Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Registration for Assistants

The Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs stipulates that the licensed audiologist, speech-language pathologist or teacher of the hearing impaired who will supervise the work of an assistant must file with the Licensure Board (a) the name of their assistant, (b) the location where the assistant will work, and (c) certification that the assistant has met the education and training requirements within 30 days of the assistant’s employment or a change in the assistant’s employment or supervision. Use of an unregistered assistant or a person serving in the capacity of an assistant who has not fulfilled the specified training requirements or who is positioned to provide service without appropriate supervision is strictly proscribed. * (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of State, Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs, State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language and Hearing. (1988). Pennsylvania Code. (Title 49, Professional & Vocational Standards. Chapter 45, State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language and Hearing Pennsylvania Code).

In order to work as an assistant, the individual must have met one of the following educational and training requirements:

1. Completed 30 semester hours, or the equivalent, from an accredited institution of higher education in the area of speech-language and hearing, for a certificate of clinical competence from the Council of Professional Standards of the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association or the Council on Education of the Deaf, or
2. Practiced as an assistant in the area of speech-language and hearing since at least June 8, 1989, under the supervision of an audiologist, speech-language pathologist or teacher of the hearing-impaired licensed in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, or
3. Practiced as an assistant in the area of speech-language and hearing since at least June 8, 1989, under the supervision of an audiologist, speech-language-pathologist or teacher of the hearing-impaired licensed in another state, or the District of Columbia, which has requirements for assistants substantially equivalent to the provisions of the Commonwealth.

(Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of State, Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs, State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language and Hearing (1988). Pennsylvania Code. (Title 49, Professional & Vocational Standards. Chapter 45, State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language and Hearing Pennsylvania Code).

Prior to assigning a duty to an assistant, a licensed supervisor is required to “perform a task analysis of the expected duties of each assistant the licensee supervises, and shall train the assistant, with an emphasis on competency-based skill acquisition, in accordance with the analysis. Training may be provided through formal coursework, workshops, or directly supervised observation or practicum; training shall encompass all areas of activities which the assistant will perform. An assistant trained in one area (audiology, speech-language pathology, teaching of the hearing-impaired) may not perform duties in another area, unless training in that area has been given. An assistant is not permitted to perform a duty for which, in the opinion of the licensed supervisor, the assistant is neither trained nor qualified. A minimum of 20 hours of practical training for each duty is required.” (Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of State, Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs, State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language and Hearing. (1988). Pennsylvania code. (Title 49, Professional & Vocational Standards. Chapter 45, State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language and Hearing Pennsylvania Code).

An assistant may engage in only duties that are planned, designed, and supervised by a licensed professional. Examples of appropriate duties include:

1. The screening of speech, language, or hearing.
2. The recording, charting, graphing or otherwise displaying of data, which reflects the performance of a person serviced.
3. The maintaining of clinical records.
4. The reporting of changes in the performance of a person served to the licensee who is responsible for that person.
5. The preparing of clinical materials, including ear molds.
6. The testing of hearing aids to determine whether they meet published specifications.
7. The participation with the licensee in research projects, in-service training, public relations programs, and similar activities.

(Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of State, Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs, State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language and Hearing. (1988). Pennsylvania code. (Title 49, Professional & Vocational Standards. Chapter 45, State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language and Hearing Pennsylvania Code).

Assistants may not engage in one or more of the following activities:

1. The formulating of diagnostic statements or clinical management strategies or procedures.
2. The determining of who will be served.
3. The transmitting of clinical information, including data or impressions bearing on the performance, behavior or progress of a person served, either verbally or in writing, to anyone other than the licensee.
4. The independent composing of clinical reports, except for progress notes to be held in the file of the person served.
5. The referring of a person served to other professionals or other agencies.
6. The using of a title, either verbally or in writing, other than one which complies with [the stated definition of an assistant].
7. Activities which require the formal education or training, and the skill and knowledge of a licensed audiologist, speech-language pathologist or teacher of the hearing impaired.

(Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of State, Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs, State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language and Hearing. (1988) Pennsylvania Code. (Title 49, Professional & Vocational Standards. Chapter 45, State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language and Hearing Pennsylvania Code).

*”A licensee shall inform the Board when he has reason to believe that a licensee under the act may have violated this Code of Ethics.”

For additional information regarding Licensure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and/or its Code of Ethics*, please contact:
Department of State, Bureau of Professional & Occupational Affairs, State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language and Hearing, P.O. Box 2649, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649

Download the steps to register an SLPA in PA here

 Download the Pennsylvania SLPA Registration document here

Frequently Asked Questions for Licensees/Supervisors

Question: In Pennsylvania, what are the educational requirements for a registered Speech or Hearing Assistant?

30 semester hours (undergraduate) in speech, language, or hearing from an accredited institution of higher education, or evidence of supervised practice as an assistant since at least June 8, 1989.

Question: What is the process for registering the assistant? Who should initiate the registration?

A licensee/supervisor must file the name, location, certification of education and training requirements, and confirmation that the licensee/supervisor and assistant have read the appertaining statutory chapters. This must be done within 30 days of the employment of the assistant. You can find a Link to the form on the state website.

Question: Who must supervise the assistant? Is the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) required?

The licensee/supervisor must hold a Pennsylvania speech or hearing license; however, does not need to have the ASHA CCC.

Question: How many assistants is the licensee/supervisor permitted to supervise at one time?

No more than three assistants may be assigned to a licensee/supervisor at one time. No specific number of years of experience is stated.

Question: What are the allowable responsibilities of the assistant?
Please see this page in the PA State Code.

Question: How much time must I directly supervise the assistant?

The assistant must have direct line of sight supervision in 25% of each clinical session. Direct observations shall be documented, and the quality of the assistant’s performance shall be reviewed with the assistant.

Question: What types of training or continuing education should the assistant attend, and how often?

The assistant is assigned only duties and responsibilities for which the assistant has been specifically trained and which the assistant is qualified to perform. Initial task analysis by the licensee/supervisor should determine the training, practicum and/or continuing education needed. A minimum of 20 hours of practical training for each duty is required.  Employee review should contain suggestions for further education. The assistant must be fully aware of standards of practice, conduct and ethics. If the licensee/supervisor decides that additional education is needed for the assistant, the assistant may be required to take specific courses. The PA Licensure Board does not require formal continuing education for assistants.

Assistants are not licensed by the Board but are registered under the licensee/supervisor. Therefore, formal CEUs are not required.

Reference  §  45.306 (relating to supervision and responsibility).

Question: Can the licensee/supervisor bill Medicare or Medicaid for services provided by an assistant?

The PA License Board has no jurisdiction over billing. Employers should check with the billing agency for guidance on this question.
An assistant may not engage in activities reserved by the act to licensee/supervisors, nor may the assistant hold him/herself out to the public, either by title or by description of services, as an audiologist or speech-language pathologist. Titles may be used only in conjunction with the appendage “Assistant;” for example, “Audiology Assistant.” 

A licensee/supervisor may not assign, delegate or permit assistants to perform activities which require the formal education or training, and the skill and knowledge of a licensed audiologist or speech-language pathologist.

Cross References:  This section is cited in 49 Pa. Code §45.306 (relating to supervision and responsibility).

Question: Do the clients or caregivers of the clients need to be notified that an assistant will be providing service to their family member?

Persons who will be receiving services from an assistant must be informed that services are being rendered by an assistant. This notification should include information about the requirements of supervision. 

Question: When a family member wishes to observe the assistant working with their child or family member, what advice should be followed?

The PA licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist is responsible for supervising the assistant.   This person has registered the assistant with the PA Licensure Board.  The supervising speech-language pathologist or audiologist is who to contact with your questions.