4753-3-07 Professional experience requirements for licensure of applicants for audiology applying for licensure with at least a master's degree or equivalent obtained prior to January 1, 2006 and for speech-language pathology.

 

 

 

4753-3-07                    Professional experience requirements for licensure.

 

 

 

(A)       Written evidence of having obtained appropriately supervised professional experience in which shall be at least nine calendar months with a minimum of thirty clock hours per week or the equivalent over no more than thirty-six consecutive months in which bona fide clinical work has been accomplished in the major professional area, speech-language pathology or audiology, in which licensure is sought. This experience shall begin after completion of all coursework, clinical experience and examination unless approved by the board. The purpose of the professional experience is to provide the opportunity for successful transition in status from student-trainee to independent professional by:

 

(1)    Development of a total commitment to quality speech, language, and hearing services:

 

(2)     Integration  and  application  or  theoretical  knowledge  gained  in  academic training:

 

(3)   Evaluation of individual strengths and limitations of person(s) served;

 

(4)   Evaluation of the clinician's own professional skills;

 

(5)   Refinement of clinical skills; and

 

(6)     Development  of  a  commitment  to  continuing  education  and  professional growth.

 

Seventy per cent of professional experience will be in direct clinical contact with persons who have communication disorders. Time spent in supervision of students, academic teaching, research or administrative activity that does not deal directly with management programs of individual persons served will not be counted as professional experience for licensure. When part-time employment is used to fulfill a part of the professional experience requirement, one hundred per cent of the minimum hours of the part-time work per week must be spent in direct contact with persons served as defined above.

 

Evidence of professional experience shall be submitted on forms provided by the board. Verification of professional experience shall be the notarized signatures of the applicant and professional experience supervisor.

 

(B)   A person performing speech-language pathology or audiology services, in pursuit of the required supervised professional experience, as prescribed in section 4753.06 of the Revised Code, and as described in this rule must hold conditional licensure as

 

 

prescribed in section 4753.071 of the Revised Code.

The purpose of a conditional license is to permit an individual to practice speech-language pathology or audiology while completing the supervised professional experience as required by division (D) of section 4753.06, of the Revised Code. A person holding a conditional license is authorized to practice speech-language pathology or audiology while working under an approved professional experience plan and the supervision of a person fully licensed by the board in accordance with Chapter 4753. of the Revised Code. The holder of a conditional license may not supervise the clinical experience of a student or supervise any other intern, aide or practitioner.

A conditional license will be granted only to individuals who have made application for licensure pursuant to section 4753.06 of the Revised Code. No person shall be eligible for a conditional license unless he/she has met the requirements of section 4753.06 of the Revised Code except for the supervised professional experience:

(1)   Has met educational requirements;

(2)   Has met clinical experience requirements;

(3)   Has received an examination score on the national teacher's examination of 600 or above;

(4)    Has submitted an application for conditional license to the board, including a plan for the content of the supervised professional experience on a form prescribed by the board; and

(5)   Has paid to the board the appropriate fee for a license and a conditional license.

Any violation of an order of the board, Chapter 4753. of the Revised Code or agency level 4753 of the Administrative Code shall be grounds for denial of an application for a conditional license.

An applicant may not begin employment for professional experience until the conditional license has been granted.

Upon successful completion of professional experience by the holder of a conditional license, a license will be granted at the next board meeting at which licensure is considered. When a conditional license expires prior to successful completion of professional experience, the application for licensure upon which the conditional license was granted will be handled as an abandoned application pursuant to rule 4753-3-01 of the Administrative

Code. Upon expiration of a conditional license, the board may in its discretion grant additionala second conditional licenseslicense for good cause shown and fix the term of the conditional license not to exceed eighteen months. An applicant for a second conditional license shall file a written request with the board prior to the expiration of the first conditional license. The board shall determine whether good cause has been shown by evaluating both of the following factors: the progress made toward completing the professional experience, including the applicant's efforts to obtain employment, if applicable, and the length of time needed to complete the professional experience.

(C)    Pursuant to section 4753.071 of the Revised Code, an applicant for a conditional license shall include a plan for professional experience. Granting of the conditional license shall be based upon approval of the plan for professional experience. The board may approve a plan indicating that an applicant is seeking employment. Time spent seeking employment shall not be credited toward professional experience requirements for licensure. Upon employment a new plan must be submitted.

In preparing a plan for approval of the board, the applicant shall:

(1)       Complete an application for licensure including all requisite fees and verifications of education, clinical experience, and examination;

(2)   Request supervision by an individual licensed by the board currently and for no less than two years in the area in which licensure is sought;

(3)      Obtain employment in a setting meeting the criteria for supervision of professional experience as outlined in this rule;

(4)    Read and abide by Chapters 4753. of the Revised Code and Administrative Code;

(5)      Complete and have notarized the applicant's section of the supervised professional experience plan form provided by the board;

(6)   Obtain from the professional experience supervisor the completed and notarized supervisor's section of the supervised professional experience plan form provided by the board; and

(7)   Obtain proof by certified mail or other receipt that the application and plan have been received by the board office. The applicant may not begin employment for professional experience until the plan and conditional license have been

approved by the board.

Any changes, including but not limited to change of supervision, change or interruption of employment, or ending date of professional experience in the plan shall be reported to the board in writing within thirty days of the change and bear the signatures of both the applicant and supervisor. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the written changes in the plan bearing the signatures of the applicant and supervisor be submitted to the board. Failure to report any change in the plan in writing, including but not limited to change of supervision, change or interruption of employment, within thirty days of the change shall result in the rejection of the experience for licensure. If the board rejects the changes or experience, the board shall notify the applicant of that rejection within thirty days after the action of the board. Failure to report a change in the plan or failure to practice according to the plan shall be considered practice without a license and, therefore, cause for suspension or revocation of the conditional license according to Chapter

119. of the Revised Code.

The applicant shall submit a report for professional experience on a form prescribed by the board. If the board rejects the professional experience, the board shall notify the applicant of that rejection within thirty calendar days after the action of the board.

A person holding a conditional license may perform services for which reimbursement will be sought under the medicare program established under Title XVII of the "Social Security Act," 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C. 301, as amended, or the medical assistance program established under Chapter 5111. of the Revised Code and Title XIX of the "Social Security Act," but all requests for reimbursement for such services shall be made by the person who supervises the person performing the services.

A person shall not serve as a supervisor of the clinical practice of a student or intern while completing the year of supervised professional experience required for licensure under section 4753.06 of the Revised Code.

(D)     Pursuant to section 4753.06 of the Revised Code, clock hours of professional experience are defined as those hours of direct contact with persons served, consultations, recordkeeping, staff meetings, in-service training or any other relevant duties in a paid professional setting in which bona fide clinical work has been accomplished in the major professional area, speech-language pathology or audiology, in which licensure is being sought. At least seventy percent of the professional experience shall be in direct contact with persons served. Time spent in academic teaching, research or administrative activity that does not deal directly with treatment programs of person(s) served will not be counted as professional experience for licensure.

Professional experience accomplished in the state of Ohio shall be acceptable for licensure only when done under the supervision of a person who during the professional experience was licensed by the board of speech-language pathology and audiology in the area in which licensure is sought.

Applicants for Ohio licensure who received the American speech-language-hearing association's"American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's" certificate of clinical competence or licensure in another state based upon professional experience accomplished in Ohio in violation of Ohio law and rules shall not be licensed by waiver.

Professional experience accomplished in the state of Ohio prior to September 1, 1979 shall be acceptable for licensure only when done under the supervision of a person who during the experience met the academic, clinical practicum, experience, and examination requirements as described in rule 4753-3-04 of the Administrative Code, or the equivalent as determined by the board; or who during the professional experience was licensed in any state in the professional area in which licensure is sought; or who during the professional experience was certified by the "American Speech-Language-Hearing Association" in the professional area in which licensure is sought.

Professional experience when completed outside the state of Ohio shall be acceptable for licensure only when done under the supervision of a person who during the professional experience was licensed in any state in the professional area in which licensure is sought; or who during the professional experience was certified by the "American Speech-Language-Hearing Association" in the professional area in which licensure is sought.

Professional experience when completed outside the state of Ohio, shall be acceptable for licensure only when done under the supervision of a person who during the professional experience was licensed in that state in the professional area in which licensure is sought; or in states without licensure who during the professional experience was certified by the "American Board of Audiology" or the "American Speech-Language-Hearing Association" in the professional area in which licensure is sought.

Professional experience for licensure may be obtained in a variety of diverse employment settings providing services for persons with speech, language, and hearing disorders. An employment setting is appropriate for the professional experience if the particular program or program component is designed to evaluate, habilitate or rehabilitate the communicative functioning of persons with speech, language, and hearing disorders. The program must afford the possibility that professional experience supervisory requirements can be met.

Evaluation and therapy programs in schools, clinics, hospitals, and community

agencies are appropriate professional experience settings. Many highly specialized programs are appropriate for the professional experience even though they deal intensively with only a small number of individuals. Programs which provide primarily screening services are not suitable for the professional experience.

Professional experience shall entail the personal and direct involvement of the supervisor in any and all ways that will permit the supervisor to monitor, improve, and evaluate the applicant's performance in professional employment. The supervisor shall base the total evaluation on no less than thirty-six supervisory activities during the professional experience. The supervisor must include eighteen on-site observations of the applicant, of at least one hour each, at least six on-site observations shall be accrued during each third of the experience. The supervisor shall complete eighteen other monitoring activities, at least one per month. These monitoring activities may be executed by correspondence and include conferences with the applicant, evaluation of written reports, evaluations by professional colleagues, etc. If multiple sites are utilized in the professional experience, at least one on-site observation must be conducted at each site of the same provider type, including but not limited to nursing homes, hospitals, schools, industrial locations, hearing aid provider offices, during two of the three (one-third) segments. Requests for utilizing alternative mechanisms for meeting the professional experience requirements stated in this paragraph must be submitted in writing to the board for prior approval.

Supervision of the applicant must include direct observation of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Other supervisory activities include:

(1)   Conferring with the applicant concerning clinical treatment strategies;

(2)   Monitoring changes in communication behaviors of person(s) served;

(3)   Evaluating the applicant's clinical records, including:

(a)   Diagnostic reports;

(b)   Treatment records;

(c)   Correspondence;

(d)  Plans of treatment; and

(e)   Summaries of clinical conferences.

(4)   Monitoring the applicant's participation in case conferences;

(5)       Evaluating   the   applicant's   performance   by   professional   colleagues   and employers;

(6)   Evaluating the applicant's work by person(s) served and their parents; and

(7)       Monitoring   the   applicant's   contributions   to   professional   meetings   and publications, as well as participation in professional growth opportunities.

All items above except paragraphs (D)(1) and (D)(2) of this rule may be conducted by correspondence.

A person holding a conditional license may perform services for which reimbursement will be sought under the medicare program established under Title XVIII of the "Social Security Act," 49 Stat. 620 (1935), 42 U.S.C. 301, as amended, or the medical assistance program established under Chapter 5111. of the Revised Code and Title XIX of the "Social Security Act" but all requests for reimbursement for such services shall be made by the person who supervises the person performing the services.

Supervisors must share and discuss their evaluations with the applicant throughout the professional experience. On completion of the professional experience, a conference must be held to provide the applicant the opportunity to read and discuss with the supervisor the final professional experience report. Should the supervisor anticipate at any time during the professional experience that the applicant under supervision will not meet requirements, the supervisor must counsel the applicant both orally and in writing and maintain careful written records of all contacts and conferences in the ensuing months.

If the supervisor does not approve the professional experience, the supervisor shall indicate the disapproval on the professional experience report and sign the professional experience report. The supervisor shall submit a letter of explanation and supporting documentation to the board. The applicant may request that the board accept this experience toward the requirements for licensure. In this case, the applicant shall submit the professional experience report, a letter of explanation and supporting documentation. The board may share this information with the applicant and supervisor. The board will then review the professional experience report and documentation to determine if approval shall be granted.

If the board rejects the experience, based upon the supervisor's recommendation, the applicant shall be offered the opportunity for a hearing

according to Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Persons performing "services" in pursuit of the professional experience in Ohio shall hold conditional licensure by the board. The board, for purposes of licensure, recognizes only professional experience that has met the supervision requirements of this rule.

In order to supervise professional experience, a supervisor shall have read and abide by Chapter 4753. of the Revised Code and Administrative Code and have two years licensed clinical experience or have been certified by the American speech-language-hearing association for two years.

In order to supervise professional experience, a supervisor shall have read and abide by Chapter 4753. of the Revised Code and Administrative Code and have two years of licensed clinical experience or have been certified for two years by either the "American Board of Audiology" or the "American Speech-Language-Hearing Association" in the area in which licensure is sought.

A speech-language pathologist or audiologist shall not supervise professional experience of a conditional licensee unless he/she has completed thirty-six months of full-time clinical experience within the past sixty months unless approved by the board.

The supervisor shall agree to supervise the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology experience of the applicant in the setting of the professional experience.

The supervisor of professional experience shall ensure that the supervisee is practicing pursuant to the requirements of section 4753.071 of the Revised Code by completing the plan and report as required by this rule. The supervisor shall retain a copy of the plan.

No supervisor of persons completing professional experience may concurrently supervise more than four supervisees unless approved by the board.

A speech-language pathologist or audiologist shall not accept fees, gifts, or forms of gratuity for serving as a sponsor or supervisor of professional experience required for licensure. Speech-language pathologists or audiologists may accept reimbursement for actual expenses incurred. Neither shall he/she accept compensation in any form from a manufacturer, dealer or salesman of prosthetics or other devices for recommending a particular product unless such products benefit person(s) served.

(E)Requirements for the professional experience year shall be deemed to be met when

the applicant is certified by the "American Board of Audiology" and verification of certification is received from the "American Board of Audiology," except that the professional experience year requirements shall not be deemed to be met if the certification was based upon professional experience obtained in Ohio in violation of Ohio laws and rules.

Effective:                                06/26/2003 R.C. 119.032 review dates:                           07/16/2004

CERTIFIED ELECTRONICALLY

Certification

06/16/2003

Date

Promulgated Under:   119.03

Statutory Authority:   4753.05

Rule Amplifies:           4753.06(D), 4753.071,

4753.09

Prior Effective Dates: 4/22/76, 2/16/80, 5/5/86,

11/16/92 (Emer.), 2/9/93,

9/10/94, 7/16/99