PENNSYLVANIA SPEECH-LANGUAGE-HEARING ASSOCIATION
LEGISLATION
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Act 48, The Law States, educators must maintain their education certificates as active by earning 6 collegiate or 6 PDE approved in-service credits or 180 continuing education hours or any combination of the above every 5 years. The five-year period began July 1, 2000. For those individuals who were issued their certificates in August 2000 and thereafter, the five-year period begins with the effective date of issuance of the initial certificate.
Act 71, After many years of attempting to amend the Speech-Language and Hearing Licensure Act to include a requirement for continuing education, PSHA was finally successful! On October 18, 2000, Governor Ridge signed HB 398 into law as “Act No. 71 of 2000”. Thanks to the sponsor of the bill, Representative Wilt, the co-sponsors, our lobbyist David Tive, and all our PSHA members and allies who took the time to write or call their elected officials in Harrisburg about this issue! A copy of the law may be obtained on the PA General Assembly’s website www.legis.state.pa.us through the “electronic bill room” (look up HB 398 or the 99-00 session).
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What does Act 71 require? The new law will require the demonstration of satisfactory completion of 20 CLOCK hours of continuing education related to the practice of speech language pathology, audiology, or teaching hearing impaired “in accordance with board regulations” for renewal. Note that the State Board of Examiners in Speech, Language and Hearing has not yet issued these regulations. |
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To whom does this requirement apply? The continuing education requirement under Act 71 will apply to all individuals who are licensed by the State Board of Examiners in Speech, Language and Hearing. |
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When does this requirement take effect? At this time, the State Board of Examiners have not set any dates when the continuing education requirements will begin. |
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What kinds of courses will “count”? what won’t? The law indicates that no credit may be given for courses in office management or practice building. Other details (e.g. requirements regarding the sponsorship of continuing education and other issues pertaining to quality) will probably be expanded upon in the State Board’s regulations. |
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What if something happens and I am unable to complete the continuing education requirement? Act 71 provides for a waiver for individuals who are unable to comply with the continuing education requirement due to illness, emergency, or hardship. The request for the waiver must be made in writing, and must include a description of the circumstances sufficient to show why a licensee is unable to comply. Waiver requests will be evaluated by the board on a case-by case basis, and the decision of the board will be communicated in writing. |
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How does Act 71 relate to requirements under Act 48? Act 48 addresses continuing education for “professional educators”, e.g. the maintenance of one’s teaching credential as issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. If you maintain both the teaching certification and your state license, it is likely that you will be able to “count” hours earned for Act 48 IF those hours meet the guidelines that are spelled out in Act 71 and in subsequent regulations. (For information on whether Act 71 hours will be accepted under Act 48, consult the PSHA Fact Sheet on Act 48!). |
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Does the law do anything else? Yes. The law addresses issues pertaining to “impaired professionals”, i.e. an individual who has an addictive disease or who is otherwise mentally or physically incompetent to carry out the duties of the profession. There are specific requirements in the law regarding the reporting of such persons, corrective actions of the board regarding the impaired professional, the suspension or revocation of license when such a person is in treatment or leaves treatment. All licensees are encouraged to review the actual text of the law and, once they are promulgated, the regulations. |
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Who can I contact if I have additional questions? Feel free to contact Marjorie DeBlander, marjorie.deblander@genesishcc.com |
In addition, the State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language and Hearing can be contacted at speech@pados.dos.state.pa.us or www.dos.state.pa.us/bpoa/sped.
PA Delegation to ASHA Legislative Council, Elected by ASHA Members
| Hannah R. Bell |
| Craig Edward Coleman |
| Mari C. Doran |
| Ellen R. Estomin |
| Amy S. Goldman |
| Doris F. Snyder |
| What are the issues that are most important to you? Are you willing to help change the systems to improve access to, payment for, and the quality of speech, language, and hearing services for Pennsylvanians with disabilities? Please take a few moments to tell us what your interests and concerns are, and how you wish to join our advocacy efforts by clicking here. |
MAILING
LIST AND BULLETIN BOARDS
| Electronic Resources for Disability Advocacy and Information Justice For All The premiere national disability advocacy listserv, chaired by Fred Fay. One of the highlights of this listserv are periodic messages from Justin Dart. To subscribe or unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@mailbot.com. In the body of your message write subscribe justice (or - unsubscribe justice - when you've had enough, or if you're going to be away from your e-mail for a while). The web address for Justice For All is www.JFANOW.org |
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National Council on Disability (NCD) Monthly Bulletin The Bulletin, which is free of charge, brings the latest issues and news affecting people with disabilities. On the Internet, go to ww.ncd.gov to find the Bulletin as well as other important information, including documents like the NCD 1998 Progress Report on Disability Policy. For print copies, call 202-272-2004 (voice) or 202-272-2074 (TTY), or write to Mark S. Quigley, Public Afairs Specialist, National Council on Disability, 1331 F Street NW, Suite 1050, Washington, DC 20004. |
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Don't know who your federal or state elected officials are? Go to www.vote-smart.org You will need to use your zip + 4, but don't worry - if you don't know the whole thing, this web page has a link that can get it for you! |
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A treasure trove of government links can be found through the Mesa State University Political Science home page, mesastate.edu/sbs/pols/424resource.htm |
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The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Our professional association has a well-maintained web site (www.professional.asha.org) that can help you learn about issues relating to the profession, and how you can advocate for political change. Resources include information on the legislative process; writing, calling, or visiting your elected officials; definitions and other legislative links; action alerts; etc. You can join ASHA's electronic advocacy networks, HealthNet and EdNet, via the web site search or go directly to congress.nw.dc.us/cgi-bin/joinmaillist.pl?dir=asha&command=new. |
You can also call the ASHA Director of Grassroots Advocacy at 301-897-5700.