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Washington Speech Therapy Legal Definitions 

Assistive Listening Device or System - An amplification system that is specifically designed to improve the signal to noise ratio for the listener, reduce interference from noise in the background, and enhance hearing levels at a distance by picking up sound from as close to source as possible and sending it directly to the ear of the listener, excluding hearing instruments as defined in this chapter.

Board - The Washington Board of Hearing and Speech.

Board-Approved Institution of Higher Education:

    • An institution offering a program in audiology or speech-language pathology leading to a master's degree or its equivalent, or a doctorate degree or its equivalent, that has been accredited by the council on academic accreditation in audiology and speech-language pathology, or an equivalent program.
    • An institution offering a speech-language pathology assistant program or a speech, language, and hearing program approved by the state board for community and technical colleges, the higher education coordinating board, or an equivalent body from another state or province. Institutions where education was obtained outside of the United States or Canada has an equivalency determination completed by the board. This program must lead to an associate of arts or sciences degree, certificate of proficiency, or bachelor of arts or sciences degree.
    • A board-approved institution must integrate instruction in multicultural health as part of its basic education preparation curriculum.

Department - The Washington Department of Health.

Direct Supervision - The supervising SLP is on-site and in view during the procedures or tasks. The board shall develop rules outlining the procedures or tasks allowable under direct supervision.

Establishment - Any permanent site housing a person engaging in the practice of fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments by a hearing aid specialist or audiologist; where the client can have personal contact and counsel during the firm's business hours; where business is conducted; and the address of which is given to the state for the purpose of bonding.

Facility - Any permanent site housing a person engaging in the practice of speech-language pathology, excluding the sale, lease, or rental of hearing instruments.

Good Standing - A licensed SLP, or certified SLPA whose license or certification has not been subject to Board sanctions or sanctions by other states, territories, or the District of Columbia in the last two (2) years.

Indirect Supervision - The procedures or tasks are performed under the SLP, the hearing aid specialist, or the audiologist's overall direction and control, but the SLP’s presence is not required during the performance of the procedures or tasks. The board shall develop rules outlining the procedures or tasks allowable under indirect supervision.

Interim Permit Holder - A person who holds the permit created under RCW 18.35.060 and who practices under the supervision of a licensed SLP.

Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist - A person who is licensed by the department

to engage in the practice of speech-language pathology and meets the qualifications.

Place or Places of Business - A permanent address open to the public, which may include an establishment, where a licensee engages in the fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments.

Postgraduate Professional Work Experience - A supervised full-time professional experience, or the part-time equivalent, as defined in these rules, involving direct patient or client contact, consultations, recordkeeping, and administrative duties relevant to a bona fide program of clinical work. Applicants who obtain an Au.D. at a board-approved institution of higher education are considered to have met the postgraduate professional work experience requirement.

Secretary - The secretary of health.

Speech-Language Pathology - The application of principles, methods, and procedures related to the development and disorders, whether of organic or nonorganic origin, that impede oral, pharyngeal, or laryngeal sensorimotor competencies and the normal process of human communication including, but not limited to, disorders and related disorders of speech, articulation, fluency, voice, verbal and written language, auditory comprehension, cognition/communication, and the application of augmentative communication treatment and devices for treatment of such disorders.

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant - A person who is certified by the department to provide speech-language pathology services under the direction and supervision of a licensed SLP or SLP certified as an educational staff associate by the superintendent of public instruction, and meets all of the requirements for certification.

Reference

RCW 18.35.010

WAC 246-828-025

About Us

Zachary Edgar JD, LLM is the managing partner for Therapy Comply.  Zachary is a healthcare attorney that specializes in federal and state healthcare regulatory issues particularly for physical, occupational, and speech therapy practices.  

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