California 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

Audiology

1. Audiology applicants who graduated from an audiology training program after January 1, 2008, must hold a doctorate degree in audiology from an educational institution approved the Board. The Board may accept qualifications it deems to be equivalent to a doctoral degree.
2. Completion of a 300 hour supervised clinical practice with a wide variety of ages and communication disorders under the direction of an educational institution approved by the Board.
3. Submit evidence of no less than 12 months of satisfactorily completed supervised professional full-time experience or its part-time equivalent obtained under the direction of an audiology doctoral program.
4. Passage of a Board-approved examination.

Note: Audiologists who dispense hearing aids must obtain a hearing aid dispenser license.

Speech-Language Pathology

1. Master's degree in speech-language pathology from an educational institution approved by the Board.
2. Completion of a 300 hour supervised clinical practice with a wide variety of ages and communication disorders under the direction of an educational institution approved by the Board.
3. Evidence of completion of no less than 36 weeks of supervised professional full-time experience or 72 weeks of professional part-time experience obtained under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist.
4. Passage of a Board-approved examination.

Exemptions

• Physicians
• Licensed hearing aid dealers for hearing testing or the fitting or selling of hearing aids
• Public school personnel from practicing speech-language pathology or audiology if properly credentialed and such persons do not offer services outside the school setting for monetary compensation
• Students properly identified as either speech-language pathology or audiology interns or trainees
• Public or private school audiometrists
• Federal employees
• Required professional experience temporary licensee

Reciprocity

Holders of the ASHA's Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) satisfy the requirements for licensure. Persons licensed in other states who have worked for one year but who do not possess the ASHA CCC are exempt from the required professional experience requirement however must provide proof of education, clinical practicum, and passage of national exam.

Interim Practice

• The Board may issue a temporary license for a period of 6 months from date of issuance to a speech-language pathologist or audiologist who holds an unrestricted license from another state or territory of the United States or who holds equivalent qualifications as determined by the Board and has submitted an application to the Board for a license.
• Persons obtaining the required professional experience for licensure must obtain a temporary license to commence experience.

Continuing Education

• Speech-language pathologists and non-dispensing audiologists are required to complete 24 clock hours of continuing education per license renewal period (2 years).
• Dispensing audiologists are required to complete at least 50% of continuing education hours in topics directly related to hearing aid dispensing.
• Dual licensees shall complete 16 hours in each discipline for a total of 32 hours per license renewal period.

Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact

California is not 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.

Board Oversight

Resources

For further information on laws and regulations for speech-language pathologists and audiologist, please visit these websites:

• California Practice Act
• California Rules and Regulations

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