Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: The proposed rule changes update and modernize existing rules pertaining to hearing and speech services. The proposed revisions more clearly describe and clarify when a hearing aid specialist credential applicant may apply to take a written licensing exam. The proposed revisions also update postgraduate professional work experience requirements for audiologists and speech pathologists, supervision of audiologist and speech-language pathologist interim permit holders, and approval of educational programs for hearing aid specialist instruction. These updates and revisions will assure that the public receives quality audiology services from well-educated, qualified providers, consistent with the intent of chapter 18.35 RCW.

(1) ((All))A hearing aid specialist credential applicant((s are))is required to take the written International Licensing Exam developed by the International Hearing Society or other entity approved by the board. An applicant((s)) must obtain a passing score as recommended by the examination administrator and as approved by the board. An applicant may apply to take the written examination no more than ninety days prior to the anticipated completion date of the educational program. The anticipated completion date must be verified by the educational program.

(2) Hearing aid specialist credential applicants who have completed a board-approved nine-month certificate program are required to take the practical examination approved by the board. Applicants must obtain a passing score as recommended by the examination administrator and as approved by the board.

(3) Audiology credential applicants are required to take the Praxis audiology exam or other entity approved by the board. Applicants must obtain a passing score as recommended by the examination administrator and as approved by the board.

(4) Speech-language pathologist credential applicants are required to take the Praxis speech-language pathology exam or other entity approved by the board. Applicants must obtain a passing score as recommended by the examination administrator and as approved by the board.

(5) All credential applicants are required to take and pass a jurisprudence examination approved by the board. The passing score on the jurisprudence examination is one hundred percent.

The ((following)) definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) "Board-approved institution of higher education" means:

(a) An institution offering a program in audiology or speech-language pathology leading to a master's degree or its equivalent, or a doctorate degree or its equivalent, that has been accredited by the council on academic accreditation in audiology and speech-language pathology, or an equivalent program.

(b) An institution offering a speech-language pathology assistant program or a speech, language, and hearing program approved by the state board for community and technical colleges, the higher education coordinating board, or an equivalent body from another state or province. Institutions where education was obtained outside of the United States or Canada has an equivalency determination completed by the board. This program must lead to an associate of arts or sciences degree, certificate of proficiency, or bachelor of arts or sciences degree.

(c) A board-approved institution must integrate instruction in multicultural health as part of its basic education preparation curriculum under RCW 43.70.615.

(2) "Direct supervision" means the supervisor is on-site and in view during the procedures or tasks.

(3) "Indirect supervision" means the procedures or tasks are performed under the supervising speech-language pathologist's, audiologist's, or hearing aid specialist's overall direction and control and the supervisor is accessible, but the supervisor's presence is not required during the performance of procedures or tasks.

(4) "Place or places of business" means a permanent address open to the public, which may include an "establishment" as defined in RCW 18.35.010(6), where a licensee engages in the fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments.

(5) "Postgraduate professional work experience" means a supervised full-time professional experience, or the part-time equivalent, as defined in these rules, involving direct patient or client contact, consultations, recordkeeping, and administrative duties relevant to a bona fide program of clinical work((.

(a) "Full-time professional experience" means at least 30 hours per week over 36 weeks. Postgraduate professional work experience must be obtained over a period of at least 36 weeks. Applicants who obtain an Au.D. at a board-approved institution of higher education are considered to have met the postgraduate professional work experience requirement.

(b) "Part-time equivalent" means any of the following:

(i) 15-19 hours per week over 72 weeks;

(ii) 20-24 hours per week over 60 weeks;

(iii) 25-29 hours per week over 48 weeks)). Applicants who obtain an Au.D. at a board-approved institution of higher education are considered to have met the postgraduate professional work experience requirement.

(6) "Purchaser" or "buyer" means a patient, client, or legally authorized representative.

(1) The department will issue an interim permit to any audiologist or speech-language pathologist applicant who has shown to the satisfaction of the department that the applicant:

(a) Has completed the academic course work and clinical practicum as required in RCW 18.35.040.

(b) Is supervised by a speech-language pathologist or audiologist who is licensed and in good standing under chapter 18.35 RCW unless otherwise approved by the board.

(2) The interim permit must contain the name and title of the approved supervisor ((licensed under chapter 18.35 RCW)).

(3) The interim permit expires one year from the date it is issued. The board may extend the interim permit up to an additional twenty-four months to accommodate part-time postgraduate professional work experience or upon request of the interim permit holder due to illness or extenuating circumstances.

(1)(a) The interim permit period must consist of at least thirty-six weeks of full-time postgraduate professional work experience or its part-time equivalent.

(((a)))(b) Full-time post graduate professional experience means at least thirty hours per week over thirty-six weeks. Postgraduate professional work experience must be obtained over a period of at least thirty-six weeks, with a total of at least one thousand eighty hours completed.

(c) Part-time equivalent means at least fifteen hours per week completed within a thirty-six to seventy-two week time frame, with a total of at least one thousand eighty hours completed. The board may extend the interim permit period under WAC 246-828-045.

(d) Postgraduate professional work experience of less than fifteen hours per week does not meet the requirement and may not be counted toward the postgraduate professional work experience. Experience of more than thirty hours per week may not be used to shorten the postgraduate professional work experience to less than thirty-six weeks.

(((b)))(2) The supervisor must submit to the department, on a form provided by the department, documentation of supervision and progress during the postgraduate professional work experience, at the end of ((each three-month period.

(2)))the postgraduate professional work experience, unless there are concerns documented by the supervisor. Documented concerns must be submitted to the department within thirty days.

(3) Postgraduate professional work experience will be accepted if completed under a supervisor who is licensed and in good standing under chapter 18.35 RCW or holds a license in another state that the board has determined to be substantially equivalent to Washington state.

(4) The supervisor must cosign all purchase agreements in the fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments.

(1) The supervisor may delegate portions of the supervisory activities to another ((qualified))licensed supervisor of the same discipline ((in another facility))working for the same employer or contracting entity. Before delegating supervision responsibility to another licensed supervisor of the same discipline working for a different employer or contracting entity, the supervisor must obtain department approval.

(2) An interim permit holder may have more than one approved supervisor when working under more than one employer or contracting entity.

(3) The department may approve a qualified supervisor upon the written request of the supervisor or the interim permit holder.

(((3)))(4) The supervisor of an interim permit holder who desires to terminate the responsibility as supervisor must immediately notify the department in writing of the termination. The supervisor is responsible for the interim permit holder until the notification of termination is received by the department.

(((4)))(5) The interim permit holder must immediately report the termination of a supervisor to the department in writing. The interim permit holder may only practice with an approved supervisor.

(((5)))(6) An audiologist or speech-language pathologist licensed and in good standing under chapter 18.35 RCW may supervise up to four interim permit holders concurrently.

(1) Minimum educational requirements for licensure to practice as a hearing aid specialist in Washington are:

(a) Satisfactory completion of a two-year degree program in hearing aid specialist instruction approved by the board. The board will consider for approval any program which meets the requirements as outlined in this section; ((or))

(b) A two-year or four-year degree in a field of study approved by the board from an accredited institution and satisfactory completion of a nine-month certificate program in hearing aid specialist instruction approved by the board. Two-year and four-year degrees must be completed prior to enrolling in a nine-month certificate program. The board will consider for approval any program which meets the requirements as outlined in this section((.)); or

(c) Acceptable prerequisite degrees for entry into nine-month certificate programs are baccalaureate or associate degrees from accredited institutions in any field of study which include at least five quarter credits or four semester credits each of 100 level or greater English composition((, basic math,)) and humanities, and at least four quarter credits or three semester credits of 100 level or greater basic math.

(2) Procedure for approval of two-year degree programs in hearing aid specialist instruction:

(a) An authorized representative of an institution may apply for approval from the board.

(b) The application for approval must be submitted on forms provided by the department.

(c) The authorized representative of the program may request approval of the program as of the date of the application or retroactively to a specified date.

(d) The program application for approval must include, but may not be limited to, documentation required by the board pertaining to curriculum standards as set in WAC 246-828-615.

(e) A program must be fully recognized by the appropriate accreditation body in that jurisdiction.

(f) The board will evaluate the application and may conduct a site inspection of the program prior to granting approval by the board.

(g) Upon completion of the evaluation of the application, the board may grant or deny approval or grant approval conditioned upon appropriate modification of the application.

(h) An authorized representative of an approved program must notify the board of significant changes with respect to information provided on the application within sixty days of change.

(3) Procedure for approval of nine-month certificate programs in hearing aid specialist instruction:

(a) An authorized representative of a program may apply for approval from the board.

(b) The application for approval must be submitted on forms provided by the department.

(c) The authorized representative of the program may request approval of the program as of the date of the application or retroactively to a specified date.

(d) The program application for approval must include, but may not be limited to, documentation required by the board pertaining to curriculum standards as set in WAC 246-828-615.

(e) The board will evaluate the application and may conduct a site inspection of the program prior to granting approval by the board.

(f) Upon completion of the evaluation of the application, the board may grant or deny approval or grant approval conditioned upon appropriate modification of the application.

(g) An authorized representative of an approved program must notify the board of significant changes with respect to information provided on the application within sixty days of change.

(4) The board may inspect a currently approved program or a program requesting approval. These inspections may be at any reasonable time during the normal business hours of the program. The board may withdraw its approval if it finds the program has failed to comply with requirements of law, administrative rules, or representations in the application.