New Hampshire State Characteristics of Licensure Law

Last updated September 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

Minimum of a Master's degree
Three hundred fifty hours of clinical practicum
Nine months postgraduate professional experience
Passage of a national exam

Speech-Language Pathology

Master's degree or equivalent in speech-language pathology from an educational institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
Note: "Equivalent" shall mean proof of a minimum of 30 post baccalaureate semester hours of academic credit in speech, language, and hearing.
Three hundred hour supervised clinical practicum
Nine months supervised postgraduate professional experience
Passage of a national exam administered by ETS
or
Persons with valid CCC's issued by ASHA

Exemptions

Speech language specialists certified under the board of education
Speech language assistants employed by public schools and schools approved by the department of education
Students, interns, trainees clearly designated by title and under supervision
Nothing shall restrict licensed persons from engaging in the profession for which they are licensed.
Physicians (noted under audiology only)
Persons licensed in another jurisdiction with equal or greater requirements and are practicing audiology 20 days or less in New Hampshire in any calendar year

Reciprocity/Endorsement

Audiology

Applicants licensed in another state with equivalent standards

Speech-Language Pathology

If licensed in another jurisdiction, may be licensed if hold CCC's and are "active in the profession" (defined as practicing during the past 5 years under full licensure in US or Canada).

Interim Practice/Temporary Licensure

Audiology applicants who satisfy all requirements for licensure except completion of a supervised postgraduate professional experience may obtain an interim license.
A temporary license may be granted for up to 120 days to a person from another jurisdiction if the person is licensed in another state with equivalent requirements and the person has applied for a license.
Applicants for a speech language pathology license may receive a provisional license to practice while completing the post-graduate professional experience; such license is limited to 12 months for full-time employees and 36 months for part-time.

Continuing Education for Licensure Renewal

Audiologists: 20 hours per biennial renewal cycle; may carry over 10 hours from one renewal cycle to the next
Speech language pathologists must complete 15 hours of continuing education each year and a total of 50 clock hours every 3 years.

Hearing Aid Dispensing

Audiologists with CCCs may waive the written hearing aid dealer exam (must still take the HAD practical exam).

Support Personnel

Speech language assistant means any person certified by the board who meets minimum qualifications and who does not act independently but is under the supervision of a licensed speech language pathologist.
The supervising SLP must inform the consumer when using an assistant.
Supervisors may supervise no more than 3 assistants.
Direct supervision of an assistant shall be 10% of an assistant's time each week and indirect, no less that 5% each week.

Board Oversight

Department of Public Health, Board of Hearing Care Providers (audiologists and hearing aid dealers)
Office of Allied Health Professionals, Governing Board of Speech-Language Pathologists

Board Composition

Board of Hearing Care Providers: The Board shall comprise two audiologists licensed to practice in the state for at least 1 year immediately preceding appointment, one licensed otolaryngologist currently practicing in the state, two non-audiologist hearing aid dealers licensed to dispense hearing aids in the state for at least 1 year preceding appointment, and two public members; no member of the Board shall serve concurrently in an elected, appointed, or employed position in any other state-level organization representing audiologists or hearing aid dealers if it would present a conflict of interest. There shall also be 2 subcommittees, one audiology subcommittee consisting of 2 audiologist board members, the otolaryngologist and one public member; the hearing aid dealers subcommittee shall consist of 2 non-audiologist hearing aid dealer members of the board and one public member; each shall advise the board in their area of expertise.
The Governing Board of Speech-Language Pathologists shall consist of 5 members: four licensed speech-language pathologists who have been engaged in the practice of speech-language pathology in the state for at least 3 years and one public member; at least one of the speech-language pathologist members shall be employed in an educational setting and one employed in a clinical setting.