West Virginia Public School Audiologists Seek Licensing

A recent story broadcast by WOWK, a CBS-affiliated television station in West Virginia, called attention to an important issue affecting the present and future hearing health of West Virginian children. West Virginia’s Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology are seeking to overturn “a bill passed in 1992 [that] exempted audiologists and speech language pathology specialists working in public schools from [being] licensed.”

While West Virginia has higher standard than many states in this area, the Board feels “now is the time to look at the rule and require specialists in public schools to obtain a licensing.” To be licensed by the board, specialists must have a master’s degree and six years of in-field training. Ironically, the push for this change has come mostly from within the field, as audiologists themselves have “encouraged the board” to correct this “critical error.”

The main deterrent the board has faced in making this change as been the cost that such licensing would present to the state; for “some county boards of education do not have the money available to pay for certification and continuing education that is required of board-licensed specialists.” Despite this the “Board seeks to overturn this precedent,” and ensure that all ‘audiologists and speech language pathology specialists working in public schools’ since 1992 will have professional licenses.

CLICK HERE to read the original article and learn more about this change.