8. Documenting client performance and reporting such performance information
   to the supervising speech-language pathologist;

   9. Providing caregiver coaching, including modeling and teaching communication
   strategies and providing feedback regarding caregiver-client interactions for
   facilitation and carryover of skills;

   10. Sharing objective information regarding client performance without
   interpretation or recommendations as directed by the supervising
   speech-language pathologist;

   11. Assisting with programming augmentative and alternative communication
   devices and assisting and training clients with using such devices;

   12. Demonstrating strategies and assisting clients with skills included in the
   feeding and swallowing plan developed by the supervising speech-language
   pathologist;

   13. Signing or initialing informal treatment notes and, upon request,
   co-signing formal documents with the supervising speech-language pathologist;

   14. Assisting with clerical duties and site operations, including preparing
   materials, scheduling appointments and activities, preparing charts, records,
   or graphs, and performing checks and maintenance of equipment;

   15. Assisting clients with transitioning to and from therapy sessions; and

   16. Performing duties not otherwise restricted to the practice of
   speech-language pathology.

B. A speech-language pathologist assistant shall not engage in the practice of
speech-language pathology, including the following:

   1. Representing himself as a speech-language pathologist;

   2. Performing diagnostic tests or evaluations;

   3. Performing procedures that require a professional level of clinical
   judgment and technical skill;

   4. Interpreting results and observations of feeding and swallowing evaluations
   or screenings performed by a speech-language pathologist;

   5. Participating in formal conferences or meetings without the presence of the
   supervising speech-language pathologist;

   6. Providing interpretative information to a client, the family of a client,
   or any other individual;

   7. Writing, developing, or modifying a client&#8217;s treatment plan;

   8. Assisting in or providing services described in subsection A unless
   directed by the supervising speech-language pathologist;

   9. Signing any formal documents in place of the supervising speech-language
   pathologist;

   10. Selecting a client for service or discharging a client from service;

   11. Making a decision regarding the need for additional services or making a
   referral for service;

   12. Disclosing clinical or confidential information either orally or in
   writing to anyone other than the supervising speech-language pathologist,
   unless mandated by law or authorized by the supervising speech-language
   pathologist; or

   13. Developing or determining the swallowing or feeding strategies or
   precautions for a client or providing feeding or swallowing treatment.

C. A licensed speech-language pathology assistant shall be supervised by a
speech-language pathologist, who shall retain full legal and ethical
responsibility for the client.

HISTORY: 2025, c. 649.