RD395 - Need for and Impact of Licensure or Certification of Assistant Speech-Language Pathologists – October 2016


Executive Summary:
The 2016 Session of the General Assembly passed HB252, patroned by Delegate Kory, which modified the Code of Virginia relating to practice of assistant speech-language pathologists by specifying that they may perform limited duties that are otherwise restricted to the practice of a speech-language pathologist under the supervision and direction of a licensed speech-language pathologist. The second enactment clause on HB252 directed:

“That the Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology shall review the need for and impact of licensure or certification of assistant speech-language pathologists and report its findings to the Chairmen of the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions and the Senate Committee on Education and Health by November 1, 2016.”

In accordance, the Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (“Board”) directed the Chair to appoint an Ad Hoc Committee (“Committee”) to conduct the review and report its findings for a report to the General Assembly. The Committee was comprised of two speech-language pathologists (“SLPs”) who are members of the Board, two SLPs representing the Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia, the SLP specialist for the Virginia Department of Education, and the lead SLP for a public school division. The Committee met on three occasions – May 2, 2016, June 15, 2016 and August 17, 2016. At each of the meetings, the public was invited to offer comment on the subject of the review.