Rule 4753-3-04 | Educational requirements for licensure.
(A) To be eligible for licensure, an applicant must demonstrate that the following course work requirements are met:
(1) He/she obtained a broad general education, which may include study from among the areas of human psychology, sociology, psychological and physical development, the physical sciences, especially those that pertain to acoustic and biological phenomena, and human anatomy and physiology, including neuroanatomy and neurophysiology.
(2) For licensure as an audiologist applicants shall have obtained at least a doctor of audiology degree before or after January 1, 2006 or the equivalent from an audiology program accredited by an organization recognized by the "United States Department of Education" or at least a masters degree in audiology or equivalent if all requirements under division (F) of section 4753.06 of the Revised Code were met prior to January 1, 2006.
(a) The educational requirements shall be deemed met when the applicant is certified by the "American Speech-Language-Hearing Association" and/or the "American Board of Audiology."
(b) Academic credit for a doctor of audiology or equivalent shall include course work accumulated in the completion of a well integrated course of study dealing with the normal aspects of human hearing, balance, and related development and clinical evaluation, audiologic diagnosis and treatment of disorders of human hearing, balance, and related development.
(c) Applicants applying based on equivalency shall:
(i) Hold a post-baccalaureate doctoral degree with a major emphasis in audiology consisting of a minimum of three years of didactic coursework consisting of a total of one hundred twenty semester hours or equivalent quarter hours in the normal aspects of human hearing and balance, related development, clinical evaluation, audiologic diagnosis and treatment of disorders of human hearing, balance and related development.
(ii) Have completed a minimum of three hundred fifty clock hours of clinical experience prior to the fourth year of training supervised by an audiologist meeting the requirements of clinical supervisor stated in paragraph (D)(1) of rule 4753-3-07 of the Administrative Code.
(iii) Have successfully completed a minimum of two thousand clock hours of supervised clinical extern experience sufficient in depth and breadth to achieve the knowledge and skills outcome in the fourth year of academic training supervised by preceptor meeting the requirements stated in paragraph (D)(1) of rule 4753-3-07 of the Administrative Code.
(iv) The course of study shall include content on ethical practice standards.
(v) Pass examination(s) approved by the board.
(d) Applicants applying based on at least a master's degree in audiology obtained prior to January 1, 2006 shall meet the requirements of paragraph (A)(3) of rule 4753-3-04 and rules 4753-3-05, 4753-3-06 and 4753-3-07 of the Administrative Code as stated on October 1, 2005.
(3) He/she obtained at least a master's degree in the area in which licensure is sought or the equivalent as determined by the board from a college or university accredited by one of the following regional or national accrediting organizations or their successor organizations:
(a) "Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools- Commission on Higher Education"
(b) "New England Association of Schools and Colleges"
(c) "North Central Association of Colleges and Schools"
(d) "Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges"
(e) "Southern Association of Colleges and Schools"
(f) "Western Association of Schools and Colleges - Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges"
The best source for determining whether the college or university is accredited by one of the above organizations or successors is the college or university itself.
(4) The academic credit upon which the master's degree or higher was awarded must include course work accumulated in the completion of a well-integrated course of study, as follows:
(a) A total of seventy-five semester hours or one hundred twelve and one-half quarter hours were accumulated.
(b) The course work consisted of at least the minimum number of hours in all areas listed below:
(i) Twenty-seven semester hours in basic science course work. Of the twenty-seven semester hours, six semester hours must be in biological/physical sciences and mathematics and six semester hours must be in behavioral or social sciences;
(ii) Fifteen semester hours in basic human communication processes, including all of the following: the anatomic and physiologic bases, the physical and psychophysical bases, and the linguistic and psycholinguistic aspects;
(iii) Thirty-six semester hours in professional course work. Of the thirty-six semester hours, thirty of the semester hours must be in courses for which graduate credit was received and comply with the requirements below that are applicable to the area in which licensure is sought:
(a) For speech-language pathology: thirty semester hours shall be in speech-language pathology, with at least six semester hours in language disorders; six semester hours shall be in audiology, with three semester hours in hearing disorders and hearing evaluation and three semester hours in habilitative/rehabilitative procedures.
(b) For audiology: thirty semester hours shall be in audiology, with at least six semester hours in hearing disorders and hearing evaluation and at least six semester hours in habilitative/rehabilitative procedures; six semester hours shall be in speech-language pathology, not associated with hearing impairment, with three semester hours in speech disorders and three semester hours in language disorders.
(c) For both speech-language pathology and audiology, course of study shall include content on ethical practice standards.
(B) Verification of education shall be the official transcript submitted to the board by the university or college.
(1) No credit may be allowed for courses listed on the application unless satisfactory completion of the course is verified by an official transcript.
(2) Satisfactory completion is defined as the applicant's having received academic credit in semester hours, quarter hours, or other unit or credit with a passing grade as defined by the college or university.
(3) Where the course work is reported in quarter hours, the following formula will be used: one semester hour equals one and one half quarter hours.
(4) The applicant is solely responsible for authorizing the college or university to send an official transcript to the board.
(5) The board may require additional verification of course work content.
(C) Course work listed on a college or university transcript shall be evaluated under the following standards:
(1) A specific course may be split and credited to no more than two categories. If a course is split, a description of the course taken from the university catalog must be submitted. At least one semester hour of the course must address the area in which partial credit is requested.
(2) Up to six semester hours for a thesis or dissertation may be accepted in the basic human communications processes or the professional course work categories.
(a) An abstract of the thesis/dissertation content must be submitted with the application.
(b) Academic credit that is associated with thesis or dissertation and for which graduate credit was received may apply in the professional area, but may not be counted as meeting any of the minimum requirements.
(c) "Minimum requirements" means six semester credit hours in speech disorders, six semester credit hours in language disorders, three semester credit hours in hearing disorders and hearing evaluations, three semester credit hours in habilitative/rehabilitative procedures, and twenty-one graduate semester credit hours in the area of licensure.
(d) Credit earned for research methodology courses, such as research methods, introduction to graduate study, etc., may be counted toward the thirty semester credit hours of course work at the graduate level but may not be used toward any of the minimum requirements.
(D) Course work requirements for licensure shall be deemed to be met when the applicant was awarded a master's degree or higher in the area in which licensure is sought from a college or university program accredited by a regional or national specialized accrediting organization in speech-language pathology and/or audiology recognized by the "United States Department of Education" and the "Council for Higher Education Accreditation," One Dupont Circle Northwest, Suite 510 Washington, D.C. 20036-1135, or its predecessors or successors, at the time the master's degree was awarded.
(E) Course work requirements for licensure shall be deemed to be met when the applicant holds a current certificate in audiology in good standing received from the "American Board of Audiology" when both of the following criteria are met:
(1) Verification of certification is received from the "American Board of Audiology."
(2) The student clinical and professional experience completed for certification, if performed in Ohio, were done in conformance with Ohio law and rules.
(F) Pursuant to division (C) of section 4753.08 of the Revised Code, educational requirements for licensure shall be waived for an applicant who presents proof of a current certificate of clinical competence in the area in which licensure is sought that is in good standing and received from the "American Speech-Language-Hearing Association" when both of the following criteria are met:
(1) Verification of certification is received from the "American Speech-Language-Hearing Association."
(2) The student clinical and professional experience completed for certification, if performed in Ohio, were done in conformance with Ohio law and rules.
(G) In order to expedite the licensure of graduates prior to the preparation of final transcripts, the board shall consider on an individual basis any application for which the university provides a letter from the registrar, graduate officer or speech-language pathology and/or audiology department chairperson, under signature and official letterhead, containing all of the following:
(1) A statement that the final transcript is not available;
(2) A statement that the applicant has met all requirements for a master's degree or higher;
(3) A statement that the applicant has met all requirements for clinical practica;
(4) A statement of the area in which the master's degree or higher was earned;
(5) A statement that the university's program awarding the degree in speech-language pathology or audiology is fully accredited and adheres to the guidelines set forth by the American speech-language hearing association;
(6) The applicant is solely responsible for authorizing the college or university to send an official transcript to the board within ninety days of licensure or when it is available.
(H) If the person seeks licensure as an audiologist under division (F)(1)(b) of section 4753.06 of the Revised Code, the person must meet the requirements of division (B) of section 4753.06 of the Revised Code regarding a masters degree in audiology as that division existed on December 31, 2005. The requirements for licensure under section 4753.06 of the Revised Code that existed on December 31, 2005, are as follows:
(1) He has obtained a broad general education to serve as a background for his specialized academic training and preparatory professional experience. Such background may include study from among the areas of human psychology, sociology, psychological and physical development, the physical sciences, especially those that pertain to acoustic and biological phenomena, and human anatomy and physiology, including neuroanatomy and neurophysiology.
(2) He submits to the board an official transcript demonstrating that he has at least a masters degree in the area in which licensure is sought or the equivalent as determined by the board. His academic credit must include course work accumulated in the completion of a well-integrated course of study approved by the board and delineated by rule dealing with the normal aspects of human communication, development and disorders thereof, and clinical techniques for the evaluation and the improvement or eradication of such disorders. The course work must have been completed at colleges or universities accredited by regional or national accrediting organizations recognized by the board.
(3) He submits to the board evidence of the completion of appropriate, supervised clinical experience in the professional area, speech-language pathology or audiology, for which licensure is requested, dealing with a variety of communication disorders. The appropriateness of the experience shall be determined under rules of the board. This experience shall have been obtained in an accredited college or university, in a cooperating program of an accredited college or university, or in another program approved by the board.
(4) He presents to the board written evidence that he has obtained professional experience. The professional experience shall be appropriately supervised as determined by board rule. The amount of professional experience shall be determined by board rule and shall be bona fide clinical work that has been accomplished in the major professional area, speech-language pathology or audiology, in which licensure is sought. This experience shall not begin until the requirements of paragraphs (B) and (C) of this rule have been completed unless approved by the board. Before beginning the supervised professional experience pursuant to this rule, any applicant for licensure to practice speech-language pathology or audiology shall meet the requirements for a conditional license pursuant to section 4753.071 of the Revised Code.
(5) He submits to the board evidence that he has passed the examination for licensure to practice speech-language pathology or audiology pursuant to division (B) of section 4753.05 of the Revised Code.
(I) A person applying for licensure as an audiologist under division (F)(1)(b) of section 4753.06 of the Revised Code shall complete the application prescribed by the board. Applications shall be:
(1) Typewritten or printed in ink or submitted electronically via the Ohio e-license system;
(2) Signed by the applicant or electronically signed if applying electronically via the Ohio e-license system;
(3) Accompanied by the fee prescribed by rule 4753-5-01 of the Administrative Code;
(4) Accompanied by such evidence, statements, or documents as specified on the form; and
(5) Contain proof that the applicant completed the requisite amount of continuing education as follows:
(a) Applicants currently practicing as an audiologist in good standing with another state shall submit proof of completing a minimum of twenty contact hours of continuing education in the previous two years preceding the date licensure is sought with the board.
(b) Applicants who have not been engaged in the practice of audiology with another state for less than twelve months shall submit proof of completing a minimum of ten contact hours of continuing education in the previous year preceding the date licensure is sought with the board.
(c) Applicants who have not been engaged in the practice of audiology with another state for twelve to twenty-four months shall submit proof of completing a minimum of twenty contact hours of continuing education in the previous two years preceding the date licensure is sought with the board.
(d) Applicants who have not been engaged in the practice of audiology with another state for twenty-five months to forty-eight months shall submit proof of completing a minimum of forty contact hours of continuing education in the previous four years preceding the date licensure is sought with the board.
(e) Applicants who have not been engaged in the practice of audiology with another state for forty-nine months to sixty months shall submit proof of completing a minimum of fifty contact hours of continuing education in the previous five years preceding the date licensure is sought with the board.
(f) Applicants who have not engaged in the practice of audiology for more than five years prior to the date the individual applies to the board for licensure may be subject to additional requirements outlined by the board and could include assigned hours of continuing education on specific topics. The board shall require additional continuing education and other activities, which may include, but are not limited to:
(i) Competency based performance appraisals.
(ii) Mentorship.
(iii) Additional continuing education, which may include topics covering:
(a) Anatomy and physiology of the speech and hearing mechanisms.
(b) Hearing disorders.
(c) Diagnostics.
(d) Electrophysiology including auditory and vestibular measures.
(e) Specialty assessment such as APD and AR.
(f) Pediatrics.
(g) Geriatrics.
(h) Treatment including such topics as hearing aid theory, hearing aid assessment, hearing aid fitting, hearing aid technologies, product training, cochlear implants, vestibular rehab, aural rehabilitation and counseling.
(i) Ethics, HIPAA and record keeping.
(iv) Extended course work.
(v) Professional development plan.
Last updated December 7, 2021 at 8:14 AM
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