Attention: AHCA Clearinghouse Legacy Applications Downtime

AHCA Clearinghouse Legacy Applications Downtime

The background screening Clearinghouse Results Website will undergo scheduled maintenance as part of the ongoing efforts to update systems. Please make note of the following important information:

Downtime Schedule:

The Clearinghouse Results Website will be down from Friday, November 8th at 5:00 PM to Monday, November 18th at 8:00 AM. During this period, the system will be inaccessible for regular use as AHCA deploys the new system. This downtime could mean delays for applicants who get a LiveScan screening November 8 and thereafter.

Speech-Language Pathologist


Click on the appropriate tab below to see the Initial Licensing Requirements, Process, Fees, Statutes and Administrative Rules for a Speech-Language Pathologist.

  • Master’s degree or completion of the academic requirements of a doctoral program, with a major emphasis in speech-language pathology
    • Applicants enrolled in an approved program prior to January 5, 2005, must complete a minimum of sixty (60) semester hours at least thirty-six (36) hours must be earned in graduate level courses.
    • Applicants enrolled in an approved program after January 5, 2005, must complete a minimum of seventy-five (75) semester hours at least thirty-six (36) hours earned at the graduate level
    • 300 clock hours of supervised experience with at least 200 hours in the area of speech-language pathology
  • Nine (9) months of professional employment experience
  • Proof of passing the Praxis exam no more than three (3) years prior to the date of this application

Application Methods:

There are three different methods by which an applicant may apply:

    • Licensure by Evaluation of Credentials:
      1. EXPERIENCE: Pursuant to Rule 64B20-2.004, F.A.C., you must have your supervisor submit the following forms (if you had more than one supervisor, each supervisor must submit the following forms): Supplementary Evaluation for Each One-Third of the Professional Employment Experience (Form SPA-2B) and Supervisory Report for Provisional Licensees (Form SPA-2C). These forms can be obtained from the resources section of our website: www.floridasspeechaudiology.gov
      2. EDUCATION: An official transcript(s) must be sent directly from the school to the Board office and must indicate that a master’s degree or doctoral degree was conferred. If you did not graduate from a Council for Higher Education accredited program, verification of the number of hours of supervised clinical practice must also be included on the transcript.
        1. FOREIGN EDUCATION: In order for the Board to consider any education completed outside the U.S. or Canada, documentation must be received which verifies that the institution at which the education was completed was equivalent to an accredited U.S. institution. Documentation must also be received which verifies that the coursework met the content and credit hour requirement for coursework in the U.S. It is the applicant’s responsibility to obtain an evaluation from a recognized educational evaluation service that documents the acceptability of the coursework. Note- A certified translator who is not related to the applicant must translate any document that is in a language other than English.
      3. NATIONAL EXAM: You must have an official score report submitted directly to the Board office by Educational Testing Services (ETS). The score must be within 3 years of the date of this application for licensure.
      4. LICENSE VERIFICATIONS: You must request that verification of any license to practice any profession that you now hold or have ever held in any state, U.S. territory or foreign country be mailed directly from the other licensing entity to the Board Office. A copy of your license is not considered verification. Some states/countries may require you to send them a License Verification Form. The form is available on our website for your convenience.
    • Licensure by Endorsement of Certificate of Clinical Competence by ASHA:
      1. CERTIFICATE OF CLINICAL COMPETENCE FROM ASHA: You must request ASHA to submit a letter directly to the Board office verifying your status.
      2. LICENSE VERIFICATIONS: You must request that verification of any license to practice any profession that you now hold or have ever held in any state, U.S. territory or foreign country be mailed directly from the other licensing entity to the Board Office. A copy of your license is not considered verification. Some states/countries may require you to send them a License Verification Form. The form is available on our website for your convenience.
    • Licensure by MOBILE Endorsement:
      To be licensed as a speech-language pathologist in Florida through the MOBILE Endorsement pathway you must meet the following requirements in section 456.0145, Florida Statutes:

      1. Must hold an active, unencumbered license issued by another state, the District of Columbia, or a territory of the United States in a profession with a similar scope of practice, determined by the board or the department, as applicable.
      2. Must have obtained a passing score on a national licensure examination or hold a national certification recognized by the board;
      3. Must have actively practiced the profession for at least three years during the four-year period immediately preceding the date of submission of this application.
      4. Must not have ever been reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank, unless the applicant successfully appealed to have the report removed.
      5. Must not be the subject of a disciplinary proceeding in a jurisdiction in which he or she holds a license or by the United States Department of Defense for reason related to the practice of the profession for which the applicant is applying.
      6. Must not have had disciplinary action taken in the five years immediately preceding the date of submission of the application.

Applicants with Health History

If a Yes response was provided to any of the questions in this section, provide the following documents directly to the board office:

A letter from a Licensed Health Care Practitioner, who is qualified by skill and training to address the condition identified, which explains the impact the condition may have on the ability to practice the profession with reasonable skill and safety. The letter must specify that the applicant is safe to practice the profession without restrictions or specifically indicate the restrictions that are necessary. Documentation provided must be dated within one year of the application date.

A written self-explanation, identifying the medical condition(s) or occurrence(s); and current status.

Applicants with Disciplinary History

Applicants who have ever been denied licensure, had disciplinary action taken against their license, or have action pending against their license to practice any health care related profession by a licensing authority are required to submit the following documentation to the board:

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed disciplinary action on the application must submit a letter in your own words describing the circumstances of the action.

Agency Records – All relevant documentation regarding the action should be sent to the board office by the licensing agency. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on agency letterhead sent from the licensing agency attesting to their unavailability.

Applicants with Criminal History

Any applicant who has ever been found guilty of or pled guilty or no contest/nolo contendere to any charge other than a minor traffic offense must list each offense on the application. Failure to disclose criminal history may result in denial of your application. Each application is reviewed on its own merits.

The Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology has created guidelines for specific offenses to be cleared in the board office; however, staff cannot make determinations in advance as laws and rules do change over time. Violent crimes and repeat offenders are required to be presented to the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology for review. Evidence of rehabilitation is important to the board members when making licensure decisions.

Applicants with prior criminal convictions are required to submit the following documentation to the board:

Self-Explanation – Applicants who have listed offenses on the application must submit a letter in your own words describing the circumstances of the offense.

Final Dispositions/Arrest Records – Final disposition records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Completion of Probation/Parole/Sanctions – Probation and financial sanction records for offenses can be obtained at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. Parole records for offenses can be obtained from the Department of Corrections or at the clerk of the court in the arresting jurisdiction. If the records are not available, you must have a letter on court letterhead sent from the clerk of the court attesting to their unavailability.

Health Care Fraud, Disqualification for Licensure, Certificate, or Registration

Effective July 1, 2012, Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes (F.S.), provides that health care boards or the department shall refuse to issue a license, certificate or registration and shall refuse to admit a candidate for examination if the applicant:

  1. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under Chapter 409, F.S., (relating to social and economic assistance), Chapter 817, F.S., (relating to fraudulent practices), Chapter 893, F.S., (relating to drug abuse prevention and control) or a similar felony offense(s) in another state or jurisdiction unless the candidate or applicant has successfully completed a drug court program for that felony and provides proof that the plea has been withdrawn or the charges have been dismissed. Any such conviction or plea shall exclude the applicant or candidate from licensure, examination, certification, or registration, unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or plea ended:
    1. For the felonies of the first or second degree, more than 15 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
    2. For the felonies of the third degree, more than 10 years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
    3. For the felonies of the third degree under section 893.13(6)(a), F.S., more than five years from the date of the plea, sentence and completion of any subsequent probation;
  2. Has been convicted of, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a felony under 21 U.S.C. ss. 801-970 (relating to controlled substances) or 42 U.S.C. ss. 1395-1396 (relating to public health, welfare, Medicare and Medicaid issues), unless the sentence and any subsequent period of probation for such conviction or pleas ended more than 15 years prior to the date of the application;
  3. Has been terminated for cause from the Florida Medicaid program pursuant to section 409.913, F.S., unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with the Florida Medicaid program for the most recent five years;
  4. Has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the appeals procedures established by the state or Federal Government, from any other state Medicaid program, unless the candidate or applicant has been in good standing with a state Medicaid program for the most recent five years and the termination occurred at least 20 years before the date of the application;
  5. Is currently listed on the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities.
    • Applicant must submit application with the appropriate fees to the board office.
    • All supporting documentation that is submitted will be reviewed to determine compliance with current requirements. If additional documentation is required to complete the application, a deficiency letter will be sent.
    • Once the application has been deemed complete, a license is issued within 4-7 working days.

    * * Please Note: Some applicants may require a board appearance prior to licensure based on previous disciplinary action, criminal history, health history, educational criteria or other reasons as deemed necessary. In the event that your application will have to be presented to the board, you will be notified in advance.

Make cashiers checks or money orders payable to the “Department of Health.” Applicants applying online may use a major credit card or debit card.

If the license is issued August 1 of the odd numbered year through December 31 of the even numbered year:

Application fee$75.00 non-refundable
Licensure fee$200.00
Unlicensed Activity fee$5.00
TOTAL FEE$280.00

If the license is issued January 1 of the odd numbered year through July 31 of the odd numbered year:

Application fee$75.00 non-refundable
Licensure fee$100.00
Unlicensed Activity fee$5.00
TOTAL FEE$180.00

Click on Chapter or Section Number to View

Florida Statutes

Chapter 468, Part I: Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
Chapter 456: Health Professions and Occupations: General Provisions
Chapter 120: Administrative Procedure Act

Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.)

Rules: Chapter 64B20: Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology