HF1122 Summary

• Establishes a licensure system for speech-language pathology assistants (SLPAs) in Minnesota, effective January 1, 2019, with two license tiers: restricted licenses for existing practitioners and standard licenses for those meeting education requirements.

• Standard licensure requires an associate degree from an accredited speech-language pathology assistant program with at least 100 hours of supervised field work, or a bachelor's degree in communication sciences/disorders plus a certificate program with similar requirements.

• Restricted licenses available until January 1, 2025 for persons currently practicing as SLPAs, those with bachelor's degrees in communication sciences/disorders, or those with associate degrees from non-accredited programs; must complete additional coursework to upgrade to standard licensure.

• Prohibits use of protected titles ("speech-language pathology assistant," "SLP assistant," "SLP asst.") unless licensed, and restricts SLPAs from representing themselves as licensed speech-language pathologists.

• Adds speech-language pathology assistant member to the Speech-Language Pathologist and Audiologist Advisory Council (increasing size from 12 to 13 members) and establishes continuing education and penalty fee requirements for the new license category.