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 two 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: 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 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.

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 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.

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.

Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes (F.S.), requires 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.

Official Transcripts

Official transcripts must be submitted as primary-source documents directly from the educational institution to the Board office. Applicants are strongly encouraged to have transcripts sent electronically through a secure transcript delivery service, such as Parchment. We cannot accept transcripts submitted by the applicant. To be considered official, transcripts must be sent directly from the educational institution to the Board office.

Official Exam Results

Please contact your examination testing agency directly to request that your official examination results be sent to the State of Florida for review. Once requested, the results will be transmitted through our shared data system. We cannot accept mailed examination results or copies submitted by the applicant. Official examination results must be submitted directly by the testing agency.

Assistant Activity and Supervisory Plan Form

This form must be completed and submitted directly by the qualified supervisor via email to MQA.SpeechLanguage@FLHealth.gov.

Verification of Employment

This form must be completed and submitted directly by the supervising employer via email to MQA.SpeechLanguage@FLHealth.gov.

License Verification Request

Official license verifications must be sent directly from the applicable licensing agency to the Board office via email at MQA.SpeechLanguage@FLHealth.gov.

Supervisory Report for Provisional Licensees

This form must be completed and submitted directly by the qualified supervisor via email to MQA.SpeechLanguage@FLHealth.gov.

Important Submission Information

The documents listed above excluding your exam results may also be submitted by U.S. Mail; however, electronic submission is strongly recommended whenever possible. Mailing documents may delay the licensure process due to additional delivery and processing time.

All other required application documents should be uploaded through your MQA Online Services Portal.

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

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 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.

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.

Section 456.0635, Florida Statutes (F.S.), requires 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.

Current licenses expire at midnight, Eastern Time, on December 31, 2027.

To ensure you receive your renewal notification from the department, your current mailing address must be on file. Failure to renew an active or inactive license by the expiration date will result in the license being placed in delinquent status. Failure by a delinquent licensee to renew before the expiration of the current licensure cycle renders the license null and void without any further action by the board or the department.

A licensee who remains on inactive status for more than two consecutive biennial licensure cycles and who wishes to reactivate the license may be required to demonstrate the competency to resume active practice by sitting for a special purpose examination or by completing other reactivation requirements.

Licensees requesting to reactivate their license from inactive or retired status are required to pay additional fees and comply with specific continuing education requirements. Please contact the board office at info@floridasspeechaudiology.gov to request your reactivation requirements.

If you are reactivating your license, please refer to the Laws & Rules governing your practice for additional requirements.

The department will renew your license upon receipt of:

• Completed renewal application
• Required fees
• Complete a mandatory background screening or retain* your current fingerprints. To learn more, please visit https://flhealthsource.gov/background-screening/.

*Required section 456.0135(6)(1), Florida Statutes, a $43.25 fee is required for FDLE to retain your fingerprint for background screening during this licensure cycle. This fee is collected at the time of licensure renewal if your fingerprint retention is expiring this licensure period. If your fingerprint retention expires in the next 60 days, you will need to pay separately through the Clearinghouse Applicant Initiated (CHAI) System.

If you volunteer your services in public schools for a minimum of 80 hours a year or if retired, at least 400 hours a year, you may be eligible for a waiver of your biennial renewal fee and some of the continuing education hours (no more than 25%) required for license renewal; however, the continuing education requirements for domestic violence, HIV and AIDS, and medical errors cannot be waived.