Chapter 12

 

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant

 

 

 Section 1. Authority. These Board Rules are adopted to implement the Board's authority granted by Wyoming Statutes 33-33-102(a)(ix) and -202(b).

 

Section 2. Requirements for Initial Certification

 

 (a) An applicant for initial certification must:

 

  (i) Have an Associate's Degree as a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant from an accredited college or university; or

 

  (ii)  Have a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Disorders or Speech-Language Pathology or equivalent, from an accredited college or university and one of the following:

 

   (A)  Completion of a SLPA training certificate program through an accredited college or university;

 

   (B) Completion of ASHA SLPA requirements; or

 

   (C) Equivalent training as determined by the Board.

 

  (iii) Successfully complete a minimum of one hundred (100) hours of supervised clinical field work or its equivalent clinical practicum.  Supervised clinical field work shall include a minimum of:

 

   (A) 80 hours of direct patient/client/student services under the supervision of a SLP; and

 

   (B) 20 hours of indirect patient/client/student services under the supervision of a SLP.

 

 (b) Application. An applicant must submit the following:

 

  (i) Completed application packet and payment of appropriate fees;

 

  (ii) Official transcripts if applying under Section 2(a)(i);

 

  (iii) Documentation of completion of supervised field experience;

 

  (iv) The applicant shall obtain an approved supervision agreement prior to practicing.

 

  (v)  Fingerprints and other information necessary for a criminal history record background check as required by W.S. 7-19-201(a)(xxix).

 

 Section 3. Practice of SLPA

 

 (a) Service Delivery. A SLPA may perform the following tasks based upon his or her training and competency:

 

  (i) Conduct speech, language, and hearing screenings without clinical interpretation;

 

  (ii) Assist the SLP with other tasks as directed;

 

  (iii) Assist the SLP with the bilingual translation or interpretation during screening and assessment activities exclusive of data interpretation;

 

  (iv) Follow documented treatment plans or protocols developed by the supervising SLP;

 

  (v) Document student, patient and client performance and report this information to the supervising SLP; and

 

  (vi) Program and provide instruction in the use of augmentative and alternative communication devices developed and directed by the SLP.

 

 (b) Administrative Support. A SLPA may perform the following tasks based upon his or her training and competency:

 

  (i) Assist with clerical duties and departmental operations such as preparing materials and scheduling activities, as directed by the SLP; and

 

  (ii) Perform checks and maintenance of equipment.

 

 (c) Prevention and Advocacy. A SLPA may perform the following tasks based upon his or her training and competency:

 

  (i) Provide information to emergency response agencies for individuals who have communication or swallowing disorders; and

 

  (ii) Support the supervising SLP in research projects, in-service  trainings, public relation programs, and marketing programs.

 

 Section 4. SLPA Limitations. SLPAs shall not:

 

 (a) Represent himself or herself as an SLP (nor allow others to presume his or her standing as an SLP);

 

 (b) Perform standardized or non-standardized diagnostic tests, formal or informal evaluations, or swallowing screenings/checklists;

 

 (c) Perform procedures that require a high level of clinical acumen and technical skill (e.g., vocal tract prosthesis shaping or fitting, vocal tract imaging and oral pharyngeal swallow therapy with bolus material);

 

 (d) Tabulate or interpret results and observations of feeding and swallowing evaluations performed by SLPs;

 

 (e) Participate in formal parent conferences, case conferences, or any interdisciplinary team without the presence of the supervising SLP or other designated SLP;

 

 (f) Provide interpretative information to the student/patient/client, family, or others regarding the patient/client status or service;

 

 (g) Write, develop, or modify a student's, patient's, or client's treatment plan in any

way;

 

 (h) Assist with students, patients, or clients without following the individualized treatment plan prepared by the certified SLP and/or without access to supervision;

 

 (i) Sign any formal documents (e.g., treatment plans, reimbursement forms, or reports; the SLPA should sign or initial informal treatment notes for review and co-sign with the supervising SLP as requested);

 

 (j) Select students, patients, or clients for service;

 

 (k) Discharge a student, patient, or client from services;

 

 (l) Make referrals for additional service;

 

 (m) Disclose clinical or confidential information either orally or in writing to anyone other than the supervising SLP (the SLPA must comply with current HIPPA and FERPA guidelines) unless mandated by law;

 

 (n) Develop or determine the swallowing strategies or precautions for patients, family, or staff;

 

 (o) Treat medically fragile students/patients/clients independently; or

 

 (p) Design or select augmentative and alternative communication systems or device.

 

 Section 5. Annual Certification Renewal

 

 (a) Certification Expiration. Certificates shall expire December 31st of each year. Certificate holders shall renew their certificate on or before December 31st. Certificate holders that fail to timely renew shall forfeit the right to practice.

 

 (b) Renewal for certificates issued under Section 2 of this chapter. A certificate holder seeking renewal shall:

 

  (i) Submit a completed renewal application and payment of fee;

 

  (ii) Submit documentation of hourly supervision by the supervising SLP if SLPA services were provided.

 

  (iii) Attest to completion of ten (10) CEU that complies with subsection Chapter 2 Section 7(c), and

 

   (A) Acceptable CEU documentation shall include, but is not limited to, transcripts and certificates of completion.

 

   (B) Waiver. The Board may grant a waiver for CEU requirements for certificate holders who have petitioned and demonstrated just cause based on extenuating circumstances.

 

 Section 6. Supervision

 

 (a) Each SLPA must be supervised by an SLP licensed in Wyoming. A written Supervision Agreement must be in place to include a record of all supervision, both direct and indirect. The agreement must be signed by both parties with agreement as to responsibility for this documentation. Information to be included using the following supervision schedule:

 

  (i) First ninety (90) days from initial certification - minimum of thirty (30) percent weekly supervision shall be provided with at least twenty (20) percent being direct contact supervision of client, student, or individual and ten (10) percent of indirect contact. Weekly supervision should be arranged so that every client, student, or individual is observed at least once every two weeks. Direct contact means face to face, either through tele practice or onsite supervision.

 

  (ii) After successful completion of the first ninety (90) days, a minimum of one hour of direct supervision each week shall be provided. In addition, direct supervision shall include direct contact supervision of every client, student, or individual every sixty (60) days with as much indirect supervision as needed.

 

  (iii) Indirect supervision may include review of data, lesson plans, schedules, and any other issues related to the individual clients, students, and individuals.

 

  (iv) Supervising SLP - Requirements for supervising SLP.

 

   (A) Must have been licensed SLP practicing for a minimum of three (3) years; Time under a Provisional License does not count towards the (3) year requirement.

 

 

   (B) Hold a Speech-Language Pathology license in good standing

from the Board;

 

   (D) Must have completed at least a minimum of two (2) hours of

continuing education hours in supervision prior to beginning supervision. These will count towards CEU for licensure renewal; and

 

   (E) Cannot supervise more than three (3) SLPAs.

 

 (b) Each supervising SLP shall uphold the ethics and professionalism of ASHA.

 

 

 Section 7. Certificate Re-issuance

 

 (a) Eligibility. An applicant may seek re-issuance if his or her certificate has lapsed.

 

 (b) Lapsed Certificate Re-issuance Requirements. An applicant shall:

 

  (i) Submit a completed re-issuance application and pay the required fee; and

 

  (ii) Submit evidence of clinical competency by submitting proof of completion of ten (10) CEU for each year or portion thereof that the certificate was lapsed up to a maximum of one hundred (100) CEU.

 

 Section 8.         Audits.

 

  (a)  CEU may be audited by the Board for verification of compliance with these requirements.

 

  (b)  If the Board disallows any CEU, the licensee shall have thirty (30) days from notice of such disallowance to:

 

    (i)  Provide evidence that the disallowed CEU meet the criteria established by these rules;

 

    (ii)  Provide documentation of having acquired additional CEU during the required time frame; or

 

    (iii)  Cure the disallowance by acquiring the required number of CEU.

 

      (A)  Any CEU activity completed past the renewal date to cure a disallowance may not be reported on subsequent applications for license renewal.

 

      (B)  If a licensee fails to complete the required number of CEU, the licensee shall be subject to disciplinary action.

 

 (c) Ten percent (10%) of current license and certificate holders shall be selected at random annually. Chosen licensees or certificate holders shall be required to submit documentation of the CEU hours to the Board Office for audit.