Georgia 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

Paraprofessionals

All Georgia paraprofessionals (in school settings) must hold a valid state certificate issued by the Professional Standards Commission (PSC) and must hold at least an associate's degree (in any subject); or
have completed two years of college coursework (60 semester hours); or
have passed a PSC-approved paraprofessional assessment. If eligibility is established through assessment, the applicant must also hold a high school diploma or General Educational Development (GED) equivalent.

Paraprofessional certificates are not issued with specific field designations.

Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

Speech-Language Pathology Aide

Speech-language pathology aides must register with the State Board of Examiners of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and provide evidence of a high school diploma, GED certificate, or college transcript.
The Georgia licensed supervisor must submit to the State Board of Examiners a description of a minimum of 40 hours of proposed instruction in the specific duties that the aide will perform; the supervisor must then submit to the Board verification that the training was completed satisfactorily within 30 working days of the applicant's employment.
Full time supervisors may supervise 2 persons, part-time equals only 1 aid per supervisor. The supervisor shall directly supervise the first 10 hours of direct client contact and 1 hour per week afterwards.
Registration as a speech-language pathology aide is not required of a public education communication aide while that person is an employee of an educational institution provided that no fees are charged for services either directly or through a third party.

Audiology

School Settings

Paraprofessionals

All Georgia paraprofessionals (in school settings) must hold a valid state certificate issued by the Professional Standards Commission (PSC) and must hold at least an associate's degree (in any subject); or
have completed two years of college coursework (60 semester hours); or
have passed a PSC-approved paraprofessional assessment. If eligibility is established through assessment, the applicant must also hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent.

Paraprofessional certificates are not issued with specific field designations.

Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

Audiology Assistants

Audiology assistants must register with the State Board of Examiners of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and provide evidence of two years of college education or an associate's degree from an accredited college, or completion of a technical school certification program in health care approved by the State Board of Examiners or completion of an assistant program approved by the Board.
The Georgia licensed supervisor must submit to the State Board of Examiners a description of a minimum of 40 hours of proposed instruction in the specific duties that the assistant will perform; the supervisor must then submit to the Board verification that the training was completed satisfactorily within 30 working days of the applicant's employment.
Full time supervisors may supervise 2 persons, part-time equals only 1 aid per supervisor. The supervisor shall directly supervise the first 10 hours of direct client contact and no less than 2 hours per week afterwards.
Audiology assistants must complete 10 hours of continuing education per biennium.

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: