Arkansas State Characteristics of Licensure Law

Last updated March 2008

The information below is collected from state licensure boards or regulatory agencies responsible for regulating the professions of Speech-Language Pathology and/or Audiology. It is intended for informational use only, and should not be construed as legal advice.

Contact the state's licensure board or regulatory agency for exact licensure, certification, or registration requirements in your jurisdiction.

Initial Licensure Requirements

Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology

Master's or doctoral degree in communicative disorders or ASHA CCC's granted subsequent to January 1, 1993
Clinical summary signed by a program director of an accredited program verifying completion of clinical practicum requirements
Thirty-six weeks of supervised full-time (or equivalent part-time) paid professional experience
Passage of an examination or ASHA CCCs

Exemptions

Physicians
Hearing aid dealers
Any other person licensed by the state from engaging in the profession or occupation for which he/she is licensed
DOE certified employees of a public school system
Students designated as speech-language pathology or audiology interns or trainees
Speech-language pathology services offered within the confines of the Division of Developmental Disability Services if that person holds a bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology and is supervised by a licensed speech-language pathologist
Nonresidents licensed in another state with equivalent standards or CCC holders may offer services for no more than 30 days per fiscal year if in cooperation with a licensed practitioner
Nonresidents may offer services for no more than 5 days per calendar year if in cooperation with a licensed practitioner and the individual is eligible for licensure in the state.

Reciprocity/Endorsement

The Board may grant reciprocity to any applicant licensed in another state, the District of Columbia, or U.S. territory with equivalent standards
The Board may grant a license to any CCC holder
A person with ASHA CCCs or licensed in another state who has applied for the exam

Interim Practice/Temporary Licensure

Persons in the process of completing the paid professional experience are eligible for provisional licensure within 30 days of paid experience onset and may renew annually for up to 36 months.
ASHA certified individuals may practice pending disposition of their application.

Continuing Education for Licensure Renewal

Ten clock hours per year; dual licensees must complete 15 clock hours per year

Hearing Aid Dispensing

Audiologists may dispense hearing aids under an audiology license but must comply with state regulations regarding medical clearance and consumer protection measures.

Support Personnel

Speech-language pathology assistants must register with the board except that individuals working under general supervision of the department of education will register with that agency.
Speech-language pathology assistants must have a bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology or complete 60 semester credit hours, including 100 clock hours of supervised fieldwork experience.
For speech-language pathology assistants, a total of at least 30% direct and indirect supervision is required and must be documented; after the initial 90 days, 20% minimum documented supervision is required of which 10% must be direct supervision.
Speech-language pathology assistants must complete 1 hour of continuing education for every month of registration (10 hours per fiscal year).
A licensed speech-language pathologist may only supervise two full-time or three part-time speech-language pathology assistants; supervisors must have 2 years of full-time professional experience after the completion of the paid professional experience (CFY); BOE certificate holders prior to Aug. 1, 1997 are exempted; all professional liability for services remains the responsibility of the licensed SLP.
Speech-language pathology aides must have a high school diploma and on-the-job training; aides are only utilized by public schools and the Arkansas Division of Developmental Disability Services.

Board Oversight

State of Arkansas Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Board Composition

The Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology shall comprise eight members, who shall be residents of Arkansas for at least 2 years preceding their appointments and shall be appointed by the Governor for 3-year terms; seven members shall be appointed by names submitted by the Arkansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association or other professional groups; there shall be two speech-language pathologists, two audiologists, and a fifth member who may be either a speech-language pathologist or audiologist; there shall be one consumer member and one public representative who are not health-related professionals; one member of the Board shall represent the elderly, be at least 60 years of age and not engaged in or retired from the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology.