Licencia: Audiologist

MS State Dept. of Health Office of Licensure Professional Licensure Division sitio externo

P.O. Box 1700

Jackson, MS 39215-1700

(601) 364-7360

Definitions: Audiologist means an individual who practices audiology and who presents oneself to the public by any title or description of services incorporating the words "audiologist," "hearing clinician," "hearing therapist," or any similar title or description of service. Audiology means the application of principles, methods and procedures of measurement, testing, evaluation, prediction, consultation, counseling, instruction, habilitation or rehabilitation related to disorders of hearing and balance for the purpose of evaluating, identifying, preventing, ameliorating or modifying such disorders and conditions in individuals and/or groups of individuals; and for the purpose of this subsection the words "habilitation" and "rehabilitation" include, but are not limited to, hearing aid dispensing and evaluation, auditory training, and speech reading. Licensed means licensed by the Mississippi State Department of Health to practice speech-language pathology or audiology. General Requirements for Licensure: 1. An application for a license as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist shall be submitted to the State Board of Health at its principal office in Jackson on an application form provided by the State Board of Health. 2. Every application shall be typed or written in ink, signed under the penalty of perjury, and accompanied by the appropriate fee and by such evidence, statements, or documents as therein required. 3. Approved applications and all documents filed in support thereof shall be retained by the State Board of Health. 4. Licenses issued under these regulations shall expire and become invalid at midnight of the expiration date. Qualifications for Licensure: 1. Education a. Education qualifications deemed equivalent to those specified in Section 73-38-9 shall be at least a master's degree, e.g., M.S., M.A., or M.Ed., in speech-language pathology, communicative disorders, or speech and hearing science or a doctoral degree in audiology from an institution recognized by the State Board of Health. Licensees currently licensed as an audiologist with a master’s degree will be “grandfathered” in and will remain licensed so long as they maintain their national certification. In addition, applicants for an audiology license who are already licensed as an audiologist in another state with only a master’s degree will be accepted for licensure in Mississippi if they are currently nationally certified. b. Institutions recognized by the State Board of Health within the meaning of Section 73-38-9 shall be those institutions with academic programs accredited by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association or any other national accrediting body deemed appropriate by the Board. 2. Supervised Professional Employment a. The applicant must have obtained the equivalent of nine (9) months of full-time professional experience (the Supervised Professional Employment) in which bona fide clinical work has been accomplished in the major professional area (speech-language pathology or audiology) in which the license is being sought. Fulltime employment is defined as a minimum of thirty (30) clock hours of work a week. For applicants awarded a master’s degree, the Supervised Professional Employment Plan (SPEP) must begin after the degree has been awarded. For applicants awarded a doctoral degree, the Supervised Professional Employment Plan requirement may be met prior to awarding of the degree, provided the equivalent of the Supervised Professional Employment Plan is an integral part of the course of study which leads to the awarding of a doctoral degree. For applicants awarded a doctoral degree from institutions that do not incorporate the equivalent of the Supervised Professional Employment Plan into the degree-granting process, the Supervised Professional Employment Plan must begin after the degree has been awarded. b. Professional experience is construed to mean direct clinical work with patients, consultations, record keeping, or any other duties relevant to a bona fide program of clinical work. Eighty percent (80%) of full-time clinical experience and one hundred percent (100%) of part-time clinical experience will be in direct clinical contact with persons who have communication handicaps. Time spent in supervision of students, academic teaching, and research, as well as administrative activity that does not deal directly with management programs of specific patients or clients will not be counted as professional experience in this context. c. An applicant desiring to complete the Supervised Professional Employment Experience must apply to the Board for a temporary license on a form available from the Board and must demonstrate that he is or will be supervised according to Rule 10.4.5 of applicable regulations. 3. The National Examinations in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology: a. The applicant must have passed a National Examination in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, either the National Examination in Speech-Language Pathology or the National Examination in Audiology. Each year at its first meeting, the Advisory Council will recommend to the State Board of Health a passing score for the coming year. Licensure by Reciprocity: An applicant for licensure by reciprocity shall submit to the Department, verified by oath, written evidence in form and content satisfactory to the Department that the applicant has met all requirements set forth in Rule 10.4.1 and 10.4.2 of the state laws and regulations. Temporary License: 1. A temporary license to practice as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist may be granted to an applicant for licensure meeting the requirements of Rule 10.4.1 and Rule 10.4.2 who has or has not taken the approved examination or who is entering the supervised professional employment plan subject to the conditions of Rule 10.4.5. 2. A temporary license must be issued prior to the beginning of the supervised professional employment plan. Conditions of Temporary Licensure: 1. A temporary license shall be issued for one 2-year period only beginning on the date of issuance. All regular license requirements must be completed and submitted to the department during the temporary licensure period. Supervision must be maintained according to the Supervised Professional Employment Plan (SPEP) agreement until the temporary license is upgraded to a regular license by the department. 2. A temporary licensee shall restrict his practice setting to the State of Mississippi. a. A temporary licensee in a department approved SPEP shall practice under the supervision of a current licensee holding a corresponding, regular license issued by the department. b. A temporary licensee in an employment setting that is exempt from licensure under §73-38-7 of the Code and who is engaged in a department approved SPEP shall practice under the supervision of a current, licensee holding a corresponding, regular license issued by the department. c. A temporary licensee may practice only in the practice setting listed in the department approved SPEP. d. A temporary licensee may not supervise any other licensee or registered aide. 3. Documentation in form and substance acceptable to the Department that the conditions of Rule 10.4.5(2) have been met must be on file with the Department before a temporary license will be issued. 4. A temporary license will not be issued to any individual who has had a temporary license revoked pursuant to the provisions of these regulations. 5. Any person who has completed the Supervised Employment Experience and who has taken, but not passed, the required examination in another jurisdiction shall not be eligible for a license of any type until an approved examination is passed. Renewal of License: 1. The Board shall issue regular licenses which shall be renewed prior to the expiration date of the license. 2. The licensure period shall be construed as July 1 through June 30 with all regular licenses expiring at midnight on June 30 of even-numbered years.