Louisiana 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

Speech-language pathology assistants must be state licensed and have ancillary certification from the Department of Education, which authorizes service as a speech pathology assistant only, not as a regular classroom teacher.

Requirements are:

Bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology from a regionally accredited institution
At least 100 clock hours of supervised clinical practicum
Valid for three years and renewable by request of the Louisiana employing authority

Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

In a public health emergency declared by the governor of Louisiana, the requirement for a Louisiana license as a speech-language pathology assistant may be waived by the licensing board to those out-of-state speech language pathology assistants, whose licenses, certifications or registrations are current and unrestricted in another U.S. jurisdiction for a period of time not to exceed the duration and scope that is specified in regulations.

Speech Pathologist Assistants

In order to be licensed as a speech-language pathology assistant, one must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, good moral character, and completed a 225-hour supervised clinical practicum the first 100 of which shall have been obtained through a regionally accredited educational institution or its cooperating programsOf the 100 hours obtained through a regionally accredited educational institution, 75 must be through direct patient/client contact. No simulation experiences will be accepted. The remaining 25 hours may be obtained through observation of assessment and therapy.

The speech-language pathologist (SLP) supervising a speech pathologist assistant must provide a minimum of 1 clock hour per week of on-site, in-view supervision and a minimum of 1 clock hour per week of alternative supervision.
The supervising SLP must have a minimum of 1 year of full-time professional speech-language pathology experience following the postgraduate professional/employment experience.
The SLP supervising a full time speech-language pathology assistant must provide a minimum of 1 clock hour of direct supervision in the primary work setting per week and a minimum of 1 clock hour of indirect supervision per week.
When the supervising SLP is unavailable for supervision for more than one week, arrangements must be made for another qualified supervisor or the speech-language pathology assistant shall be transferred to other duties.
The licensed SLP may not supervise more than three assistants or provisional assistants.
Speech pathologist assistants must complete at least 10 hours of continuing education per year.

Provisional Speech-Language Pathology Assistant

The Board may grant a provisional speech-language pathology assistant license to those meeting specified requirements but who haven’t completed their supervised on-the-job training. This person must have completed a minimum of 100 of 225 supervised clinical practicum hours and is working to complete the remaining hours on-the-job and/or through a regionally accredited educational institution or its cooperating programs.

Provisional assistants may not engage in the delivery of services via telehealth.
Provisional speech-language pathology assistants must undergo direct supervision as well as indirect supervision in every work setting in which the licensee is employed. A minimum of 3 clock hours of direct supervision must be completed in the primary work setting each week for each full time licensee.
A minimum of 2 clock hours of indirect supervision shall be completed each week for each full time licensee.
If the provisional speech-language pathology assistant is employed in more than one work setting, additional direct supervision must occur in the secondary work setting.

Speech-Language Pathology Aides

Speech-language pathology aides must be of good moral character, at least 18 years old, possess appropriate communication skills, and have a high school diploma or General Educational Development certificate.
Aides are exempted from licensure requirements but must be reported on the annual renewal form of the SLP.
Supervision for speech-language pathology aides must be periodic direct observation by a licensed SLP once per month during the initial year. Direct observation in subsequent years shall be established by the supervising SLP on an individual basis but shall be no less than once every three months.
It is recommended that aides be afforded continuing education opportunities.

Audiology

School Setting Requirements

No additional requirements.

Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

Audiology aides must be of good moral character, at least 18 years old, possess appropriate communication skills, and have a high school diploma or General Educational Development certificate.
Aides are exempted from licensure requirements but must be reported on the annual renewal form of the audiologist.
Supervision for audiology aides must be periodic direct observation by a licensed audiologist once per month during the initial year.
Direct observation in subsequent years shall be established by the supervising audiologist on an individual basis but shall be no less than once every three months.
It is recommended that aides be afforded continuing education opportunities.

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:

School Setting Requirements:

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

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