With Communication Disorders Since 1936
August 2003 Minnesota Licensure Legislation
Do those who work in the schools still have to call themselves Educational Speech-Language Pathologists (ESLP)?
No. Those who work in the schools may now call themselves Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs).
Will my licensure fees be more than my registration fees?
No. In fact, biennial licensure fees will decrease from $225 to $200 due to the expiration of a Department of Health surcharge.
When did licensure go into effect?
August 1, 2003
What does licensure mean?
Registration only protected our title (what we called ourselves). With registration anyone could have provided speech-language pathology or audiology services as long as they did not use a protected title. Licensure protects scope of practice. Now a person needs to be a LICENSED speech-language pathologist or audiologist to perform our services.
If I work in the schools, do I need two licenses?
You need a speech-language pathologist Board of Teaching license to work in the schools. You do not need a Department of Health speech-language pathologist license to work in the schools. If you work in both schools and non-school settings, you will need both a Board of Teaching license and a Department of Health license.
If I am currently title registered by the Department of Health do I need to do anything to become licensed?
No. You do NOT need to do anything. The change will be automatic and you will receive new licensure cards in the mail. You will not get your new licensure card in the mail by August 1, 2003. It will take time for you to receive your new card in the mail.
Can I say that I am licensed, even if I don’t have my new licensure card?
Effective August 1, 2003, you can say you are licensed even if you do not have your new licensure card.
How do I apply for licensure if I’m not registered?
You can obtain information and materials on the Web at www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpsc/hop/slpa/ or you may contact the Department of Health at hop@health.state.mn.us or 651-282-6366 for licensure application materials. Please note that as of September 2003, there has been a personal change at the Department and there may be some delays in responses to requests.
If I am currently licensed by the Board of Teaching, how can I apply for licensure from the Department of Heath so that I can work in non-school settings?
You can obtain information and materials on the Web at www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpsc/hop/slpa/ or you may contact the Department of Health at hop@health.state.mn.us or 651-282-6366 for licensure application materials. Please note that as of September 2003, there has been a personal change at the Department and there may be some delays in responses to requests.
If I am currently licensed by the Department of Health, how can I apply for licensure from the Board of Teaching so that I can work in school (birth-12) settings?
You can contact Kathy Manley at the Minnesota Department of Education, Licensing-School Personnel. Phone 651-582-8691, email: kathy.manley@state.mn.us
Do audiologists need a credential for dispensing hearing aids?
Audiologists are still required to be licensed as an audiologist and certified as a hearing instrument dispenser, if they are distributing hearing aids.