Wisconsin 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

Master's degree and clinical practicum from a college or university approved by the Board or an AuD degree from a college or university approved by the Board is considered substantially equivalent to the exam, supervised clinical practicum, education and post-graduate clinical fellowship
Passage of the NESPA examination or completion of education or training that the Board determines is substantially equivalent to passing the NESPA (i.e., a certificate of clinical competence or an AuD)
Completion of a postgraduate fellowship in audiology or completion of education or training that the Board determines is substantially equivalent; AuD shall be deemed equivalent
Passage of an examination administered by the Board that consists of practical tests of proficiency in techniques that pertain to the fitting of hearing aids or education or training deemed substantially equivalent
Evidence that the applicant does not have a conviction record

Speech-Language Pathology

Master's degree and supervised clinical practicum from a college or university approved by the Board or completion of education or training that the Board determines is substantially equivalent
Passage of the NESPA or education or training substantially equivalent that may include a certificate of clinical competence in speech-language pathology
Completion of a postgraduate clinical fellowship in speech-language pathology approved by the Board or education or training deemed substantially equivalent
Evidence that applicant does not have a conviction record

Exemptions

Physicians
Hearing instrument specialists
Students appropriately designated interns or trainees
Practitioners engaged in speech language pathology or audiology for the Department of Public Instruction
Speech-language pathology and audiology assistants under the direct supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist

Reciprocity/Endorsement

The Board may grant a license to an applicant licensed in another state with substantially equivalent standards
The examining board may enter into reciprocal agreements with officials of other states or territories of the United States for licensing speech-language pathologists or audiologists and grant licenses to applicants who are licensed in those states or territories according to the terms of the reciprocal agreements.

Interim Practice/Temporary Licensure

A temporary license may be granted to practice speech-language pathology or audiology during completion of a supervised postgraduate fellowship, if the applicant does not have a conviction record, has applied to take the next exam, has a master's degree and has completed a clinical practicum.
A temporary license is good for 18 months for speech language pathology and 12 months for audiology; each may be renewed once.
A limited permit may be granted to a nonresident if the applicant does not have a conviction record, has a master's degree and completed a clinical practicum or equivalent education or training; permits shall be valid for 10 days in any calendar year.
Nonresidents who are licensed in another state with substantially equivalent standards may receive a limited permit to practice speech-language pathology or audiology for a period not to exceed 45 days per calendar year.

Continuing Education for Licensure Renewal

A licensee shall complete at least 20 hours of Board-approved continuing education per biennial renewal period.

Hearing Aid Dispensing

Audiologists may dispense under an audiology license.

Note: A practical test in hearing aid fitting must be passed to obtain an audiology license.

Support Personnel

Individuals may assist while under direct supervision of a speech language pathologist or audiologist.
Direct supervision means providing direct observation of the clinical services provided by the individual to clients 50% of the time during the first 90 days of employment and 10% thereafter.
Direct supervision also means providing comprehensive, periodic, and documented supervision that includes identifying specific roles and tasks for the individual, ensuring that the tasks performed by the individual do not require the exercise of professional judgment, and providing appropriate training that is competency-based and specific to job performance.
A speech-language pathologist may supervise up to 2 full-time equivalent individuals at any given time; an audiologist may supervise up to 5 full-time equivalent individuals at any given time and in industrial settings an audiologists may supervise up to 10 full-time equivalent individuals.

Board Oversight

Department of Regulation and Licensing, Bureau of Health Professions, Hearing and Speech Examining Board (includes hearing instrument specialists).

Board Composition

The Hearing and Speech Examining Board shall be nominated by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, appointed. The Board is comprised of three hearing instrument specialists, one otolaryngologist, two audiologists, two speech-language pathologists, and two public members; one of the public members shall be a hearing aid user. Under this Board, there is one advisory council consisting of speech language pathology and audiology.