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 PENNSYLVANIA SPEECH-LANGUAGE-HEARING ASSOCIATION |
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PSHA NEWS
The Importance of Universal Licensure
Our new Licensure bill will require all speech language pathologists and audiologists in Pennsylvania to hold a license, regardless of practice setting. Currently, individuals who practice in state and federal agencies, including the public schools in Pennsylvania do not need a license. This sets up an unfair “tier system” with less qualified therapists responsible for a large section of the service delivery system. Having universal licensure ensures that everyone practices under the same standards and code of ethics.
A licensed SLP is a highly qualified provider, in private practice, healthcare and in education settings. Should an adult or child be evaluated by an unlicensed professional? Think about it—would you hire an unlicensed plumber? What would happen if you went to a hairdresser who did not have a license? Should anyone receive a swallowing evaluation and treatment from someone without a professional license?
Licensed SLPs and audiologists are required to have continuing education credits that focus explicitly on their practice related skills. These are provided by professionals outside of their practice setting in order to broaden the skill base. Licensure is important to ALL SLPs, not just those in private practice, hospitals and nursing homes.
It is also worth noting that universal licensure is not intended to replace Department of Education certification—PDE can still come up with its own requirements. Universal licensure just assures that all new, entry level professionals hold the license, regardless of practice setting and certification status.
The rewrite of our licensure bill has been introduced in both the PA Senate as Senate Bill 710 and the House as House Bill 1653. Please write to your legislators in support of these bills.
Kathleen R. Helfrich-Miller, Ph.D. CCC Vice President for Governmental Affairs Pennsylvania Speech Language Hearing Association
Grassroots Pressure Needed for Movement on Licensure Bill
NEW Career Center For All Your Job Searching Needs
Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association has launched a NEW Career Center, for all your job searching and placements needs.
As a job seeker, you will find jobs that are specific to the industry, these are targeted opportunities that can’t be found on larger job board websites.
What can you do at the New Career Center? Post your resume anonymously, all of your information is displayed in your resume EXCEPT for your name and contact information. You can divulge as much or as little in your resume posting as you see fit. This service has the ability to keep active and passive job seekers connected to the employment market while maintaining full control over their confidential information.
Personal Job Alerts you can set up job alerts! When a job is posted that meets the criteria that you have selected, you will get an email notifying you that that job was posted. This means that you will never miss an opportunity, and you won’t have to filter through the job bank. You can save searches, store jobs, keep notes, communicate with employers through an internal messaging system, and more!
As an employer, the career center gives you an all inclusive recruiting center to help develop and grow your staff. Broadcast you job postings, daily emails will be sent to jobseekers, search the RESUME BANK and pay only for resumes of jobseekers interested in your position. Create a free company profile and have your logo displayed on all job posting with an overviews of your company.
Visit the Pennsylvania Speech Language Hearing Association CAREER CENTER today at www.psha.org
The rewrite of our licensure bill has been introduced in both the PA Senate as Senate Bill 710 and the House as House Bill 1653 .
Senate Bill 710 introduced by Senator John Gordner was referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. For the past several years, the various professions licensed under the State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language and Hearing (BOE) have been in discussion on appropriate updates to the practice act, including new definitions of the practice of audiology and speech-language pathology, composition of the BOE, and the credentialing required for licensure.
Bills have been introduced in past sessions, but agreement was never reached, and the bills died. The Pennsylvania Speech and Hearing Association (PSHA) collaborated with the Pennsylvania Academy of Audiology (PAA) to draft an update of our licensure act to reflect the current level of education and scope of practice of speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Through the collaboration of PSHA and PAA, the changes in the law that we seek with this bill will correct the numerous statutory restrictions and requirements that have no basis in the education or skill levels of speech-language pathologists, audiologists, or teachers of the hearing impaired. The intent of this act is better, more accessible speech-language and hearing care, practiced by trained, qualified professionals to ensure greater confidence for the public that the highest standards of competent service provision is being met.
Our lobbyist, David Tive, and PAA’s lobbyist, Ted Mowatt, have already met with many stakeholders to discuss the bill. PSHA’s executive board has collaborated with ASHA and other organizations and has agreed on several updates that should be added to the bill. With these updates, ASHA has endorsed the bill.
For your reference, click here for the text of Senate Bill 710 and click here for a copy of the letter PSHA sent to Senator Gordner.
Your help WILL be needed at the appropriate time to move the bill out of the committee and onto the floor of the Senate for a vote.
In the meantime, a simple letter of thanks to Senator Gordner would be appreciated.
The Senator’s address is:
Senator John Gordner Main Capitol Room 351 Harrisburg, Pa. 17120
It’s an exciting time to get involved in legislative advocacy. With your help and support, the dream of an updated licensure act will become a reality.
PSHA APPROVED TO OFFER ACT 48 HOURS FOR ASHA WORKSHOPS! PSHA has continued to work for its members to offer additional ways to meet the PDE Act 48 requirements. Now PSHA has been approved to convert attendance to workshops that offer ASHA CEUs into Act 48 hours. All eligible workshops must meet the PDE requirements by relating to the attainment of the K-12 academic standards. Ways to do so: ** ASHA Convention attendance ** ASHA Approved CEU workshops To obtain an ASHA CEU/Act 48 Conversion Form, click here. For more information or questions, contact the PSHA Office at psha@psha.org.
Do you have PSHA News, email the PSHA Office at PSHA@psha.org.
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