Virginia 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.

Audiology

School Setting Requirements

Not regulated in this setting.

Statutory and Regulatory Requirements

1. A licensed audiologist must provide documented supervision to unlicensed assistants.
2. A supervising licensed audiologist shall be held fully responsible for an assistants performance and activities, and shall ensure that they perform only those activities that do not constitute the practice of audiology or speech-language pathology and that are commensurate with their level of training.
3. The identity of the unlicensed assistant shall be disclosed to the client prior to treatment.

Speech-Language Pathology

School Setting Requirements

The special education staffing requirements do not include a paraprofessional for speech-language caseloads, as they do for classroom special education teachers but this does not prohibit the use of paraprofessionals. There is no credentialing of speech-language pathology assistants, resulting in local determination of the nature, degree, and quantity of training.

Statutory and Regulatory Requirement

1. A person who has met the qualifications prescribed by the Board may practice as an assistant speech-language pathologist and may perform duties not otherwise restricted to the practice of a speech-language pathologist under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist.
2. The speech-language pathologist must provide the level of supervision to the assistant necessary to ensure quality of care to include onsite supervision of at least two client sessions for each assistant being supervised every 30 days to directly observe and evaluate the performance of the assistant. The speech-language pathologist must document the onsite observation and evaluation in the client record for each session.
3. A supervising licensed speech-language pathologist shall be held fully responsible for an assistant’s performance and activities and shall ensure that they perform only those activities that do not constitute the practice of audiology or speech-language pathology and that are commensurate with their level of training.
4. The identity of the unlicensed assistant must be disclosed to the client prior to treatment and made part of the client’s file.
5. An SLP may supervise the equivalent of two full-time assistants.
6. Telesupervision-Onsite supervision may occur in-person, face-to-face; or via a real-time, audio and visual electronic communication method that is synchronous, (real-time) in which the SLP, SLPA and client may visually see and verbally communicate with one another. Recordings of SLPAs working with clients are not “real-time” and do not satisfy this requirement.

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 Speech Language Pathology and Audiology Assistants
• Department of Health Professions Guidance Document on Supervision of Speech-Language Pathology Assistants

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

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

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