DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA MUNICIPAL REGULATIONS for SPEECH

DISTRICT OF

COLUMBIA

MUNICIPAL

REGULATIONS

for

SPEECH-

LANGUAGE

PATHOLOGY

Title 17 District of Columbia Municipal Regulations

Updated May 3, 2019 1

CHAPTER 79 SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY

Secs.

7900 General Provisions

7901 Term of License

7902 Educational Requirements

7903 Clinical Fellowship Requirements

7904 Applicants Educated in Foreign Countries

7905 National Examination

7906 Continuing Education Requirements

7907 Continuing Education Programs and Activities

7908 Continuing Education Credits

7909 [RESERVED]

7910 Licensure by Endorsement

7911 Waiver of Clinical Fellowship Requirements

7912 Practice of Speech-Language Pathology by Graduate Students

7913 Standards of Conduct

7999 Definitions

7900 GENERAL PROVISIONS

7900.1 This chapter shall apply to applicants for and holders of a license to practice

speech-language pathology.

7900.2 Chapters 40 (Health Occupations: General Rules), 41 (Health Occupations:

Administrative Procedures), 84 (Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Fellows),

and 102 (Speech-Language Pathology Assistants) of this title shall supplement

this chapter.

7901 TERM OF LICENSE

7901.1 Subject to § 7901.2, a license issued pursuant to this chapter shall expire at 12:00

midnight of December 31

of each even-numbered year.

7901.2 If the Director changes the renewal system pursuant to § 4006.3 of chapter 40 of

this title, a license issued pursuant to this chapter shall expire at 12:00 midnight

on the last day of the month of the birth of the holder of the license, or other date

established by the Director.

7902 EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

7902.1 To qualify for a license under this chapter, an applicant shall have graduated with

a Master’s or Doctoral Degree in speech-language pathology from a recognized

educational institution whose speech-language pathology program is accredited

by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language

Pathology or an equivalent accrediting body as determined by the Board.

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7903 CLINICAL FELLOWSHIP REQUIREMENTS

7903.1 To qualify for a license under this chapter, an applicant shall have completed a

clinical fellowship meeting the requirements of chapter 84 of this title.

7903.2 The Board may accept completion of the clinical fellowship required for the

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Certificate of Clinical

Competence as meeting the requirements for clinical fellowship in this chapter

under § 7903.1.

7904 APPLICANTS EDUCATED IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

7904.1 The Board may grant a license to practice speech-language pathology to an

applicant who completed an educational program in a college or university in a

foreign country which was not accredited in accordance with § 7902 if the

applicant meets the following requirements:

(a) Meets all requirements of this chapter except for § 7902.1; and

(b) Demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Board that the applicant’s education

and training are substantially equivalent to the requirements of this chapter

and the Act that the applicant is qualified to practice speech-language

pathology by submitting documentation required by § 7904.2 of this section.

7904.2 An applicant under this section shall, in lieu of meeting the requirements of §

7902.1, submit one of the following:

(a) Proof satisfactory to the Board that the applicant has received a Master’s

degree or higher from a foreign institution which was accredited, at the time

the degree was conferred, by an accrediting body recognized by the national

government of the country in which the institution is located; or

(b) A certification from a private education evaluation service approved by the

Board that the applicant’s foreign education is substantially equivalent to the

education provided in an accredited program.

7904.3 The Board may interview an applicant under this section to determine whether the

applicant’s education or training meets the requirements of the Act and this

chapter.

7904.4 If a document required by this chapter is in a language other than English, an

applicant shall arrange for its translation into English by a translation service

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acceptable to the Board and shall submit a translation signed by the translator

attesting to its accuracy.

7905 NATIONAL EXAMINATION

7905.1 To qualify for a license by examination, an applicant shall submit proof of

having obtained a score of 600 on the National Examination in Speech-

Language Pathology (PRAXIS II: Subject Assessment in Speech- Language

Pathology) within the five (5) years before applying for licensure.

7905.2 If an applicant for licensure took the National Examination in Speech-

Language Pathology more than 5 years ago, the applicant shall submit the

following:

(a) Proof that the applicant has practiced speech-language pathology for a

total of three (3) years of the five (5) years before applying for licensure,

and

(b) Proof of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association certification or

that the applicant obtained a score of 600 on the National Examination in

Speech-Language Pathology.

7906 CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

7906.1 This section shall apply to applicants for a renewal, reinstatement, or reactivation

of a license and shall not apply to applicants for an initial license or applicants

seeking the renewal of a license for the first time after the initial grant of the

license.

7906.2 To qualify for the renewal of a license, an applicant shall have completed, during

the two (2)-year period preceding the date the license expires, twenty (20) hours

of approved continuing education, which shall include the following:

(a) One (1) hour of ethics;

(b) Two (2) hours of LGBTQ continuing education; and

the subjects determined by the Director as public health priorities of the

District, which shall be duly published every five (5) years or as deemed

appropriate.

7906.3 Notwithstanding the requirement of §§ 7906.2 and 7808.2 of chapter 78 of this

title, an applicant for dual licensure renewal may qualify for the renewal of both

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licenses by completing thirty (30) hours of approved continuing education during

the two (2) year-period preceding the date the licenses expire, which shall

include:

(a) One (1) hour of ethics;

(b) Two (2) hours of LGBTQ continuing education;

disciplines; and

(d) Ten percent (10%) of the total required continuing education shall be in

the subjects determined by the Director as public health priorities of the

District, which shall be duly published every five (5) years or as deemed

appropriate.

7906.4 To qualify for the reinstatement of a license, an applicant shall have completed

twenty (20) hours of continuing education described in § 7906.2 during the two

(2) years preceding the submission of the reinstatement application.

7906.5 To qualify for the reactivation of a license in accordance with D.C. Official Code

§ 3-1205.11(c), the following applicants shall be deemed to meet the requirement

of D.C. Official Code § 3-1205.11(c)(2):

(a) An applicant who has been actively and lawfully practicing speech-

language pathology in another jurisdiction or territory of the United States;

(b) An applicant who has not been actively and lawfully practicing speech-

language pathology in another jurisdiction or territory of the United States,

seeks the reactivation of the license five (5) years or less after the last

expiration of the license, and has completed twenty (20) hours of

continuing education described in § 7906.2 during the two (2) years

preceding the submission of the reactivation application; or

language pathology in another jurisdiction or territory of the United States

and seeks the reactivation of the license more than five (5) years after the

last expiration of the license who can demonstrate his or her current

competency to the Board’s satisfaction.

7906.6 The Board may conduct a random audit of at least ten percent (10%) of its active

licensees to determine continuing education compliance. Any licensee selected

for the audit shall provide proof of continuing education compliance to the Board

within thirty (30) days of receiving notification of the audit.

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7907 CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES

7907.1 A continuing education hour shall be valid and granted credit only if it is part of a

program or activity approved by the Board as a program or activity that

contributes to the growth of professional competence in the practice of audiology

or speech-language pathology, is up to date in its subject matter, and is developed

and taught or conducted by qualified individual(s).

7907.2 Subject to § 7907.1, the Board may grant continuing education credit for

programs or activities offered or sponsored by the following organizations:

(a) The Speech-Language Hearing Association of the District of Columbia or

similar speech-language hearing association of another state;

(b) The American Academy of Audiology;

its approved continuing education providers;

(d) An accredited provider of The Accreditation Council on

Continuing Medical Education of the American Medical

Association offering Category I continuing medical education;

(e) The International Association of Continuing Education and Training

(IACET) and its authorized providers;

(f) A health care organization accredited by the Joint Commission on

Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO); or

(g) The International Hearing Society.

7907.3 Subject to § 7907.1, the Board may grant continuing education credit for the

following activities:

(a) Attendance and completion of:

(1) A course given at an accredited college or university;

(2) A seminar or workshop;

(3) An educational program given at a conference; or

(4) An in-service training;

(b) Serving as a presenter or speaker at a conference, seminar, workshop, or

in- service training; or

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a professional journal or authoring or co-authoring a book, a chapter in a

book or a book review related to audiology or speech-language pathology.

7907.4 The Board shall not grant credit for work done in the course of a requestor’s

normal occupation or incident to the performance of his or her regular duties, such

as teaching courses, research, or course preparation in the case of a teacher or

professor.

7907.5 A person seeking continuing education credits shall have the burden of verifying

whether a program is approved by the Board.

7907.6 Satisfactory proof of completion of a seminar, a workshop, or an educational

program given at a conference or an in-service training shall include:

(a) The name and address of the provider of the program;

(b) The name of the program, its location, a description of the subject matter

covered, and the names of the instructors;

(d) The hours of credit claimed; and

(e) Verification by the course provider or accreditor of completion, by

signature, stamp, or official transcript in the case of accreditors.

7908 CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS

7908.1 For the purposes of this chapter, one (1) continuing education hour shall mean

sixty (60) minutes of learning time.

7908.2 The Board may grant ten (10) continuing education hours for completion of each

credit hour of an academic course offered at an accredited college or university

provided that the continuing education credit may only be granted for courses

completed during the licensure cycle for which credit is claimed.

7908.3 The Board may grant two (2) continuing education hours for the audit of a three

(3)-credit-hour academic course offered at an accredited college or university

provided that the continuing education credit may only be granted for courses

audited during the licensure cycle for which credit is claimed.

7908.4 A requestor may receive a maximum of six (6) continuing education hours for

attendance and completion of in-service training programs.

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7908.5 The Board may grant credit for serving as a presenter or speaker at a conference,

seminar, workshop, or in- service training, subject to the following restrictions:

(a) Hours granted pursuant to this section shall not exceed six (6) hours per

licensure cycle;

(b) If a requestor has previously received credit in connection with a

particular presentation, the Board shall not grant credit for a subsequent

presentation unless it involves either a different subject or substantial

additional research concerning the same subject;

credit is claimed; and

(d) The maximum amount of credit which may be granted for preparation

time is twice the amount of the associated presentation time or twice the

amount of contact hours awarded to the participants.

7908.6 The Board may grant credit for publication of an article related to audiology or

speech-language pathology in a professional journal or publication of a book, a

chapter in a book or a book review related to audiology or speech-language

pathology, subject to the following restrictions as relevant:

(a) The Board may grant up to eight (8) continuing education hours per

licensure cycle to the author or sole editor of a published book if the book

was published or accepted for publication during the period for which

credit is claimed;

(b) The Board may grant four (4) continuing education hours per licensure

cycle to the sole author or a co-author of a peer-reviewed, published

original paper; or

cycle to the sole author of a published book review.

7909 [RESERVED]

7910 LICENSURE BY ENDORSEMENT

7910.1 The Board may issue a license by endorsement to a speech-language

pathologist who has a valid, unrestricted license in good standing from

another jurisdiction of the United States with standards which are, as

determined by the Board, substantially equivalent to the District of Columbia

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laws and regulations.

7910.2 To apply for licensure by endorsement, an applicant shall:

(a) Submit a completed application to the Board on the required forms and

include:

i) The applicant’s social security number, or, if the applicant does not

have a social security number, a sworn affidavit, under penalty of

perjury, that the applicant does not have a social security number;

and

ii) Two (2) recent passport-type photos.

(b) Submit a copy of his or her current license with the application;

that the license is current and in good standing. The licensure verification

form must be sent directly to the Board by the verifying jurisdiction;

(d) Meet any other requirements set by the Board; and

(e)

Pay all required fees.

7911 WAIVER OF CLINICAL FELLOWSHIP REQUIREMENTS

7911.1 The Board may waive the clinical fellowship requirements for applicants who:

(1) Provide proof of employment in the practice of speech language

pathology for at least ten (10) of the last fifteen (15) years immediately

preceding the effective date of these regulations;

(2) Meet all other requirements of these regulations; and

(3) Apply by December 31, 2009.

7912 PRACTICE OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY BY

GRADUATE STUDENTS

7912.1 A graduate student whose practice fulfills education requirements under §841 of

the Act, D.C. Official Code § 3-1208.41, may practice speech-language pathology

in accordance with this section 7912 only under the direct supervision of a

speech-language pathologist licensed in the District of Columbia.

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7912.2 A graduate student under supervision shall identify himself or herself as

such at all times when practicing speech-language pathology.

7912.3 Both the supervisor and the graduate student shall sign reports with their

full name and credentials.

7912.4 A student may sign only with the highest degree earned.

7912.5 The title or designation of “graduate student” shall be placed after the

student’s name in the report statement.

7912.6 If electronic records only accept one (1) signature, the supervisor shall sign.

7912.7 A supervisor shall not supervise more than two (2) full-time students per

day in off-site placements from a university.

79l2.8 A supervisor shall be personally responsible for each patient the student

evaluates and treats during the period of supervision and is subject to

disciplinary action for any violation of the Act or this chapter by the student.

7912.9 An individual serving as a supervisor for a graduate student in the District:

a) Shall hold a valid District of Columbia license in speech language

pathology; and

b) May not have been disciplined by a board within the previous five (5)

years.

7912.10 Practice of speech-language pathology by graduate students in the District of

Columbia shall comply with the American Speech-Language-Hearing

Association’s current Standards for Accreditation of Graduate Programs in

Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.

7913 STANDARDS OF CONDUCT

7913.1 A licensee, graduate student, or clinical fellow shall adhere to the standards set

forth in the most current publication of the “Code of Ethics” as published by the

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, as it may be republished from

time to time.

7914 SUPERVISION OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY CLINICAL

FELLOWS

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7914.1 A speech-language pathologist may qualify to supervise a speech-language

pathology clinical fellow if he or she meets the requirement of § 8404.2 of this

title.

7914.2 A speech-language pathologist supervising a clinical fellow shall comply with the

requirements set forth in chapter 84 of this title.

7915 SUPERVISION OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANTS

7915.1 A speech-language pathologist supervising a speech-language pathology assistant

shall retain full professional and ethical responsibility for the professional conduct

and performance of the speech-language pathology assistant and shall delegate

duties only as consistent with the training, experience, and ability of the speech-

language pathology assistant.

7915.2 A speech-language pathologist supervising a speech-language pathology assistant

shall comply with the requirements set forth in chapter 102 of this title.

7999 DEFINITIONS

7999.1 As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed:

Approved continuing education – A continuing education program or activity that meets the

requirements of § 7907.

Board – the Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, established by section

841 of the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Amendment Act of 2006, effective

March 6, 2007 (D.C. Law 16-219; D.C. Official Code § 3-1208.41 (2016 Repl.)).

Clinical fellow – a person who is completing the clinical fellowship requirements set forth under

§ 7903 and chapter 84 of this title.

Clinical fellowship- the experience required by section 7903 and regulated under chapter 84 of

this title.

Direct supervision – supervision in which the supervisor is immediately available on the

premises to the supervisee and within vocal communication of the supervisee either directly or

by a communication device.

Director - the Director of the Department of Health, or the Director’s designee.

Dual licensure renewal – renewal of both an audiology and a speech-language pathology

license in the District of Columbia, within the same renewal period.

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General supervision – supervision in which the supervisor is available to the person supervised,

either in person or by a communication device.

Good cause – serious illness of the applicant, the death or serious illness of a member of the

applicant’s immediate family, or other cause sufficient to the Board.

Graduate student – a person enrolled in a Master’s or Doctoral degree program in speech-

language pathology.

LGBTQ continuing education – continuing education on cultural competency or specialized

clinical training focusing on patients or clients who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual,

transgender, gender nonconforming, queer, or question their sexual orientation or gender

identity and expression (“LGBTQ”) meeting the requirements of section 510(b)(5) of the Act

(D.C. Official Code § 3-1205.10 (b)(5)(2016 Repl.)).

Licensure cycle – a two-year period between the January 1 of each odd-numbered year and

December 31 of each even-numbered year during which a license issued pursuant to this chapter

is valid in accordance with § 7901.1.

Practice of speech-language pathology – means the application of principles, methods, or

procedures related to the development and disorders of human communication, including any

condition, whether of organic or non-organic origin, that impedes the normal process of human

communication including disorders and related disorders of speech, articulation, fluency, voice,

oral, or written language; auditory comprehension and processing; oral, pharyngeal or

laryngeal sensorimotor competencies; swallowing; auditory or visual processing; auditory or

visual memory or cognition; communication; and assisted augmentative communication

treatment and devices. The term “practice of speech language pathology” also includes the

planning, directing, supervising, and conducting of a habilitative and rehabilitative counseling

program for individuals or groups of individuals who have, or are suspected of having,

disorders of communication, and any service in speech-language pathology including

prevention, identification, evaluation, consultation, habilitation or rehabilitation, instruction or

research. The practice of speech-language pathology may include pure-tone air conduction

hearing screening, screening of tympanometry, and acoustic reflex screening, limited to a pass-

or- fail determination for the identification of individuals with other disorders of

communication and may also include aural habilitation or rehabilitation, which means the

provision of services and procedures for facilitating adequate auditory, speech, and language

skills in individuals with hearing impairment. The practice of speech-language pathology does

not include the practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine, or the performance of a task in

the normal practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine by a person to whom the task is

delegated by a licensed physician.

Reinstatement – The reinstatement of a license in accordance with D.C. Official Code § 3-

1205.12.

Requestor – a person seeking continuing education credits.

7999.2 The definitions in § 4099 of chapter 40 of this title are incorporated by reference

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into and are applicable to this chapter.