AN ACT relating to speech-language pathologists.

UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 177/GA
Page 1 of 7
SB017710.100 - 939 - XXXX 3/5/2026 3:00 PM GA
AN ACT relating to speech-language pathologists. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
Section 1. KRS 334A.020 is amended to read as follows: 3
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: 4
(1) "Assisting in the practice of speech pathology" means the provision of certain 5
specific components of a speech or language service program provided by a speech-6
language pathology assistant under the supervision and direction of an appropriately 7
qualified supervisor; 8
(2) "Audiologist" means one who is licensed to practice audiology. An audiologist may 9
describe himself or hersel f to the public by any title or description of services 10
incorporating the words "audiologist," "audiology," "audiological," "hearing 11
center," "hearing clinic," "hearing clinician," "hearing therapist," "audiometry," 12
"audiometrist," "audiometrics," "otometr y," "otometrist," "aural rehabilitationist," 13
or "hearing conservationist"; 14
(3) "Board" means the Kentucky Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; 15
(4) "Continuing professional education" in speech -language pathology and audiology 16
consists of planned learning experiences beyond a basic educational program 17
leading to a degree. These experiences are designed to promote knowledge, skills, 18
and attitudes of sp eech-language pathology and audiology practitioners to enable 19
them to provide professional services in their areas of training that are based on 20
current research and best practices; 21
(5) "Interim license" means a license issued by the board pursuant to KRS 334A.035 to 22
a person for the purpose of completing the [supervised ]postgraduate professional 23
experience required under that section prior to an application for licensure as a 24
speech-language pathologist or a speech-language pathology assistant; 25
(6) "Person" means any individual, organization, or corporate body, except that only 26
individuals can be licensed under this chapter; 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 177/GA
Page 2 of 7
SB017710.100 - 939 - XXXX 3/5/2026 3:00 PM GA
(7) "Practice of audiology" means the application of principles, methods, and 1
procedures of measurement, testing, appraisal, predicti on, consultation, counseling, 2
and instruction related to hearing and disorders of hearing for the purpose of 3
modifying communicative disorders involving speech, language, auditory behavior, 4
or other aberrant behavior related to hearing loss; planning, dire cting, conducting, 5
or participating in identification and hearing conservation programs; and 6
habilitative and rehabilitative programs, including hearing aid recommendations 7
and evaluation, prescribing, ordering the use of, selling and fitting hearing 8
instruments, including the selling and fitting of both prescription hearing aids and 9
over-the-counter hearing aids, auditory training, or speech reading; 10
(8) "Practice of speech pathology" means the application of principles, methods, and 11
procedures for the me asurement, testing, audiometric screening, identification, 12
appraisal, determination of prognosis, evaluation, consultation, remediation, 13
counseling, instruction, and research related to the development and disorders of 14
speech, voice, verbal and written lan guage, cognition/communication, or oral and 15
pharyngeal sensorimotor competencies for the purpose of designing and 16
implementing programs for the amelioration of these disorders and conditions. Any 17
representation to the public by title or by description of s ervices, methods, or 18
procedures for the evaluation, counseling, remediation, consultation, measurement, 19
testing, audiometric screening, identification, appraisal, instruction, and research of 20
persons diagnosed with conditions or disorders affecting speech, voice, verbal, and 21
written language, cognition/communication, or oral and pharyngeal sensorimotor 22
competencies shall be considered to be the practice of speech-language pathology; 23
(9) "Speech-language pathologist" means one who practices speech -language 24
pathology. A speech -language pathologist may describe himself or herself to the 25
public by any title or description of services incorporating the words "speech -26
language pathologist," "speech -language pathology," "speech -language therapy," 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 177/GA
Page 3 of 7
SB017710.100 - 939 - XXXX 3/5/2026 3:00 PM GA
"speech-language co rrection," "speech -language correctionist," "speech -language 1
therapist," "speech clinic," "speech clinician," "speech pathologist," "language 2
pathologist," "language pathology," "language therapist," "logopedics," 3
"logopedist," "communicology," "communicol ogist," "aphasiologist," "voice 4
therapy," "voice therapist," "voice pathology," "voice pathologist," "phoniatrist," 5
"communication disorders," or "verbal therapist"; 6
(10) "Speech-language pathology assistant" means one who assists in the practice of 7
speech-language pathology only under the supervision and direction of an 8
appropriately qualified supervisor and only within the public school system in the 9
Commonwealth. Any speech -language pathology services provided without 10
appropriate supervision or outside t he public school system shall be deemed to be 11
the unlicensed practice of speech -language pathology and shall subject the 12
offending party to penalties established in KRS 334A.990; 13
(11) "Supervisor" means a person who holds a Kentucky license as a speech -language 14
pathologist or who holds Education Professional Standards Board master's level 15
certification as a teacher of exceptional children in the areas of speech and 16
communication disorders as established by administrative regulation; and 17
(12) "Temporary license" means a license that may be issued by the board administrator 18
pursuant to KRS 334A.181 to any applicant who has met all the requirements for 19
permanent licensure in accordance with that section. 20
Section 2. KRS 334A.035 is amended to read as follows: 21
(1) (a) A person who has a Master's degree in the area of speech -language pathology 22
or communication disorders, or is currently enrolled in a doctoral degree 23
program with emphasis in speech -language pathology or communicat ion 24
disorders, or has substantive equivalent course work as defined by the board's 25
administrative regulations and who has completed supervised direct clinical 26
practicum with individuals presenting a variety of disorders of communication 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 177/GA
Page 4 of 7
SB017710.100 - 939 - XXXX 3/5/2026 3:00 PM GA
and swallowing, the experience being obtained with a training institution or in 1
one (1) of its cooperating programs, may[shall] apply for an interim license 2
during the time that person is completing postgraduate professional 3
experience deemed necessary by the board [. The pos tgraduate professional 4
experience shall be completed under the supervision of a speech -language 5
pathologist who holds a Kentucky license or certification by other accrediting 6
bodies, at the discretion of the board]. 7
(b) A person with interim licensure sha ll make every effort to take and pass a 8
national examination in speech -language pathology approved by the board at 9
the time of the application for licensure. If unsuccessful with the examination, 10
the licensee shall submit documentation of the applicant's p reparation to take 11
the national examination and continue to practice under supervision in 12
accordance with this section. The board shall promulgate an administrative 13
regulation in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to establish the 14
documentation required under this paragraph. 15
(c) Upon completion of postgraduate professional experience deemed necessary 16
by the board, the speech-language pathologist shall make an application to the 17
board within thirty (30) days for permanent licensure, if all requirements have 18
been completed satisfactorily, or for renewal of the interim license at the 19
discretion of the board. Failure to do so shall result in forfeiture of the interim 20
license. 21
(d) An interim license shall not exceed a period of twenty -four (24) months 22
without board approval. 23
(2) (a) A person who has a baccalaureate degree in the area of speech -language 24
pathology or communication disorders as defined by administrative regulation 25
shall apply for an interim license as a speech -language pathology assistant 26
during the time that person is completing his or her professional experience as 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 177/GA
Page 5 of 7
SB017710.100 - 939 - XXXX 3/5/2026 3:00 PM GA
established by the board by administrative regulation. The postgraduate 1
professional experience shall be completed under the supervision of an 2
appropriately qualified supervisor. 3
(b) [Upon completion of the postgraduate professional experience, ] The speech-4
language pathology assistant shall make immediate application to the board 5
within thirty (30) days for permanent licensure if all requirements have been 6
completed satisfactorily, or for renewal of the interim license at the discretion 7
of the board. Failure to do so shall result in forfeiture of the interim license. 8
(c) An interim license shall not exceed a period of twenty -four (24) months 9
without board approval. 10
(3) (a) A speech -language pathologist employed solely by the public schools in a 11
certified position who holds a teacher certification in communication 12
disorders issued by the Education Professional Standards Board shall be 13
exempt from holding a license issued by the board. 14
(b) A speech-language pathologist in a classified position who does not hold a 15
teacher certification in communication disorders issued by the Education 16
Professional Standards Board shall apply for and maintain appropriate 17
licensure. 18
(c) The public school speech -language pathologist shall determine from the local 19
school board how his or her position is categorized. 20
Section 3. KRS 334A.050 is amended to read as follows: 21
To be eligible for licensure by the board as a speech -language pathologist or audiologist, 22
the applicant must: 23
(1) Be a citizen of the United States or have declared his intention to become a citizen. 24
A statement by the applicant under oath that he is a citizen or that he intends to 25
apply for citizenship when he b ecomes eligible to make application shall be 26
sufficient proof of compliance with this subsection; 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 177/GA
Page 6 of 7
SB017710.100 - 939 - XXXX 3/5/2026 3:00 PM GA
(2) Show evidence of meeting the following professionally accepted academic and 1
practicum standards: 2
(a) Master's degree in the area of speech -language pathol ogy or audiology or 3
substantive equivalent. The specific course work for this requirement is to be 4
determined by the board and delineated in the administrative regulations; 5
(b) Completion of supervised direct clinical practicum with individuals presenting 6
a variety of disorders of communication, the experience being obtained with 7
the training institution or in one (1) of its cooperating programs; and 8
(c) For applicants seeking to practice in accordance with KRS 334A.188, 9
completion of three (3) months of postgraduate professional experience as 10
deemed necessary by the board; and 11
(3) Pass the national examinations in speech -language pathology or audiology which 12
are approved by the American Speech and Hearing Associ ation and in effect at the 13
time of application for licensure. Written examinations may be supplemented by 14
such oral examinations as the board shall determine. An applicant who fails his 15
examination may be reexamined at a subsequent examination upon payment of 16
another licensing fee. 17
Section 4. KRS 334A.183 is amended to read as follows: 18
(1) To be eligible for initial interim licensure by the board as a speech -language 19
pathologist, the applicant shall: 20
(a) Provide a certifi ed university transcript conferring a master's degree or 21
doctorate degree in the area of speech -language pathology or communication 22
disorders, or substantive equivalent. The board shall promulgate 23
administrative regulations to specify the required course work; or 24
(b) Provide documentation of completion of degree requirements, including a 25
supervised direct clinical practicum with individuals presenting with a variety 26
of disorders of communications and swallowing. The experience shall be 27
UNOFFICIAL COPY 26 RS SB 177/GA
Page 7 of 7
SB017710.100 - 939 - XXXX 3/5/2026 3:00 PM GA
obtained with a training institution or in one (1) of its cooperating programs. 1
(2) To be eligible for initial licensure by the board as a speech -language pathologist, 2
the applicant shall: 3
(a) Provide a certified university transcript conferring a master's degree or 4
doctorate degree in the area of speech -language pathology or communication 5
disorders, or substantive equivalent. The board shall promulgate 6
administrative regulations to specify the required course work; 7
(b) [Provide documentation of completion of a postgraduate pro fessional 8
experience approved by the board pursuant to administrative regulations 9
promulgated pursuant to this chapter; and 10
(c) ]Pass a national examination approved by the board at the time of the 11
application for licensure or provide documentation of nati onal certification ; 12
and 13
(c) If seeking to practice in accordance with KRS 334A.188, provide 14
documentation of completion of three (3) months of postgraduate 15
professional experience as set forth in an administrative regulation 16
promulgated by the board in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A. 17