Florida 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

No additional requirements.

Speech-language assistants fall under the purview of the Florida Department of Health and requirements as such are the same whether employed in a school setting or health care setting.

Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

1. To be certified as a speech-language pathology assistant, a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university including completion of at least 24 semester hours as specified by the Board from a Council for Higher Education accredited institution is necessary.
2. A licensee who employs a speech-language pathology assistant shall provide on-the-job training and shall maintain responsibility for all services performed or omitted by such assistant. Following the completion of on-the-job training, the speech-language pathology assistant shall engage only in those services that are planned, designed and supervised by the supervising speech-language pathologist.
3. On-the-job training is via instruction, demonstration, continuous visual observation and record of each service, signed by both the licensee and the assistant.
4. The assistant shall be clearly identified as an assistant by means of a name tag or similar identification.
5. The supervising speech-language pathologist may not delegate to a speech-language assistant any tasks that call for a diagnostic interpretation or put the client at physical risk.
6. Assistants must be under the direct supervision of a licensee. Direct supervision requires the physical presence of the licensee for consultation and direction of the actions of the certified speech-language pathology assistant unless the assistant is acting under protocols established by the board.
7. Twenty CEs are required for the biennium certificate renewal of assistants; two of these hours must be in an approved course related to the prevention of medical errors.
8. Supervision by licensees may not exceed two full-time or three part-time assistants.

Audiology

School Settings Requirements

No additional requirements.

Audiology paraprofessionals fall under the purview of the Florida Department of Health and requirements as such are the same whether employed in a school setting or health care setting.

Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

1. Certified audiology assistants must have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
2. A licensee who employs an audiology assistant shall provide on-the-job training and shall maintain responsibility for all services performed or omitted by such assistant. Following the completion of on-the-job training, the audiology assistant shall engage only in those services that are planned, designed, and supervised by the supervising audiologist.
3. The assistant shall be clearly identified as an assistant by means of a name tag or similar identification.
4. The supervising audiologist may not delegate to a audiology assistant any tasks that call for a diagnostic interpretation or put the client at physical risk.
5. Assistants must be under the direct supervision of a licensee. Direct supervision requires the physical presence of the licensee for consultation and direction of the actions of the certified audiology assistant, unless the assistant is acting under protocols established by the board.   
6. Twenty CEs are required for the biennium certificate renewal of assistants; two of these hours must be in an approved course related to the prevention of medical errors.
7. Supervision by licensees may not exceed two full-time or three part-time assistants.

Resources

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

• Laws and Regulations for Audiology and Speech Language Pathology Assistants
• Florida Administrative Code

To see where your state stands on support personnel licensure trends, please view the trends charts which are updated annually:

• Support Personnel in School Settings [PDF]
• Support Personnel Excluding School Settings [PDF]

Questions regarding state advocacy issues? Call ASHA at 800-498-2071 and ask for the State Advocacy Team.