Some General Questions and Answers Regarding Licensure
The following questions and answers have been generated based on questions SLPs have raised. The answers stated here are based on the current understanding of members of MSHA's legislative committee who have been working closely with this process. The answers may change as the process is shaped by the Speech-Language Pathology Board who will write the rules.
Q. How soon will licensure begin?
Q. Will licensure apply to SLPs in all settings including the schools?
Q. If I have my CCCs, am I eligible for a license?
Q. What is the "grandfather" clause for school-based SLPs?
Q. What if I work in the schools with a teaching certificate in speech but never obtained the CCCs?
Q. What will someone in their Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY) do?
Q. Is our license reciprocal with other states' licenses?
Q. What if I don't have my teaching certificate or my CCCs and I work in the schools?
Q. How soon will licensure begin?
A. The governor has appointed a speech and language pathology licensure board. They will meet once a month until they have written the rules and have them approved. This process can take nine months to two years. That means that the requirement and the application process will not begin for this time period. You will be notified by the Department of Community Health/MSHA and/or ASHA when you need to apply. This timeline and process is very similar to the timeline and process followed by the audiologists after their licensure bill was passed a few years ago.
Q. Will licensure apply to SLPs in all settings including the schools?
A. Yes, all SLPs working in the state of Michigan will be required to be licensed.
Q. If I have my CCCs, am I eligible for a license?
A. Yes. SLPs with their CCCs will be eligible to apply for a license.
Q. What is the "grandfather" clause for school-based SLPs?
A. School-based SLPs who are currently eligible to owork in the school setting with a teaching certificate endorsed in speech will be able to obtain a licensure that will allow them to continue working in schools. This applies to all SLPs without CCCs who hold a teaching certificate endorsed in speech and are currently eligible to work in the schools. This group of SLPs will be licensed to work in the schools only.
Q. What if I work in the schools with a teaching certificate in speech but never obtained the CCCs?
A. You will be grandfathered a license to work only in the schools. In this scenario, you would not be able to work in private practice or a clinic without completing coursework, taking the required test and particiipating in a clinical fellowship. Remember, you must make application to the Speech-Language Licensing Board after the process starts in order to receive a license.
Q. What will someone in their Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY) do?
A. The bill provides for a temporary license for SLPs working on their CFY. This is a significant benefit to the schools, where there have been difficulties since the teaching certificate requirement was lifted and replaced with the requirement of the CCCs.
A. $20 to apply and $75 per year. (Compare this to what the audiologists pay: $120.)
Q. Is our license reciprocal with other states' licenses?
A. Yes.
Q. What if I don't have my teaching certificate or my CCCs and I work in the schools?
A. In order to be qualified to work in the schools as it stands now (before licensure), SLPs must have either a teaching certificate in speech or current CCCs. This will continue to be true after licensure.