AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The educational standards for licensure as an audiologist in Texas are no longer adequate compared to other states. For example, currently, there are no master's level audiology programs graduating students, as all nationally accredited programs require doctoral level programs. C.S.S.B. 613 would amend the licensing act for audiologists by changing the educational standards for licensure from a master's degree in communicative disorders to a doctoral degree in audiology if the program is accredited by a national accrediting organization approved by the State Board of Examiners of Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiology (board). This change would bring Texas in line with industry standards.
In addition, current Texas law references only one nationally recognized accrediting body, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. C.S.S.B. 613 gives the board the authority to approve additional national accrediting bodies.
C.S.S.B. 613 amends current law relating to educational requirements for licensing as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 401.304(a), Occupations Code, as follows:
(a) Requires an applicant, to be eligible for licensing as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist, to adhere to certain provisions, including if the application is for a license in speech-language pathology, possess at least a master's degree with a major in at least one of the areas of communicative sciences or disorders from a program accredited by a national accrediting organization that is approved by the State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (board) and recognized by the United States secretary of education under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 1001 et seq.), rather than accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, in an accredited or approved college or university; or audiology, possess at least a doctoral degree in audiology or a related hearing science from a program accredited by a national accrediting organization that is approved by the board and recognized by the United States secretary of education under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 1001 et seq.) in an accredited or approved college or university.
SECTION 2. (a) Makes application of Section 401.304, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, prospective.
(b) Authorizes a person who holds a license as an audiologist issued before the effective date of this Act to continue to renew that license without complying with the change in law made by this Act to Section 401.304(a), Occupations Code.
SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2011.