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
Educational Audiologist
Persons with this endorsement may serve as an audiologist and resource person for programs involving individuals from birth through grade 12.
- A minimum of a master's degree in audiology which includes at least 36 graduate semester hours in an approved educational audiology program
- 70 clock hours of a school internship in educational audiology supervised by a standard institution faculty member (this requirement may be included in the 36 graduate semester hours)
Continuing Education Requirement
Individuals without two consecutive years of service in the past five years must complete six semester credit hours. All others may renew their certificate upon verification of experience.
Speech-Language Pathologist
Speech-Language Pathologist Endorsement
- Master's degree in speech-language pathology from an approved program
a. Must include a minimum of 36 graduate semester hours in speech-language pathology and related courses. Applicants must also complete a minimum of 250 clock hours of clinical experiences and an internship, supervised by the standard institution in a school or clinic setting
b. All Nebraska teacher education institutions offering this endorsement program must have on file a plan that identifies the courses and course completion requirements which the institution uses to grant credit toward the completion of this endorsement
- Passage of the Praxis Pre-Professional Skills Test or 3 consecutive years of experience in the same school system meets the basic skills competency requirement
- Evidence of human relations training which may be met by coursework or employment experience that leads to acquisition of these skills
- Completion of 3 semester credit hours in special education which may be met by coursework or employment experience that leads to acquisition of these skills
Continuing Education Requirement
Individuals without two consecutive years of service in the past five years must complete six semester credit hours. All others may renew their certificate upon verification of experience.
Emergency Certification
None
Support Personnel
A Provisional Special Services Certificate with an endorsement as a speech-language technician may be granted to individuals with a bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology. No Nebraska Standard Institution of Higher Education will be granted approval to offer a program of study leading to this endorsement. Currently there are no bachelor's level programs offered in Nebraska. There are, however, a number of surrounding states that offer a bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology. Persons with this endorsement do not qualify for membership on a multi-disciplinary team and/or an individual educational plan team.