Nebraska State Characteristics of Licensure Law

Last updated June 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

Audiology

Doctoral degree or equivalent
36 weeks of full-time professional experience or equivalent
Passage of an examination
or
Certification by a nationwide professional accrediting organization approved by the Board

Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists (prior to September 2007)

Master's degree or equivalent from an academic program approved by the board
36 weeks of full-time professional experience (or part-time equivalent)
Passage of an examination
or
Certification by a nationwide professional accrediting organization approved by the Board

Exemptions

Federal employees
Physicians
Hearing aid fitters/dealers
Persons credentialed by the State Department of Education
Students appropriately designated as speech-language pathology or audiology interns or trainees
Speech aides or other personnel employed by a public school, educational service unit or other private or public educational institution working under the direct supervision of a credentialed speech language pathologist.

Reciprocity/Endorsement

The Board may approve without examination any individual licensed in another state or territory of the United States with equivalent standards.
Certification by a nationwide professional accrediting organization recognized as such by the Board ("nationwide professional accrediting organization" is defined as "ASHA or equivalent")
License based on examination, applicant must submit proof of licensure and the method by which it was granted, that the license was never revoked and documentation of the requirements that were in effect in the other jurisdiction where the license was issued.

Interim Practice/Temporary Licensure

Nonresidents may provide audiology or speech-language pathology services for no more than 30 days if the applicant meets the qualifications for application for licensure and such person is working under a licensee and registers with the Board prior to the initiation of services.
A temporary license to practice audiology or speech-language pathology may be granted to persons who establish residence in Nebraska and who meet all the requirements for a license except passage of the examination. Such temporary license shall be valid only until the date of the next exam and shall not be renewed.
A temporary license may be granted to persons who meet all the requirements for a license except completion of the professional experience. Such temporary license shall be valid only until the completion of such professional experience or 18 months whichever is first and shall not be renewed.

Continuing Education for Licensure Renewal

Twenty clock hours per 2-year cycle

Hearing Aid Dispensing

Audiologists who dispense hearing aids must obtain a Hearing Aid Instrument Dispensers and Fitters license however the exam is waived for audiologists.

Support Personnel

Audiology or speech language pathology assistants must register.
Applicants for assistant registration must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent in communications disorders or hold an associate degree or equivalent or have been previously registered and practicing as a communication assistant for 30 per week for a minimum of 9 months per year between June 1, 2005 and June 1, 2007; applicants must successfully complete initial required training and demonstrate the ability to reliably maintain records and provide treatments under supervision. Registration is valid for one year.
The supervising speech-language pathologist or audiologist must provide direct, on-site supervision for the first 2 treatments of each client and at least 20% of all treatment sessions per quarter.
The supervising speech-language pathologist or audiologist must provide the assistant with at least 10 hours each year of in-service training and prepare semiannual performance evaluations to be reviewed with the assistant on a one-to-one basis.
Supervision is limited to 2 assistants at one time.

Board Oversight

Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit, Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Board Composition

The Board shall comprise two audiologists, two speech-language pathologists, that have been actively engaged in the practice in Nebraska for 5 years preceding their appointment and one public member.