AN ACT
RELATING TO LICENSURE; CHANGING THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE FOR SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY, AUDIOLOGY AND HEARING AID DISPENSING; PROVIDING SEPARATE LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
Section 1. Section 61-14B-3.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1999, Chapter 128, Section 3) is amended to read:
"61-14B-3.1. SCOPE OF PRACTICE--APPRENTICE IN SPEECH AND LANGUAGE.--The scope of practice for an apprentice in speech and language is to provide adjunct services that are planned, selected or designed by the supervising speech-language pathologist. These services may include:
A. conducting speech-language or hearing screenings;
B. following documented intervention plans or protocols;
C. preparing written daily plans based on the overall intervention plan;
D. recording, charting, graphing or otherwise displaying data relative to client performance and reporting performance changes to the supervisor;
E. maintaining daily service notes and completing daily charges as requested;
F. reporting but not interpreting data relative to client performance to teacher, family or other professionals;
G. performing clerical duties, including maintenance of therapy and diagnostic materials, equipment and client files as directed by the supervisor;
H. assisting the speech-language pathologist during client treatment and assessment; and
I. assisting the speech-language pathologist in research, in-service, training and public relations programs."
Section 2. Section 61-14B-12 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1996, Chapter 57, Section 12, as amended) is amended to read:
"61-14B-12. REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE–-SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST.--A license to practice as a speech-language pathologist shall be issued to a person who files a completed application, accompanied by the required fees and documentation; certifies that the applicant is not guilty of any of the activities listed in Section 61-14B-21 NMSA 1978; and submits satisfactory evidence that the applicant:
A. holds at least a master's degree in speech pathology, speech-language pathology or communication disorders or equivalent degree regardless of degree name and meets the academic requirements for certification by a nationally recognized speech-language association; and
B. currently holds a certificate of clinical competence from a nationally recognized speech-language association in the area for which the applicant is seeking licensure; or
C. has completed the current academic, practicum and employment experience requirements for a certificate of clinical competence from a nationally recognized speech-language association in the area for which the applicant is applying for license and has passed a recognized standard national examination in speech-language pathology."
Section 3. A new section of the Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensing Practices Act, Section 61-14B-12.1 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read:
"61-14B-12.1. REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE--
AUDIOLOGIST.--A license to practice as an audiologist shall be issued to any person who:
A. files a completed application, accompanied by the required fees and documentation; certifies that the applicant is not guilty of any of the activities listed in Section 61-14B-21 NMSA 1978; and submits satisfactory evidence that the applicant:
(1) holds a master's degree in audiology or communication disorders; or an equivalent degree awarded prior to January 1, 2007; meets the academic requirements for certification by a nationally recognized speech-language or hearing association; and currently holds a certificate of clinical competence from a nationally recognized speech-language or hearing association in the area that the applicant is seeking licensure; or
(2) has completed the current academic, practicum and employment experience requirements for a certificate of clinical competence in audiology from a nationally recognized speech-language or hearing association and has passed a nationally recognized standard examination; or
B. files a completed application, accompanied by the required fees and documentation; certifies that the applicant is not guilty of any of the activities listed in Section 61-14B-21 NMSA 1978; and submits satisfactory evidence that the applicant:
(1) holds a doctoral degree in audiology or equivalent degree regardless of degree name and meets academic requirements for certification by a nationally recognized speech-language or hearing association; and
(2) has completed the current academic, practicum and employment requirements of a nationally recognized speech-language or hearing association; and has passed a nationally recognized standard examination in audiology."
Section 4. Section 61-14B-15.1 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1999, Chapter 128, Section 8) is amended to read:
"61-14B-15.1. REQUIREMENTS FOR LICENSURE--APPRENTICE IN SPEECH AND LANGUAGE.--A license to practice as an apprentice in speech and language shall be issued by the board to a person who files a completed application accompanied by the required fees and documentation and provides satisfactory evidence that the applicant:
A. is working toward full licensure pursuant to the provisions of the Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensing Practices Act;
B. has a baccalaureate degree in speech-language pathology or communicative disorders or an equivalent degree or a baccalaureate degree in another field with thirty semester hours of credit in speech-language pathology or communicative disorder;
C. is enrolled in and successfully completes graduate classes in speech-language pathology or communicative disorders at a minimum rate of nine semester hours per year and is accepted into a master's level program in speech-language pathology or communicative disorders within two years of initial licensing;
D. maintains a minimum of a 3.0 grade point average in the master's degree course and other work;
E. is supervised by a person licensed as a speech-language pathologist who has a minimum of two years experience as a speech-language pathologist; and
F. receives a minimum of ten percent direct supervision and ten percent indirect supervision."