Florida Licensing Requirements for Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists

The information below is collected from state licensure boards or regulatory agencies responsible for regulating the professions of speech-language pathology and/or audiology. The information is reviewed on an annual basis. Please be advised that laws, regulations and policies may change at any time, so always check with your state for the most up-to-date information.

Initial Licensure

Audiologists

Doctoral degree with a major emphasis in audiology
Completed a supervised clinical practicum (300 clock hours)
Completed 11-month professional employment experience or a one year clinical work experience
Passage of the Educational Testing Services Praxis Series Examination
Completed a course on HIV and acquired immune deficiency syndrome

Note: Audiologists may dispense hearing aids under an audiology license.

Speech-Language Pathologists

Master's or doctoral degree with a major emphasis in speech-language pathology
Completed a supervised clinical practicum (300 clock hours)
Completed nine months of full-time professional experience or its part-time equivalent
Passage of the Educational Testing Service Praxis Series Examination
Completed a course on HIV and acquired immune deficiency syndrome

Exemptions

Students actively engaged in a training program and under direct supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist
Persons practicing a licensed profession or acting within the scope of their profession
Persons certified in the areas of speech-language impairment or hearing impairment in the state under chapter 1012, or any person under the direct supervision of such a certified person, or of a licensee under this chapter when the person under such supervision is performing hearing screenings in a school setting for pre-kindergarten through grade 12
Laryngectomized individuals rendering guidance and instruction to other larynegectomized individuals, who are under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist or a licensed physician qualified to perform this surgical procedure
Non-licensed individuals working in a hospital setting who provide newborn infant hearing screenings, as long as training, clinical interpretation of the screenings, and the protocol for follow-up are provided by a licensed audiologist
Persons licensed by another state as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist who provide services for no more than five calendar days per month or 15 calendar days per year under the direct supervision of a Florida-licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist

Reciprocity

The Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology shall certify as qualified for license by endorsement as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist to any individual who either:

Holds a valid license or certificate in another state or territory of the United States, if the licensure criteria were substantially equivalent to or more stringent than the licensure criteria that existed in this state at the time the license was issued; or
Currently holds a CCC or board certification in audiology from the American Board of Audiology (ABA)

Interim Practice

Applicants for a license in speech-language pathology that have not completed 9 months of supervised professional employment and passed the exam must obtain a provisional license.
Applicants for an audiology license with a master's degree earned before 2008 that have not completed 11 months of supervised clinical experience and passage of the exam must obtain a provisional license.
Effective January 1, 2008, doctoral degree audiologists who have not passed the licensure exam must obtain a provisional license.
Provisional licenses are valid for 21 months or until a license is issued.

Continuing Education

A licensee must obtain 30 continuing education hours biennially, 50 hours biennially are required for dual licensees. Two hours shall relate to the prevention of medical errors.

Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact

Florida is a member state of the Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact. Information on the current status of the ASLP-IC can be found on the ASLP-IC website.