Speech-language pathology and audiology assistants; supervision requirements

(a) Commencing July 1, 2014, speech-language pathology assistants and audiology assistants shall register with the board and shall: (1) Possess a minimum of an associate's degree from an institution or technical training program with a program of study designed to prepare the student to be a speech language pathology or audiology assistant; (2) Work only under the supervision of a licensee licensed in the professional field in which the assistant is working; and (3) Meet all requirements set by the board. (b) Licensees who supervise assistants shall: (1) Report to the board the name and field of practice of each assistant working under the licensee's supervision; (2) Complete initial supervision training prior to accepting an assistant for supervision and upgrade supervision training as required by the board; (3) Document preservice training and credentials of the assistant; (4) Provide direct supervision of the first three hours of treatment by the assistant for each patient or client, followed by a minimum of one direct observation for each subsequent two week period and document the direct observation; (5) Provide general supervision and be responsible for the extent, kind and quality of service provided by the assistant and for all services provided by the assistant; (6) Ensure that persons receiving services from an assistant receive prior written notification that services are to be provided, in whole or in part, by an assistant; and (7) Meet all other requirements set by the board.