By: Sherry Sancibrian, MS, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL, FASHA

On June 6, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) published proposed changes to the rules at 16 TAC, Chapter 111, Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists. The proposed rules changes include:

• Replacing the names of the specific supervision forms with the general terms “assistant supervision plan” and “intern supervision plan”
• Reducing the license application documentation requirements where possible
• Clarifying the requirements for applicants with degrees from outside the U.S. or from non-accredited colleges or universities
• Clarifying and updating the application requirements for applicants who hold or have held the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) or the ABA Certification
• Updating and clarifying the internship and supervision requirements for all interns
• Repealing the audiology internship requirement of “1,600 hours of supervised clinical work” and replacing it with supervised professional experience under the direction of a professionally recognized accredited doctoral program as approved by the Department
• Extending the audiology intern license term from one year to two years with no increase in fees
• Repealing the Clinical Deficiency Plan for speech-language pathology assistants
• Addressing the professional titles that may be used by speech-language pathology assistants
• Reducing the minimum amount of supervision for audiology assistants from 10 hours per week to four hours per week, or from 40 hours per month to 16 hours per month
• Stipulating that at least one hour per week or four hours per month must be direct supervision
• Adding a new provision that prohibits a licensee who has current license sanctions from supervising

To review all of the proposed rule changes, visit the Texas Register site.

Comments on the proposed rule changes may be submitted online.

TDLR will accept comments on the proposed rule changes until July 7.