(a) A speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) for speech-language pathologists shall meet the following requirements: (1) Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and have successfully completed no less than eighteen (18) hours of graduate credit in the areas of speech-language pathology to include the following: (i) Normal processes in speech, language, and hearing three (3) hours; (ii) Disorders of speech, language, and hearing nine (9) hours; (iii) Equipment, materials, procedures, and data collection used in assessment and/or management of speech, language, and hearing disorders six (6) hours; and (iv) Completion of twenty-five percent (25%) of those practicum hours required for professional personnel by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2) A speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) shall be registered at the department and be required to re-register every two (2) years. (b) Support personnel for audiologists (audiometric aide) or audiology assistants must meet the following requirements: (1) Hold a high school diploma; (2) Receive intensive on-the-job training in accordance with the American audiologists (audiometric aide) or audiology assistants must meet the following requirements: (1) Hold a high school diploma; (2) Receive intensive on-the-job training in accordance with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or American Academy of Audiology (AAA) guidelines for support personnel by the supervising licensed audiologist prior to providing services. Any subsequent supervising licensed audiologist may require retraining of an audiometric aide or audiology assistant under the supervising licensed audiologist’s supervision. (3) Audiometric aides or audiology assistants shall be registered at the department and be required to re-register every two (2) years. History of Section.P.L. 2023, ch. 221, § 1, effective June 21, 2023; P.L. 2023, ch. 222, § 1, effective June 21, 2023.
Rhode Island Legal Code