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
- Master's degree or equivalent from an ASHA accredited program or any other national accrediting body recognized by the Board
- Completion of 9 months of supervised professional employment; for applicant with a doctoral degree, the SPE may be met prior to the awarding of the degree if it is part of the course of study; if not, the SPE shall begin after the degree is awarded
- Passage of an exam (score 600)
Exemptions
- Physicians or physician-supervised personnel who conduct hearing testing
- Hearing aid dispensers
- Federal employees
- Public and private school employees
- Students appropriately designated as speech-language pathology or audiology interns or trainees
- Hearing tester employed by a private industry or firm for services relative to its employees and employment practices
- Persons licensed in Mississippi practicing within the scope of their profession
- Volunteers, within the confines of the organization for which they work
Reciprocity/Endorsement
- The Board may waive the examination for licensure of any applicant currently licensed in another state with equivalent standards.
- The Board shall waive the examination for licensure of any applicant who is a CCC holder.
Interim Practice/Temporary Licensure
- The Board shall issue a temporary license to an applicant who fulfills all requirements for licensure except for the supervised professional employment and/or the exam; licenses are issued for a 2 year period; applicants who have completed the SPE but not passed the exam in another jurisdiction are not eligible for a license of any type until an exam is passed.
- Temporary licensees must meet the same CEU requirements as regularly licensed practioners.
- A nonresident who meets the qualifications for licensure may offer speech-language pathology or audiology services for no more than 5 days in any calendar year if provided in cooperation with a state licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist.
- A nonresident licensed under the laws of another state with equivalent requirements or who holds a CCC may offer speech-language pathology or audiology services for no more than 30 days in any calendar year if provided in cooperation with a state licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist.
Continuing Education for Licensure Renewal
Twenty contact hours per 2-year renewal period; excess hours may not be carried over from one renewal period to the next; 10 hours must be directly related to clinical practice.
Hearing Aid Dispensing
Audiologists may dispense hearing aids under an audiology license.
Support Personnel
- Speech-language pathology and audiology aides must be 18 years old and have the minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Speech-language pathology and audiology aides must register with the Department.
- A licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist may not supervise more than three aides.
- The supervising licensee must institute a training program and must directly supervise the first 5 hours the aide works with clients; afterwards, the supervisor must directly observe the aide during 20% of the time that the aide works with clients per week.
- Aides must wear appropriate identification and written consent is required of clients being served.
Board Oversight
Mississippi Department of Health, Council of Advisors in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
Board Composition
The Council of Advisors in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology is established under the Mississippi State Board of Health and is comprised of 7 members; two speech-language pathologists, two audiologists, two members of the public who are also licensed health professionals interested in the consumption of speech or audiology services and one licensed physician board certified in otolaryngology; all council members who are speech-language pathologists and audiologists shall at all times hold a current and valid license in the state and be holders of the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence or its equivalent; the Mississippi Speech Language Hearing Association shall submit the names of 3 persons each year for any vacancies and the Mississippi Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Association will submit names of 3 persons for the otolaryngologist vacancies.
Web site
Mississippi State Department of Health
Questions regarding this document? Call ASHA at 800-498-2071 and ask for the State Advocacy Team.