“Accredited Educational Institution” - A university or college that offers speech-language pathology or audiology graduate degrees and that is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, a body recognized by the United States Department of Education, or an equivalent as determined by the commissioner.

“Advisory Council” - The Minnesota Speech-Language Pathologist and Audiologist Advisory Council.

“Applicant” - A person who applies to the commissioner for licensure or licensure renewal.

“Continuing Education Sponsor” - An organization that offers a learning experience designed to promote continuing competency in the procedures and techniques of the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology.

“Commissioner” - The commissioner of health or a designee.

“Contact Hour” - An instructional session of sixty (60) consecutive minutes, excluding coffee breaks, registration, meals without a speaker, and social activities.

“Continuing Education” - A planned learning experience in speech-language pathology or audiology not including the basic educational program leading to a degree if the education is used by the licensee for credit to achieve a baccalaureate or master's degree in speech-language pathology or audiology.

“Credential” - A license, permit, certification, registration, or other evidence of qualification or authorization to engage in the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology issued by any authority.

“Practice of Speech-Language Pathology” - Includes:

• Identification, assessment, and interpretation, diagnosis, habilitation, rehabilitation, treatment and prevention of disorders of speech, articulation, fluency, voice, and language;
• Identification, assessment, and interpretation, diagnosis, habilitation, and rehabilitation of disorders of oral-pharyngeal function and related disorders;
• Identification, assessment, and interpretation, diagnosis, habilitation, and rehabilitation of communication disorders associated with cognition;
• Assessing, selecting, and developing augmentative and alternative communication systems and providing training in their use;
• Aural habilitation and rehabilitation and related counseling for individuals who are deaf, deafblind, and hard-of-hearing and their families;
• Enhancing speech-language proficiency and communication effectiveness;
• Screening individuals for hearing loss or middle ear pathology for the purposes of speech-language evaluation or for the identification of possible hearing disorders; or
• Supervision of the functions above.

“Speech-Language Pathologist” - A person who practices speech-language pathology, meets the qualifications and is licensed by the commissioner. Speech-language pathologist also means a natural person using, as an occupational title.

“Speech-Language Pathology Assistant” - A person who provides speech-language pathology services under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist.

“Supervisee” - A person who, under the direction or evaluation of a supervisor, is:

• Engaging in the supervised practice of speech-language pathology or audiology;
• Performing a function of supervised clinical training as a student of speech-language pathology or audiology; or
• Performing a function of supervised postgraduate or doctoral clinical experience in speech-language pathology or audiology.

“Supervision” - The direct or indirect evaluation or direction of:

• A practitioner of speech-language pathology or audiology;
• A person performing a function of supervised clinical training as a student of speech-language pathology or audiology;
• A person performing a function of supervised postgraduate clinical experience in speech-language pathology or audiology; or
• A speech-language pathology assistant in accordance with section 148.5192.

“Supervisor” - A person who has the authority to direct or evaluate a supervisee and who:

• Is a licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist; or
• When the commissioner determines that supervision by a licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist as required is unobtainable, and in other situations considered appropriate by the commissioner, is a person practicing speech-language pathology or audiology who holds a current certificate of clinical competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or board certification in audiology by the American Board of Audiology.

Reference

Minn. Stat. § 148.512