Iowa State Characteristics of Licensure Law

Last updated April 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

Speech Language Pathology/Audiology

Master's degree or equivalent from an accredited school with a major in speech pathology or audiology
Completion of 300 hour supervised clinical training
Completion of not less than 9 months clinical experience under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist following the receipt of the master's degree
Passage of a national examination
or
ASHA CCCs

Audiology

Doctoral degree or its equivalent from an accredited school that includes the academic coursework and hours of supervised training required by the board is acceptable in lieu of the above requirements.
Passage of an examination

Exemptions

Physicians, osteopaths and their employees/supervisees/students
Hearing aid dealers or fitters
SLP or audiology students properly identified
Audiometric testing administered pursuant to OSHA
Non-professional aides who perform their services under the supervision of a speech-language pathologist or audiologist
School district or area education agency employees certified by the department of education as speech or hearing clinicians

Reciprocity/Endorsement

The Board may waive the examination requirement for persons licensed or certified in another state if those state requirements are substantially equivalent to Iowa's.
The board may enter into reciprocal agreements with any state territory, province or foreign country with equal or similar requirements for licensure.
For licensure by endorsement: pay a fee, ASHA certification or 9 months of clinical experience, National Teacher Exam scores sent directly to the board, official copies of academic transcripts and verification of license(s) from every jurisdiction in which applicant has been licensed.

Interim Practice/Temporary Licensure

Any person who has fulfilled all of the requirements for licensure except for the 9 months of clinical experience may apply for a temporary clinical license. Applicant must be supervised by an Iowa licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist.
Nonresidents may apply to the Board for a temporary permit to practice speech-language pathology or audiology for a period not to exceed 3 months; the individual must have substantially the same qualifications as those required for an IA license.

Continuing Education for Licensure Renewal

Licensees must complete 30 hours of continuing education per discipline per biennium renewal cycle. Upon license renewal, licensees who treat children or adults shall complete 2 hours of training in child abuse or dependent adult abuse identification and reporting within the previous 5 years.

Hearing Aid Dispensing

Audiologists who dispense hearing aids must obtain a HAD license.

Support Personnel

An assistant is an unlicensed person who works under the supervision of an Iowa-licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist and meets the following:

SLP Assistant I: Works with an individual for whom significant improvement is expected within a reasonable amount of time; must be 18 and have a high school diploma or equivalent, completion of a 3 semester-hour course in introductory speech and language pathology for speech pathology assistants, and 15 hours of instruction in the specific tasks that the assistant will be performing or a training period of 75 clock hours on instruction and practicum experience.
SLP Assistant II: Works with an individual for whom maintenance of present level of communication is the goal, or for whom, based on the history and diagnosis, only slow improvement is expected; must be 18 and have a high school diploma or equivalent, completion of a 3 semester-hour course in introductory speech and language pathology for speech pathology assistants, and 15 hours of instruction in the specific tasks that the assistant will be performing or a training period of 75 clock hours on instruction and practicum experience.
Audiology Assistant I: Is more broadly trained and may be given a variety of duties depending upon the individual's training; must be 18 and have a high school diploma or equivalent, completion of a 3 semester-hour course in introductory audiology for audiology assistants and 15 hours of instruction in the specific tasks that the assistant will be performing or a training period of 75 clock hours on instruction and practicum experience.
Audiology Assistant II: Is trained specifically for a single task for screening; must be 18 and have a high school diploma or equivalent and 15 clock hours of instruction and practicum in the specific tasks the assistant will be performing:
- For level 1 speech pathology assistants and level 1 audiology, there must be direct on-site observation for a minimum of 20% of the assistant's direct patient care.
- There must be 10% direct on-site supervision for level II speech pathology and assistants.
- For level II audiology assistants, there must be 10% supervision with at least half of that time being direct on-site observation.
Not more that three assistants may be supervised by a licensee unless approved by the Board.

Board Oversight

Iowa Department of Public Health, Bureau of Professional Licensure, Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Board Composition

The Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology shall comprise seven members; five shall be members licensed to practice speech pathology or audiology with at least two licensed speech pathologists, two licensed audiologists and two public members.

Telepractice

The provision of speech pathology or audiology services in Iowa through telephonic, electronic, or other means, regardless of the location of the speech/language pathologist or audiologist, shall constitute the practice of speech pathology or audiology and shall require Iowa licensure.