ARC 0324D

ARC 0324D

INSPECTIONS AND APPEALS DEPARTMENT[481]

Notice of Intended Action

Proposing rulemaking related to licensure of speech pathologists
and audiologists and providing an opportunity for public comment

    The Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology hereby proposes to amend Chapter 740, “Licensure of Speech Pathologists and Audiologists,” Iowa Administrative Code.

Legal Authority for Rulemaking

    This rulemaking is proposed under the authority provided in Iowa Code chapters 147F and 154F and sections 272C.3 and 272C.10.

State or Federal Law Implemented

    This rulemaking implements, in whole or in part, Iowa Code chapters 17A, 147, 147F, 154F and 272C.

Purpose and Summary

    The proposed amendments define the requirements for participation in the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact, add background check requirements for all applicants and existing license holders, add background check requirements during license reactivation when a license has been inactive for two or more years and the licensee cannot provide evidence of active practice in another state, add a fee for the issuance of a compact privilege to practice in Iowa, and waive the compact privilege fee for an active duty military member or spouse.

Regulatory Analysis

    A Regulatory Analysis for this rulemaking was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on February 18, 2026. A public hearing was held on the following date(s):

     ?   March 10, 2026

Fiscal Impact

     This rulemaking has no fiscal impact to the State of Iowa.

Jobs Impact

    After analysis and review of this rulemaking, no impact on jobs has been found.

Waivers

    Any person who believes that the application of the discretionary provisions of this rulemaking would result in hardship or injustice to that person may petition the Board for a waiver of the discretionary provisions, if any, pursuant to 481—Chapter 6.

Public Comment

     Any interested person may submit written or oral comments concerning this proposed rulemaking, which must be received by the Board no later than 4:30 p.m. on June 16, 2026. Comments should be directed to:

Public Hearing

     A public hearing at which persons may present their views orally or in writing will be held as follows:

    Persons who wish to make oral comments at the public hearing may be asked to state their names for the record and to confine their remarks to the subject of this proposed rulemaking.

     Any persons who intend to attend the public hearing and have special requirements, such as those related to hearing or mobility impairments, should contact the Board and advise of specific needs.

Review by Administrative Rules Review Committee

    The Administrative Rules Review Committee, a bipartisan legislative committee which oversees rulemaking by executive branch agencies, may, on its own motion or on written request by any individual or group, review this rulemaking at its regular monthly meeting or at a special meeting. The Committee’s meetings are open to the public, and interested persons may be heard as provided in Iowa Code section 17A.8(6).

    The following rulemaking action is proposed:

    ITEM 1.  Amend rule 481—740.1(147), definitions of “Reactivate” and “Speech pathologist,” as follows:

    “Reactivate” or “reactivation” means the process as outlined in rule 481—740.11(17A,147,272C) 481—740.10(17A,147,272C) by which an inactive license is restored to active status.

    “Speech pathologist” or “speech-language pathologist” means a person who engages in the application of principles, methods, and procedures for the measurement, testing, evaluation, prediction, consultation, counseling, instruction, habilitation, rehabilitation, or remediation related to the development and disorders of speech, swallowing, fluency, voice, or language for the purpose of nonmedically evaluating, preventing, ameliorating, modifying, or remediating such disorders and conditions in individuals or groups of individuals.

    ITEM 2.  Adopt the following new definitions of “DCI,” “Department” and “FBI” in rule 481—740.1(147):

    “DCI” means the Iowa division of criminal investigation.

    “Department” means the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing.

    “FBI” means the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

    ITEM 3.  Rescind rule 481—740.2(147) and adopt the following new rule in lieu thereof:

481—740.2(147) Initial licensure. The following criteria will apply to licensure:

    740.2(1) Applicants will submit a completed online licensure application and pay the nonrefundable licensure fee specified in rule 481—507.20(147,154F).

    740.2(2) Application requirements.

    a.  Applicants who did not complete the nine months of clinical experience under supervision of a licensed Iowa speech pathologist or audiologist, as appropriate, must submit:

    (1)  An official copy of a current ASHA certificate of clinical competence; or

    (2)  Verification of current ABA certification.

    b.  Applicants who complete the nine-month clinical experience under Iowa supervision may submit evidence of licensure requirements as outlined in paragraph 740.2(2)“a” or must submit the following:

    (1)  Official copies of academic transcripts sent directly from the school to the board showing proof of completion of not less than 400 hours of supervised clinical training; and

    (2)  Verification of nine months of full-time clinical experience, or equivalent, completed after the master’s degree, under the supervision of a licensed speech pathologist or audiologist or as a part of the doctoral degree.

    c.  Results of the Praxis Examination.

    740.2(3) Applicants will submit required waivers and fingerprints pursuant to the board-approved process to facilitate a national criminal history background check by the DCI and the FBI. The cost of the criminal history background check by the DCI and the FBI shall be assessed to the applicant.

    740.2(4) An applicant who has been licensed in the District of Columbia or another state, territory, province or foreign country who has been a licensed speech pathologist or audiologist under the laws of another jurisdiction will provide verification of license from the jurisdiction in which the applicant has most recently been licensed sent directly from the jurisdiction to the board office. The applicant must also disclose any public or pending complaints against the applicant in any other jurisdiction. Web-based verification may be substituted for verification direct from the jurisdiction’s board office if the verification provides:

    a.  Licensee’s name;

    b.  Date of initial licensure;

    c.  Current licensure status; and

    d.  Any disciplinary action taken against the license.

    740.2(5) An applicant who has relocated to Iowa from a state that did not require licensure to practice the profession may submit proof of work experience in lieu of educational and training requirements, if eligible, in accordance with rule 481—501.2(272C).

    740.2(6) If the application is not completed according to the instructions, the application will not be reviewed by the board.

    ITEM 4.  Rescind subrule 740.3(2) and adopt the following new subrule in lieu thereof:

    740.3(2) Foreign-trained applicants.

    a.  Foreign-trained speech pathologist and audiologist applicants who do not hold a license in another state or U.S. territory shall provide an English translation and an equivalency evaluation at the licensee’s expense of the licensee’s educational credentials by one of the approved credential evaluation services on ABA’s or ASHA’s websites or approved by the board. The professional curriculum must be equivalent to that stated in these rules.

    b.  Foreign-trained applicants who hold a license in another state or U.S. territory may apply for licensure by endorsement.

    ITEM 5.  Rescind rule 481—740.5(147) and adopt the following new rule in lieu thereof:

481—740.5(147) Audiology and speech-language pathology interstate compact. The rules of the audiology and speech-language pathology interstate compact commission are incorporated by reference pursuant to Iowa Code section 147F.1. An audiologist or speech-language pathologist may engage in the practice of audiology or speech-language pathology in Iowa without a license issued by the board if the individual has a current compact privilege to practice in Iowa issued by the audiology and speech-language pathology interstate compact commission. The state fee for issuance of a compact privilege to practice in Iowa shall be $60, which will be collected by the speech-language pathology interstate compact commission. The state fee for issuance of a compact privilege to practice in Iowa shall be waived for an active-duty military member or spouse of an individual who is an active-duty military member. An audiologist or speech-language pathologist who practices audiology or speech-language pathology in Iowa using a compact privilege is subject to the rules governing licensees in rule 481—740.8(147) and in 481—Chapters 741 and 743. Complaints, investigations, and disciplinary proceedings involving a compact privilege shall be handled in accordance with Iowa Code chapters 17A, 147F, 154F and 272C and with 481—Chapters 503, 504, and 506.

    ITEM 6.  Rescind rule 481—740.9(147).

    ITEM 7.  Amend paragraph 740.10(3)“a” as follows:

    a.  Meet the continuing education requirements of rule 481—742.2(147) and the mandatory reporting requirements of subrule 740.10(4) 740.9(4). A licensee whose license was reactivated during the current renewal compliance period may use continuing education credit earned during the compliance period for the first renewal following reactivation; and

    ITEM 8.  Amend paragraph 740.10(4)“b” as follows:

    b.  The board may select licensees for audit of compliance with the requirements in paragraphs 740.11(4) 740.10(4)“a” and “b.”

    ITEM 9.  Adopt the following new subrule  740.10(9):

    740.10(9) Compact eligibility review. This rule applies to licensees who were licensed prior to enactment of this rule. In order to complete the compact eligibility review, at or prior to a licensee’s next renewal, the licensee must submit required waivers and fingerprints pursuant to the board-approved process to facilitate a national criminal history background check. The cost for the evaluation of the fingerprint packet and the DCI and the FBI criminal history background checks will be assessed to the applicant. The board may withhold issuing a license pending receipt of a report from the DCI and the FBI.

    ITEM 10.  Amend subparagraph 740.11(2)“a”(2) as follows:

    (2)  Verification of completion of 26 hours of continuing education within two years of application for reactivation or verification of active practice, consisting of a minimum of 2,080 hours, in another state or jurisdiction during the two years preceding an application for reactivation.

    ITEM 11.  Amend subparagraph 740.11(2)“b”(2) as follows:

    (2)  Verification of completion of 52 hours of continuing education within two years of application for reactivation or 26 hours of continuing education within two years of application for reactivation and verification of active practice, consisting of a minimum of 2,080 hours, in another state or jurisdiction during the two years preceding an application for reactivation; or

    ITEM 12.  Adopt the following new subrule  740.11(3):

    740.11(3) If the license has been inactive for two or more years and the licensee cannot provide verification of active practice, consisting of a minimum of 2,080 hours, in another state or jurisdiction during the two years preceding an application for reactivation, the licensee must submit required waivers and fingerprints pursuant to the board-approved process to facilitate a national criminal history background check. The cost for the evaluation of the fingerprint packet and the DCI and the FBI criminal history background checks will be assessed to the applicant. The board may withhold issuing a license pending receipt of a report from the DCI and the FBI.

    ITEM 13.  Renumber rules 481—740.10(147) to 481—740.12(17A,147,272C) as 481—740.9(147) to 481—740.11(17A,147,272C).