Kentucky 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

Citizen of the United States or declared intention to apply for citizenship
Master's degree or substantive equivalent from a college or university program accredited by ASHA
Equivalent education shall be either a doctoral degree from a program accredited by ASHA or a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited school with all coursework and practicum leading to a doctorate or master's from a university program accredited by ASHA
Completion of a supervised direct clinical practicum
Nine months of full-time postgraduate professional experience
Passage of an exam approved by ASHA

Exemptions

Hearing aid dispensers
Federal government employees
Registered and practical nurses trained to perform audiometric testing under the direct supervision of a licensed physician
Students properly identified as interns or trainees
Speech language pathologists with certification through the Kentucky Dept. of Education Professional Standards Board
Audiologist or speech pathologists from another state that meet Kentucky qualifications and requirements but are unlicensed may perform services for up to 5 days. Those licensed persons from another state, territory or foreign country with equivalent qualifications or resides in a state that does not grant licensure to SLPs may offer such service for up to 30 days in a calendar year.

Reciprocity/Endorsement

The Board may waive the examination and grant a license to applicants who present proof of current licensure in a state with equivalent standards.
The Board may waive the examination and grant a license to CCC holders.

Interim Practice/Temporary Licensure

Persons with a master's degree or equivalent course work in speech language pathology or audiology who have completed the supervised clinical practicum must apply for an interim license in order to perform the postgraduate professional experience. Such individuals shall make every effort to pass an exam approved by the board and shall make immediate application to the Board for permanent licensure upon the completion of the postgraduate experience. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the interim license.
A person with a baccalaureate in speech-language pathology but who does not hold a valid and current credential as a speech-hearing specialist issued by the Department of Education, shall apply for an interim license as a SLP assistant during the period of time he/she is completing the professional experience as established by the Board. Upon completion, such persons must also make immediate application for permanent licensure.

Continuing Education for Licensure Renewal

Fifteen CE hours per annual renewal cycle; a dual license holder shall complete a minimum of 25 CE hours per cycle; a licensee holding one license may carry over up to 5 CE hours to the following renewal cycle and a dual license holder may carry over 8 CE hours.

Hearing Aid Dispensing

Audiologists who dispense hearing aids must obtain an HAD license.

Support Personnel

Requirements for licensure of speech-language pathology assistants:

Practice limited to public schools and under the supervision of either a licensed speech language pathologist or a teacher certified to teach exceptional children with communication disorders
Baccalaureate degree in the area of speech-language pathology
Completion of 9 months postgraduate professional experience
List on the application the name of the appropriately qualified supervisor who has agreed to provide supervision
Supervisors may not supervise any more than two assistants
Total caseload for SLPs who supervise assistants in the public schools may be increased by one-half the amount of 65 pupils for each assistant working under their supervision
Direct and indirect supervision is no less that 3 hours each per full-time week

Board Oversight

Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet, Office of Administrative Services, Occupations and Professions, Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Board Composition

The Board shall comprise eight members to be appointed by the Governor; there shall be three audiologists, three speech-language pathologists, one otolaryngologist, and one public member; one of the speech-language pathologists must be employed by the public school system.

Telepractice

A treating speech language pathologist or audiologist who provides or facilitates the use of telehealth shall ensure:
(a) That the informed consent of the patient or other appropriate person with authority to make the health care treatment decision for the patient, is obtained before services are provided;
and
(b) That the confidentiality of the patient's medical information is maintained as required by applicable law. At minimum, confidentiality shall be maintained through appropriate processes, practices and technology as designated by the board and that conform to applicable federal law.
The board shall promulgate regulations to implement this section and to:
(a) Prevent abuse and fraud through the use of telehealth services;
(b) Prevent fee-splitting through the use of telehealth services;
and
(c) Utilize telehealth in the provision of speech language pathology or audiology services and in the provision of continuing education.
Telehealth means the use of interactive audio, video or other electronic media to deliver health care. It includes the use of electronic media for diagnosis, consultation, treatment, transfer of health or medical data, and continuing education.