The new Arizona Department of Education Certificates for Speech Language Pathology will go into effect January 1, 2007.
 
Speech Therapists who currently hold the Speech/Language Impaired Certificate will renew or convert into one of the following new certificates. 
 
1.  If you have a Bachelor's degree in Speech Pathology, Speech-Hearing Sciences, or Communication disorders, you will renew/convert into the Speech-Language Technician Certificate.  The renewal requirement for the Speech-Language Technician Certificate is "180 clock hours of graduate level coursework in the field of speech pathology, or professional development in the areas of articulation, voice, fluency, language disorders, low incidence disabilities, professional issues and ethics, or service delivery models."   Speech-Language Technicians will be required to complete either 12 semester hours of graduate coursework in speech pathology, or 180 clock hours of professional development, or a combination of the two.  If they are using coursework, it must be graduate coursework in speech pathology.  Each semester hour of graduate coursework is equivalent to 15 clock hours of professional development.

2.  If you have a Master's degree in Speech Pathology or Communication Disorders, you will renew/convert into the Speech-Language Pathologist Certificate. The renewal requirement for the Speech-Language Pathologist Certificate will be 60 clock hours of professional development "in the field of speech pathology, or professional development in the areas of articulation, voice, fluency, language, low incidence disabilities, curriculum and instruction, professional issues and ethics, or service delivery models." 
 
Renewals/conversions will NOT need to show ADE the clinical clock hours, Certificate of Clinical Competence, exam, etc. when you renew or convert into the new certificate.  You will be required to submit an official transcript.  This will not need to be in a sealed envelope; however, it does need to be the original, official transcript (not a photocopy or unofficial transcript).

Individuals who hold the Standard Speech / Language Impaired certificate will be required to show completion of 180 clock hours of professional development as described on the current renewal form.  The new renewal requirement will take effect once they renew into the Speech-Language Pathologist or Technician certificate.
 
Individuals who have AZ Constitution and / or US History deficiencies on their Speech / Language Impaired Certificates will not be required to satisfy those deficiencies when they convert into the new certificate. 
 
Structured English Immersion will NOT  be a requirement for renewal/conversion to the new certificates.
 
 
REMEMBER YOU MUST HAVE A DHS LICENSE TO PRACTICE SPEECH THERAPY ANYWHERE IN ARIZONA! 

As the professions of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology continue to face ongoing challenges and changes your continued support of, and participation in our state association is now more important than ever.  Speech-language pathologists and audiologists within the state of Arizona need local representation to help deliver high quality services and programs to their consumers. Membership in ArSHA offers you opportunities for networking with other professionals within our field, a state wide annual convention with access to continuing educational opportunities at a discounted rate (ASHA and AZ Department of Health CEUs), lobbyist to advocate and monitor key legislative and licensing board issues, quarterly newsletters featuring professional resources and information on upcoming activities, access to a dynamic website with sections for members, students, and consumers, and an organizational structure that monitors every aspect of our profession and offers numerous opportunities for participation.

Each of us view and practice our profession in our own individual way.  ArSHA is designed to bring all of these views into one professional group.  Our mission is to include all areas in our support and conferences.  We cannot represent you, however, if you are not a part. The strength of ArSHA depends on the strength and depth of our membership. Every member counts!

Thank you for joining ArSHA. Click here to become a member or renew your membership so we can further expand the resources available to Arizona’s Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

The state of Arizona legislature has recently passed licensure for SLPA’s.  The statute is currently being reviewed by the Arizona Department of Health Services (SLP licensing body) to determine the need for additional rules and regulations.  You can review the attached senate bill to see the statute requirements for SLPA.  We will let you know as we receive additional information.

During the past two years several ArSHA members were involved on a committee at the Arizona Department of Education (DOE) to address certification changes for Speech Language Pathologists in the state of Arizona. The results of the committee meetings were then forwarded to the state board of education for review. The rules were open for public comment and the DOE held an open hearing. On 8-29-06 the Arizona State Board of Education approved the Certification changes which will go into effect January 1, 2007.