Audiologists and Speech Pathologists

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on enforcement mechanisms for the new rules.

Changes to Licensing for Speech Pathologists and Audiologists

This bill changes Tennessee's laws about licensing requirements for speech pathologists and audiologists by removing certain certification requirements and clarifying when provisional licenses can be issued.

What This Bill Does

• Removes the requirement that a person needs an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certificate to get a provisional license as a clinical fellow in speech pathology.
• Clarifies that the board of communications disorders and sciences does not need to require ASHA certification for someone applying for a provisional license.
• Allows people who are applying for licensure as speech pathologists or audiologists to work without a valid license while their application is being reviewed, if they meet certain criteria.

Who It Names or Affects

• People applying for licenses as speech language pathologists or audiologists.
• The board of communications disorders and sciences.

Terms To Know

Provisional License

A temporary license given to someone who is completing their supervised clinical experience before getting a full license.

Clinical Fellow

A person who has completed the educational requirements for speech pathology and is working under supervision while applying for a provisional license.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if someone fails to meet the criteria after their application is approved.
• It's unclear how this change will affect current licensing practices or the number of applicants who can now qualify without ASHA certification.
• There are no details on how the board will enforce these new rules.

Official Summary Text

Present law authorizes a
person who has completed the educational requirements for licensure as a speech language pathologist and has received at least a master's degree from an approved educational institution
to
apply for and receive from the board of communications disorders and sciences
("board")
a provisional license to practice as a clinical fellow during the person's period of supervised clinical experience.

This bill clarifies that an
American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) certificate of clinical competence is not required for an applicant to be eligible for
such
a provisional license
, and prohibits
the board
from
requir
ing
by rule such certificate as an eligibility requirement.

RECIPROCITY

Present law authorizes a
speech language pathologist or audiologist who holds an American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) certification or equivalent, or holds a doctor of audiology degree (Au.D.) from an accredited institution of higher learning and has passed the examinat
ion required for licensure or is licensed in another state and who has made application to the board for a license in this state
to
perform activities and services of a speech language pathology or audiological nature without a val
id license pending disposition of application.

This bill rewrites the above provision to, instead, clarify that a
person who has made application to the board for licensure in this state as a speech language pathologist or audiologist may perform activities and services of a speech language pathology or audiological nature without a valid license while disposition of
the person's application is pending, if
(i)
the person
h
as passed the examination required for licensure or
is
licensed in another state
,
and
(ii) the person meets either of the following
criteria:



The person i
s an applicant for licensure as a speech language pathologist, the person holds an American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) certificate of clinical competence, or an equivalent certification acceptable to the board
.



The person is an
applicant for licensure as an audiologist, the person holds a doctor of audiology degree (Au.D.) from an accredited institution of higher education.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 1950
By Rudder

SENATE BILL 2065
By Watson
SB2065
008719
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63,
Chapter 17, relative to professions of the healing
arts.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-17-110(c)(1), is amended by
deleting the subdivision and substituting:
(1)
(A) A person who has completed the educational requirements for
licensure as a speech language pathologist and has received at least a master's
degree from an approved educational institution may apply for and receive from
the board a provisional license to practice as a clinical fellow during the person's
period of supervised clinical experience.
(B) An American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) certificate of
clinical competence is not required for an applicant to be eligible for a provisional
license under this subsection (c), and the board shall not require by rule such
certificate as an eligibility requirement.
(C) The board may adopt rules to establish standards and procedures to
govern provisional licenses and the provisional license fee.
SECTION 2. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 63-17-111(g), is amended by
deleting the subsection and substituting:
(g) A person who has made application to the board for licensure in this state as
a speech language pathologist or audiologist may perform activities and services of a

- 2 - 008719

speech language pathology or audiological nature without a valid license while
disposition of the person's application is pending, if the person:
(1)
(A) Has passed the examination required for licensure under §
63-17-110(b)(2); or
(B) Is licensed in another state; and
(2)
(A) Is an applicant for licensure as a speech language
pathologist, the person holds an American Speech and Hearing
Association (ASHA) certificate of clinical competence, or an equivalent
certification acceptable to the board; or
(B) Is an applicant for licensure as an audiologist, the person
holds a doctor of audiology degree (Au.D.) from an accredited institution
of higher education.
SECTION 3. This act takes effect July 1, 2026, the public welfare requiring it.