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Comparison of ASHA Certification Maintenance and State/Local Licensure or Education Certification

What's the Difference?  What's the Same?

Definitions

ASHA Certification: A voluntary credential that verifies an individual's achievement of rigorous, uniform, and validated standards that are nationally recognized.

State Licensure: A mandatory credential that grants permission to practice in a particular state.

State Dept. of  Education: A mandatory credential that regulates individuals who work in public schools.

Comparison of ASHA Certification, State Licensure, and State Department of Education Certification

ASHA Certification 

State Licensure/
Education Certification 

ASHA Certification,
Licensure, and
Education Certification 

Voluntary professional credential

Mandatory for practice

 

Based on validation studies of required knowledge, skills, and tasks for independent practice

Established by the state legislature and usually implemented by different state agencies

 

Portable: national recognition of being a qualified professional

Possibly recognized by other states

Provides different lievels of assurances to the public, other professionals, third-party payers, and employers

Verifies

  • A master's degree
  • Accredited academic program
  • Supervised clinical experience and mentorship
  • Passing score on a national exam

Dictates

  • Minimal qualifications to practice
  • Job titles
  • Supervision of support personnel, where applicable

License and education certificate requirements differ from state to state.  Requirements for a license and for an education certificat ein the same state are usually different.

Requires continuing education/professional development to maintain.  Wide range of activities and content is accepted.

Requires continuig education/professional development to renew licensure or education certification in most states; may require pre-approval of sponsor of activities.

 

Accepts only official transcripts, test scores, and supervision by an individual who holds the CCC as validation to earn the credential.

Many states will accept ASHA CCCs as documentation necessary to meet some or all requirements.

 

Requires 30 contact hours of continuing education every 3 years for maintenance of the certificate.

Continuing education required by most state licensing boards and some state education agencies; number of required contact hours and the length of renewal cycles vary from state to state and from license to education certificate.

 

Accepts contact hours for CE activities offered by many respected educational agencies.

Generally requires CE contact hours be from an educational agency that is pre-approved by the state licensing board or by the state education agency; may also accept only certain content.

What is acceptable for ASHA continuing education may not be acceptable to the state and vice versa.


This page was updated on: 5/8/2007.

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