(a) Any person wishing to practice or represent such person as a speech language pathologist or audiologist in this state shall obtain a license from the board. Unless such person obtains a license, it is unlawful for such person to practice or represent such person as a speech language pathologist or audiologist as defined in § 63-17-103; and if that person so practices or represents, the person shall be considered to have violated this chapter.

(b) To be eligible for licensure by the board as a speech language pathologist or audiologist, the applicant must:

(1) Be of good moral character, be eighteen (18) years of age or older and possess at least a master's degree in the area of speech language pathology or audiology obtained from educational institutions approved by the board according to the regulations duly adopted under this chapter;

(2) Pass an examination covering the areas of speech language pathology, audiology and speech and hearing services approved by the board. The board determines the scope of the examinations. Written examinations may be supplemented by such oral examinations as the board determines. An applicant who fails the examination may be reexamined at a subsequent examination upon payment of another examination fee; and

(3) Submit evidence of the completion of the educational, clinical experience and employment requirements prescribed by the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter.

(c)

(1) A person who has completed the educational requirements for licensure as a speech language pathologist and has received at least a master's degree from an approved educational institution may apply for and receive from the board a provisional license to practice as a clinical fellow during the person's period of supervised clinical experience. The board may adopt rules to establish standards and procedures to govern provisional licenses and the provisional license fee.

(2) Until such time as the board has adopted rules to establish standards and procedures to govern provisional licenses, the provisions of Rules and Regulations of the State of Tennessee, Rule 1370-01-.10, governing registration of clinical fellows, apply to persons seeking a provisional license to practice as a clinical fellow during the period of supervised clinical experience.

(3) Any person who, on May 8, 2019, has been registered as a clinical fellow pursuant to Rules and Regulations of the State of Tennessee, Rule 1370-01-.10, is deemed to have a provisional license for the same period of time that the person's registration would be effective under that rule.

(d) A person who applies for licensure as an audiologist on or after January 1, 2009, shall possess a doctoral degree from an accredited educational program approved by the board. The doctoral degree may be a doctor of audiology degree (Au.D.) or other doctoral degree approved by the board. In addition to possessing a doctoral degree, the applicant shall meet the other requirements of subsection (b), except that the doctoral degree shall be in lieu of the master's degree previously required of applicants.

(e) The requirement to have a doctoral degree shall not apply to audiologists who were licensed in this or any other state prior to January 1, 2009.