California Assistants (Support Personnel) Requirements

The following information includes audiology and speech-language pathology assistants and support personnel requirements in educational and other practice settings. The information is reviewed on an annual basis. Please be advised that regulations and policy may change at any time, so always check with your state for the most up-to-date information.

Speech-Language Pathology

School Setting Requirements

School support personnel must be registered with the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board.

Speech-language pathology assistants must work under the direct supervision of a qualified language, speech, and hearing specialist and their services must be specified in the IEP. No more than two assistants may be supervised by one qualified language, speech, and hearing specialist.

Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant

Speech-language pathology assistants must possess at least one of the following qualifications:

(a) an associate of arts or sciences degree from a speech-language pathology assistant program accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges and approved by the Board, or
(b) A bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology or communication disorders from an institution listed in the Accredited Institutions of Postsecondary Education handbook and completion of 100 hours field work or clinical experience from a Board-approved program, or
(c) Evidence of an equivalent speech-language pathology assistant associate of arts or science degree includes the competencies listed in ASHA's Guidelines for the Training, Credentialing, Use and Supervision of Speech-Language Pathology Assistants, Appendix C (1996, Spring).
In lieu of completion of the 100 hours of field work experience or clinical experience in a bachelor's degree program specified in (b) above, the Board may consider the completion of thirty-six weeks of full-time work experience performing the duties of a speech-language pathology assistant.

Minimum continuing professional development requirements for assistants shall not exceed 12 hours in a two-year period.
Effective July 1, 2024, a supervisor may supervise three full-time equivalent support personnel but not exceed six support personnel at any time. A "support personnel" designation includes speech-language pathology assistants and speech-language pathology aides.
Direct supervision of a speech-language pathology assistant includes tele-supervision.
A higher level of supervision is required during the first 90 days of work following a speech-language pathology assistant’s initial licensure.
The Board requires both a minimum level of experience and professional development training in supervision before supervising a speech-language pathology assistant.

Speech-Language Pathology Aide

A speech-language pathology aide is defined as a person who:

Assists or facilitates while the speech-language pathologist is evaluating the speech and/or language of individuals or is treating individuals with a speech-language and/or language disorder, and
Is registered by the supervisor with the Board and the registration is approved by the Board.
A speech-language pathology aide must complete a training program established by the supervisor.
The number of aides supervised shall not exceed three. However, the Board may authorize more than 3 supervisees if, in its discretion, the supervisor demonstrates that the public health and safety would not be jeopardized and that they can adequately supervise more than 3 aides.

Audiology

School Setting Requirements

Not regulated in school settings.

Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

Audiology Aide

An audiology aide means a person who:

Assists or facilitates while an audiologist is evaluating the hearing of individuals and/or is treating individuals with hearing disorders, and
Is registered by the supervisor with the Board and the registration is approved by the Board.
An audiology aide must complete a training program established by the supervisor.
The number of audiology aides supervised shall not exceed three. However, the Board may authorize more than 3 supervisees if, in its discretion, the supervisor demonstrates that the public health and safety would not be jeopardized and that they can adequately supervise more than three aides.

Industrial Audiology Aide

An audiology aide who conducts pure tone air conduction threshold audiograms for the purpose of industrial hearing testing in addition to other acts and services.

Resources

For further information on laws and regulations for speech-language pathology and audiology support personnel in educational and other practice settings, please visit this website: