North Dakota 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

1. The speech-language pathology paraprofessional (SLPP) must have either an associate’s or bachelor’s degree.
2. An SLPP may only provide speech-language pathology paraprofessional services under the direct control of a supervising speech-language pathologist (SLP).
3. The supervising SLP must hold a current restricted educator’s professional license for speech-language pathology at the master’s degree level issued by the North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board or a current speech-language pathology license issued by the North Dakota State Board of Examiners in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.
4. The supervising SLP must have a minimum of one year of fulltime experience providing speech- language services since receiving their license.
5. Supervising SLPs cannot supervise more than two SLPPs.
6. Training and supervisory time must be provided whenever the SLP Paraprofessional begins services with a new student(s) at any time throughout the school year.
7. At least 20% direct and 10% indirect supervision is recommended for the first 90 days. (For a typical 32-hour school workweek, this would be 10 hours for both direct and indirect supervision.)
8. After the initial 90-day work period, the amount of supervision may be adjusted depending on the assigned tasks. The supervision of each SLP Paraprofessional should include at least 10% direct supervision and 10% indirect supervision on a regularly scheduled basis.

Speech-Language Pathology Aide

1. An aide receives on the job training.
2. Aides may complete tasks such as setting up a room for a work session, prepare materials or order supplies.

Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

1. Speech-language pathology assistants are licensed.
2. SLPAs must have a bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology or communication disorders approved by the licensure board that includes a minimum of six semester credit-hours in disordered communication, a minimum of three semester credit-hours in clinical techniques, and successful completion of an internship requiring a minimum of one hundred hours of clinical experience overseen by a supervising speech-language pathologist.
3. A licensed SLPA must be supervised by a licensed speech-language pathologist who has been actively practicing for a minimum of three of the last five years.
4. A speech-language pathologist may be the supervisor of record for no more than two licensed SLPAs at the same time.
5. A supervising speech-language pathologist must provide direct and indirect supervision as determined by the supervising speech-language pathologist's assessment of the competence of the speech-language pathology licensed assistant and within the scope of the rules adopted by the board.
6. During the first ninety days, a supervising speech-language pathologist shall provide direct supervision for at least 20% of the client contact hours worked each week by the licensed SLPA, and indirect supervision for at least 10 % of the client contact hours worked by the licensed SLPA.
7. After the initial ninety workdays are complete, the supervising speech-language pathologist shall provide direct supervision for at least 10 % of the client contact hours worked each week by the licensed SLPA and indirect supervision for at least 10 % of the client contact hours worked by the licensed SLPA.
8. Licensees are required to complete ten clock hours of continuing education during each calendar year.

Audiology

School Setting Requirements

No requirements for audiology support personnel.

Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

No requirements for audiology support personnel.

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:

• School Setting Requirements [PDF]
• Laws and Regulations

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

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

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