Title 5
Businesses and Professions

Chapter 48.2
Professional Licensing and Regulation of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists

R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-48.2-5

§ 5-48.2-5. Qualifications for licensure.

(a) Audiologists. In addition to the requirements set forth in § 5-48-7.2, persons seeking initial licensure as an audiologist providing in-person or telepractice services shall meet the following requirements:

(1) Submit an official transcript indicating possession of an earned doctorate degree in audiology from a regionally accredited educational institution or other national accrediting organization as may be approved by the board;

(2) Pass a national examination in audiology approved by the board;

(3) Present evidence of practicum experience that is equivalent to a minimum of twelve (12) months of full-time, supervised experience, that may be completed as part of the graduate degree, as delineated in this chapter;

(4) Applicants with a master’s degree holding licensure from another state must present verification of a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or other national accrediting association as may be approved by the board.

(b) Qualifications for audiologists licensed in alternate jurisdictions. Persons licensed as an audiologist in alternate jurisdictions on or before January 1, 2008, shall meet the requirements of Rhode Island that were in effect at the time of initial licensure in the alternate jurisdiction.

(c) Speech-language pathologists. In addition to the requirements set forth in § 5-48-7, an applicant seeking licensure to practice as a speech-language pathologist who provides in-person or telepractice services in Rhode Island must have attained a master’s degree or a doctoral degree or equivalent in speech-language pathology from an accredited educational institution accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or other national accrediting association as may be approved by the board. The degree shall consist of course work in accordance with the current minimum requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence issued by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or other national accrediting association as may be approved by the board.

(d) Qualifications for a provisional license for speech-language pathologists. To be eligible for provisional licensure by the department, the speech-language pathologist must submit an application with the required application fee and be in compliance with the requirements of this chapter and § 5-48-7.1.

History of Section.
P.L. 2023, ch. 221, § 1, effective June 21, 2023; P.L. 2023, ch. 222, § 1, effective June 21, 2023.