| Frequently Asked Questions |
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| Licensure application |
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| Q: |
Why are there two fees when I apply?
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The $40.00 application fee covers the labor of reviewing your application. The other fee is the fee for your actual licensing or certification. This second fee will need to be paid every even-numbered year at renewal to maintain the license / certificate. |
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Can I pay both fees with one check?
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Yes, the application form groups the two fees together. We encourage you to pay both fees at once. If you are not eligible for licensure / certification, the license / certificate fee will be refunded to you (the $40.00 is not refundable). |
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| SLP Assistants |
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| Q: |
What do I need to do to qualify as a certified SLP Assistant in Oregon? |
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You will need to provide the following:
- Transcripts showing 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours of speech-language pathology technical course work; and
- Transcripts showing 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours of general education credit, and
- Written evidence of 100 clock contact hours of clinical interaction.
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| Q: |
Does direct supervision require observing the SLPA working with all clients at some point or with a sampling of clients? |
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The rules do not address this specifically but the SLP would want to provide direct supervision to meet the stated percentage requirements and to do what best meets the needs of the clients. |
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Requirements for the supervising speech-language pathologist OAR 335-095-0050(4) state supervision of speech-language pathology assistants must be documented. What must the appropriate documentation include? |
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Documentation must include the following elements: date, activity, time spent, and direct or indirect supervision level and must be retained by the SLPA for 4 years. |
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Does the supervising SLP need to be on site with the SLPA while they are working with students, and does a temporary supervisor need to be Board licensed? |
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The rules do not state that the temporary supervisor needs to be Board licensed but of course, that would be the preference. The rule speaks to the need for a supervisor being available at all time an assistant is providing services. A temporary supervisor may therefore be necessary at times. |
| Q: |
Supervision guidelines for the SLPA OAR 335-095-0050(1)(e) state that all students assigned to an assistant are considered part of the caseload of the supervising clinician. Does that mean students currently assigned to other SLPs would have to be reassigned to me before I could supervise the SLPA working with those students? |
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Yes, absolutely. |
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Scope of duties for the SLPA OAR 335-095-0060(1)(b) states that the SLPA may provide direct treatment to clients identified by the supervising SLP if following treatment plans developed by the supervising SLP. Am I correct in assuming that the SLPA would not be able to provide direct therapy to a student if the supervising SLP does not know that student? |
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Yes. |
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Is the required percentage for direct supervision for SLPAs based on all the time an SLPA is working as an SLPA or just on the time an SLPA is working with children or clients? |
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What the rules states is what is intended: "...of ALL the time an assistant is providing services..." for the SLP so that would include time other than when working directly with students.
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| Practice Issues |
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NOTICE: The Licensing Board cannot evaluate individual procedures and technique that a practitioner might utilize. The individual practitioner must make decisions based on their training, the standard of care and compliance with facility policies. The Licensing Board relies on the scope of practice issued by the American Hearing and Speech Association (ASHA) and the American Academy of Audiology (AAA). Licensees should also consult the administrative rules regarding welfare of clients (OAR 335-005-0015) and professional competence (OAR 335-005-0020).
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| Q: |
Is it within the SLP scope of practice to change Pt´s diet textures once the physician has given an OK to evaluate and treat for dysphagia with a signed plan of care? Or is the physician the only one who can change diet textures? |
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Our statute does not address this specifically. Our law does require that licensees "provide all services competently" (OAR 335-005-0015.) |
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Does the Oregon licensing board for speech-language pathology mandate the presence of a radiologist or other physician during a modified barium swallow evaluation performed by a speech-language pathologist? |
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Our statute does not address physician supervision of licensees. Our statute does require that licensees "provide all services competently" (OAR 335-005-0015). If the "standard of care" or "best practice" for any procedure requires a physician to be present during the procedure for the welfare of the patient, then a licensee would not be providing services competently without the physician. |
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I am currently preparing our hospital and our speech pathology department to begin evaluation of swallow with FEES. I have been researching ASHA position statements on FEES, and I noted the 2003 position statement from the Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery that contradicts the original 1999 joint ASHA/AAO-HNS statement for roles of SLP´s in performing endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. ASHA continues to support the use of FEES in our practice, but they recommend contacting our individual state licensing boards. Can you please inform me if Oregon has a position statement on the use of FEES by SLPs in the evaluation of dysphagia, and if you specifically have a position on the type of physician supervision required. |
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Here is the Academy of Otolaryngology´s position statement on FEES. To my knowledge the Oregon Academy of Otolaryngology does not have any position statements.
From a personal standpoint providing input to the board. I am not sure it is helpful to be put in a confrontational position and I am aware that the use of procedures in otolaryngology and in speech pathology overlap. The training is quite different between the two professions. From a personal experience standpoint, when I give lectures on swallowing to physicians (family practice, internal medicine) it is apparent to me that there is little to no training in the aspects of swallowing related to the upper airway (mouth, throat). Even when I speak with ENT docs, unless there is a special interest in swallowing, it is easy to miss a great many details of the swallowing exam.
From another viewpoint or way of reasoning, speech therapists perform video swallowing evaluations which is another way of getting at the same information as the FEES. However, to my knowledge, that is always done with a radiologist present.
From another perspective, I would not personally trust a reading that a speech therapist gave on a FEES and would want to see the videotape recording myself. However, that is the same standard that I also apply to a Barium video swallow when both a therapist and radiologist are present and reading the film.
In the end, I wouldn´t recommend pushing for a position statement from the Oregon Academy of Otolaryngology - it would be difficult for them to cross the recommendation of the National Organization. I wouldn´t push for a position statement from the Speech/Audiology Board.
I suspect the therapist who does perform FEES in Oregon would have some support from some of the speech therapy community, but would be on thin ice if a diagnosis is incorrect, a patient suffers, and there was no physician present reading the study. If the SLP would like to do the studies, it would seem prudent to somehow involve a physician who has an interest in and knowledge of the evaluation of dysphagia.
James P. Thomas, MD
Dr. Thomas is a former Board ENT member. |
| Q: |
Can a conditional licensee bill Medicaid for services? |
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Yes, but they must bill using their supervising SLP's number. The same applies to SLPA's. |
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Since I use techs in the office, it is not unusual for me to have an audiogram done by one of them. The audiogram will show the actual tester's name. Since I do the intake interview, supervise the techs, and do post testing counseling, I do not normally report who actually ran the audiometer. As the supervisor, I take responsibility that work was done properly. Why is it important to note in a report and chart notes who actually ran the audiometer? |
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Our current rules require the actual tester to be identified in all documents. The method of identification is not specified and the newsletter just gave an example. For example, you could note the actual tester in identifying information at the beginning of the report:
Patient Name: John Doe
Date of Evaluation: Jan. 10, 2004
Referral Source: James Jones, MD
Tested by: Mary Smith, technician |
| Q: |
What are the salary ranges for Audiologists, SLPs, or Assistants? |
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This issue is not a regulatory issue, but below is a salary calculator from Advance Magazine (this is not in any way connected to this Board).
http://health-care-jobs.advanceweb.com/Salary/SalaryCalcWelcome.aspx
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| Professional Development |
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| Licensing issues |
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| Q: |
I’m completing the application for my Audiology license and need to get my hearing aid dealer’s license as well. Can you help me with this?
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Your hearing aid dealer’s license is handled by a different agency in Oregon. You may phone them at (503) 378-8667 or visit the Advisory Council on Hearing Aids´ website. |
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| Miscellany |
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| Q: |
I just changed my last name. How do I officially change it on my license? |
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Send a copy of the official legal document declaring the change to this Board. You can fax or mail it. |
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| For Consumers |
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| Q: |
I am unhappy with service I received by a practitioner in your state. What can I do? |
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You may file a complaint with this Board by completing our complaint form. We welcome your comments. |
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