The following information summarizes the requirements currently necessary to begin work in the public school system as an:
Audiologist or Speech-Language Pathologist
This information has been collected by researching individual state department of education regulations and policy documents, state administrative code provisions and by contacting each state department of education. Please be advised that regulations and policy may change at any time, so always check with your state department of education for the most up-to-date information.
Audiologist
Audiologists in the public schools are contract employees and do not fall under specific teacher requirements of the State Department of Education. State licensure is typically required for practice in the schools.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Professional Certificate in Communication Disorders
- Master's degree in communication or speech-language pathology
- Completion of the following examinations:
a. Education of Exceptional Students – Core Content Knowledge
b. Speech-Language Pathology Exam
- All new teachers and out-of-state teachers with less than two years of successful teaching experience shall serve a one year internship.
Continuing Education Requirement
Renewal of the professional certificate requires completion of six semester hours of credit or the equivalent in PSDUs or CEUs every five years.
Emergency Certification
None. Under 16 KAR 2:120(2)(2)(a)—The Education Professional Standards Board shall not issue an emergency certificate for teaching exceptional children with communication disorders.
Support Personnel
Speech-language pathology assistants must be licensed as such by the Kentucky Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and may only be used in the public schools under the supervision of an appropriately qualified supervisor. The speech-language pathology assistant must have a baccalaureate degree in the area of speech-language pathology. Applicants who have a state license as a speech-language pathology assistant but who do not have any experience in Kentucky public schools shall be issued a statement of eligibility valid for five years. These persons must then complete the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program and then will be issued a "Professional Certificate for Exceptional Children/Communication Disorders/SLPA Only" valid for five years and renewable upon the completion of six semester hours of credit or the equivalent in PSDUs or CEUs.