Title of Regulation: 18VAC30-21. Regulations Governing Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (amending 18VAC30-21-40, 18VAC30-21-90, 18VAC30-21-100).

Statutory Authority: § 54.1-2400 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Date: May 2, 2018.

Agency Contact: Leslie L. Knachel, Executive Director, Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Richmond, VA 23233, telephone (804) 367-4630, FAX (804) 527-4471, or email audbd@dhp.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments (i) establish a one-time reduction in renewal fees in 2018, (ii) eliminate renewal fees for 2019, and (iii) change the renewal deadline from December 31 to June 30 beginning in the year 2020.

18VAC30-21-40. Fees required.

A. The following fees shall be paid as applicable for licensure:

1. Application for audiology or speech-language pathology license	$135
2. Application for school speech-language pathology license	$70
3. Verification of licensure requests from other states	$20
4. Annual renewal of audiology or speech-language pathology license	$75
5. Late renewal of audiology or speech-language pathology license	$25
6. Annual renewal of school speech-language pathology license	$40
7. Late renewal of school speech-language pathology license	$15
8. Reinstatement of audiology or speech-language pathology license	$135
9. Reinstatement of school speech-language pathology license	$70
10. Duplicate wall certificate	$25
11. Duplicate license	$5
12. Returned check	$35
13. Inactive license renewal for audiology or speech-language pathology	$40
14. Inactive license renewal for school speech-language pathology	$20
15. Application for provisional license	$50
16. Renewal of provisional license	$25

B. Fees shall be made payable to the Treasurer of Virginia and shall not be refunded once submitted.

C. The renewal fees due by December 31, 2018, shall be as follows:

1. Annual renewal of audiology or speech-language pathology license	$55
2. Annual renewal of school speech-language pathology license	$30

Part III
Renewal and Continuing Education

18VAC30-21-90. Renewal requirements.

A. A person who desires to renew his license shall, not later than December 31 of each year 2018, submit the renewal notice and applicable renewal fee. Beginning with calendar year 2020, the renewal of licensure deadline shall be June 30 of each year. For calendar year 2019, no renewal is required. A licensee who fails to renew his license by the expiration date shall have a lapsed license, and practice with a lapsed license may constitute grounds for disciplinary action by the board.

B. A person who fails to renew his license by the expiration date may renew at any time within one year of expiration by submission of a renewal notice, the renewal fee and late fee, and statement of compliance with continuing education requirements.

18VAC30-21-100. Continuing education requirements for renewal of an active license.

A. In order to renew an active license, a licensee shall complete at least 10 contact hours of continuing education prior to December 31 of the renewal date each year. Up to 10 contact hours of continuing education in excess of the number required for renewal may be transferred or credited to the next renewal year. One hour of the 10 hours required for annual renewal may be satisfied through delivery of professional services, without compensation, to low-income individuals receiving health services through a local health department or a free clinic organized in whole or primarily for the delivery of those services. One hour of continuing education may be credited for three hours of providing such volunteer services, as documented by the health department or free clinic.

B. Continuing education shall be activities, programs, or courses related to audiology or speech-language pathology, depending on the license held, and offered or approved by one of the following accredited sponsors or organizations sanctioned by the profession:

1. The Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia or a similar state speech-language-hearing association of another state;

2. The American Academy of Audiology;

3. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association;

4. The Accreditation Council on Continuing Medical Education of the American Medical Association offering Category I continuing medical education;

5. Local, state, or federal government agencies;

6. Colleges and universities;

7. International Association of Continuing Education and Training; or

8. Health care organizations accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

C. If the licensee is dually licensed by this board as an audiologist and speech-language pathologist, a total of no more than 15 hours of continuing education are required for renewal of both licenses with a minimum of 7.5 contact hours in each profession.

D. A licensee shall be exempt from the continuing education requirements for the first renewal following the date of initial licensure in Virginia under 18VAC30-21-60.

E. The licensee shall retain all continuing education documentation for a period of three years following the renewal of an active license. Documentation from the sponsor or organization shall include the title of the course, the name of the sponsoring organization, the date of the course, and the number of hours credited.

F. The board may grant an extension of the deadline for continuing education requirements, for up to one year, for good cause shown upon a written request from the licensee prior to the renewal date of December 31 each year.

G. The board may grant an exemption for all or part of the requirements for circumstances beyond the control of the licensee, such as temporary disability, mandatory military service, or officially declared disasters.

H. The board shall periodically conduct an audit for compliance with continuing education requirements. Licensees selected for an audit conducted by the board shall complete the Continuing Education Activity and Assessment Form and provide all supporting documentation within 30 days of receiving notification of the audit.

I. Failure to comply with these requirements may subject the licensee to disciplinary action by the board.