Sec. 7. (a) The division of professional standards established within the department of education by IC 20-28-2-1.5 (referred to as "the division of professional standards" in this section) may issue the following:

(1) An initial license as a speech-language pathologist only to an individual who is licensed as a speech-language pathologist under this article.

(2) A nonrenewable initial license as a speech-language pathologist to an individual who is completing a clinical fellowship in speech-language pathology and who has registered the clinical fellowship with the board. The nonrenewable initial license expires on the earlier of:

(A) the date the individual is licensed by the board as a speech-language pathologist; or

(B) eighteen (18) months after the individual begins the clinical fellowship in speech-language pathology.

(3) A renewal license as a speech-language pathologist to an individual who was licensed by the professional standards board before July 1, 2005, and who is not licensed as a speech-language pathologist under this article.

(b) The division of professional standards shall issue a license as a speech-language pathologist to an individual who:

(1) is licensed as a speech-language pathologist under this article; and

(2) requests licensure.

(c) A speech-language pathologist licensed by the division of professional standards shall register with the Indiana professional licensing agency all speech-language pathology support personnel that the speech-language pathologist supervises.

(d) The division of professional standards may not impose different or additional supervision requirements upon speech-language pathology support personnel than the supervision requirements that are imposed under this article.

(e) The division of professional standards may not impose continuing education requirements upon an individual who receives a license under this section that are different from or in addition to the continuing education requirements imposed under this article.

(f) An individual:

(1) who:

(A) if the individual is a speech-language pathologist, receives a license under this section or received a license as a speech-language pathologist issued by the professional standards board before July 1, 2005; or

(B) if the individual is an audiologist, works in an educational setting;

(2) who has been the holder of a certificate of clinical competence in speech-language pathology or audiology or its equivalent issued by a nationally recognized association for speech-language pathology and audiology for at least three (3) consecutive years; and

(3) who has professional experience as a licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist in a school setting that is equivalent to the experience required for a teacher seeking national certification by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards;

is considered to have the equivalent of and is entitled to the same benefits that accrue to a holder of a national certification issued by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

As added by P.L.212-2005, SEC.67. Amended by P.L.1-2006, SEC.480; P.L.157-2006, SEC.75; P.L.1-2007, SEC.181; P.L.59-2007, SEC.1; P.L.197-2007, SEC.90.