ARC 8306C

ARC 8306C

Proposing rulemaking related to issuance of professional service licenses
and providing an opportunity for public comment

A Regulatory Analysis for this rulemaking was published in the Iowa Administrative Bulletin on August 21, 2024. A public hearing was held on the following date(s):

●September 11, 2024

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

ITEM 1.Rescind 282—Chapter 27 and adopt the following new chapter in lieu thereof:

CHAPTER 27

ISSUANCE OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICE LICENSES

282—27.1(256) Professional service license. A professional service license may be issued in the following areas but does not permit service as a teacher:

1.School counselor.

2.School psychologist.

3.Speech-language pathologist.

4.Supervisor of special education (support).

5.Director of special education of an area education agency.

6.School social worker.

7.School audiologist.

282—27.2(256) Requirements for a professional service license.

27.2(1) Initial professional service license. An initial professional service license valid for a minimum of two years with an expiration date of June 30 may be issued to an applicant for licensure who has a master’s degree in a recognized professional educational service area set forth in rule 282—27.1(256) and who has completed a state-approved program for a professional service license endorsement.

27.2(2) Standard professional service license. A standard professional service license valid for five years may be issued to an applicant who meets the general requirements set forth in this rule and Iowa Code section 256.163.

27.2(3) School counseling Class G license. A nonrenewable Class G license valid for one year may be issued to an individual who is required to complete a school counseling practicum or internship in an approved program in preparation for the professional school counselor endorsement. The Class G license may be issued under the following limited conditions:

a.Verification of a baccalaureate degree.

b.Verification from the institution that the individual is admitted and enrolled in a school counseling program.

c.Verification that the individual has completed at least 75 percent of the coursework and competencies required prior to the practicum or internship.

27.2(4) School psychologist one-year Class A license. A nonrenewable Class A license valid for one year may be issued to an individual who is required to complete an internship or thesis as an aspect of an approved program in preparation for the school psychologist endorsement. The one-year Class A license may be issued under the following limited conditions:

a.Verification from the institution that the internship or thesis is a requirement for successful completion of the program.

b.Verification that the employment situation will be satisfactory for the internship experience.

c.Verification from the institution of the length of the approved and planned internship or the anticipated completion date of the thesis.

d.Verification of the evaluation processes for successful completion of the internship or thesis.

e.Verification that the internship or thesis is the only requirement remaining for successful completion of the approved program.

282—27.3(256) Specific requirements for professional service license endorsements.

27.3(1) Professional school counselor—K-8 and 5-12.

a.Program requirements.

(1)Master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education.

(2)Completion of an approved human relations component.

(3)Completion of an approved exceptional learner component.

b.Content. Completion of the competencies and coursework set forth in
282—subrule 13.10(24).

27.3(2) School psychologist—birth to age 21.

a.Program requirements. An applicant will have completed a program of graduate study that is currently approved (or that was approved at the time of graduation) by the National Association of School Psychologists or the American Psychological Association, or be certified as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist by the National Association of School Psychologists, in preparation for service as a school psychologist through one of the following options:

(1)Completion of a master’s degree with sufficient graduate semester hours beyond a baccalaureate degree to total 60; or

(2)Completion of a specialist’s degree of at least 60 graduate semester hours with or without completion of a terminal master’s degree program; or

(3)Completion of a doctoral degree program of at least 60 graduate semester hours with or without completion of a terminal master’s degree program or specialist’s degree program.

b.Additional content.

(1)Completion of an approved human relations component.

(2)Completion of an approved exceptional learner component.

27.3(3) Speech-language pathologist—birth to age 21.

a.Program requirements.

(1)An applicant will hold a master’s degree in speech pathology.

(2)Content. An applicant will have completed the requirements in speech pathology and in the professional education sequence (i.e., 20 semester hours including student teaching/internship as a school speech-language pathologist). Courses in the following areas may be recognized for fulfilling the 20-hour sequence:

1.Curriculum courses (e.g., reading, methods, curriculum development).

2.Foundations (e.g., philosophy of education, foundations of education).

3.Educational measurements (e.g., school finance, tests and measurements, measures and evaluation of instruction).

4.Educational psychology (e.g., educational psychology, educational psychology measures, principles of behavior modification).

5.Courses in special education (e.g., introduction to special education, learning disabilities).

6.Child development courses (e.g., human growth and development, principles and theories of child development, history and theories of early childhood education).

NOTE: General education courses (e.g., introduction to psychology, sociology, history, literature, humanities) will not be credited toward fulfillment of the required 20 hours.

(3)An applicant will have completed an approved human relations component.

(4)An applicant will have completed an approved exceptional learner component.

b.A person may meet the requirements in this subrule or the requirements for a statement of professional recognition (SPR) in this area as set forth in 282—Chapter 16.

27.3(4) Professional service administrator. The holder of this endorsement is authorized to serve as a supervisor of special education support programs. However, an individual holding an SPR is not eligible for the professional service administrator endorsement.

a.Program requirements.

(1)An applicant will hold a master’s degree in preparation for school psychology, speech/language pathology, audiology (or education of students who are deaf or hard of hearing), or social work.

(2)Content. The program will include a minimum of 16 graduate semester hours to specifically include the following:

1.Consultation process in special or regular education.

2.Current issues in special education administration including school law/special education law.

3.Program evaluation.

4.Educational leadership.

5.Administration and supervision of special education.

6.Practicum: Special education administration. This requirement may be waived based on two years of experience as a special education administrator.

7.School personnel administration.

8.Evaluator approval component.

b.Other. The applicant will:

(1)Have four years of support service in a school setting with special education students in the specific discipline area desired.

(2)Meet the practitioner licensure requirements of one of the following endorsements:

1.School audiologist (or deaf or hard of hearing at K-8 and 5-12).

2.School psychologist.

3.School social worker.

4.Speech-language pathologist.

27.3(5) School social worker—birth to age 21.

a.Program requirements. An applicant will hold a master’s degree in social work from an accredited school of social work to include a minimum of 20 semester hours of coursework (including practicum experience) that demonstrates skills, knowledge, and competencies in the following areas:

(1)Social work.

1.Assessment (e.g., social, emotional, behavioral, and familial).

2.Intervention (e.g., individual, group, and family counseling).

3.Related studies (e.g., community resource coordination, multidiscipline teaming, organizational behavior, and research).

(2)Education.

1.General education (e.g., school law, foundations of education, methods, psychoeducational measurement, behavior management, child development).

2.Special education (e.g., exceptional children, psychoeducational measurement, behavior management, special education regulations, counseling school-age children).

(3)Practicum experience. A practicum experience in a school setting under the supervision of an experienced school social work practitioner is required. The practicum will include experiences that lead to the development of professional identity and the disciplined use of self. These experiences will include assessment, direct services to children and families, consultation, staffing, community liaison and documentation. If a person has served two years as a school social worker, the practicum experience can be waived.

(4)Completion of an approved human relations component.

(5)Completion of an approved exceptional learner component.

b.A person may meet the requirements in this subrule or the requirements for an SPR in this area as set forth in 282—Chapter 16.

27.3(6) School audiologist—birth to age 21.

a.Program requirements.

(1)An applicant will hold a master’s degree in audiology.

(2)Content. An applicant will complete the requirements in audiology and in the professional education sequence (i.e., 20 semester hours including student teaching/internship as a school audiologist). Courses in the following areas may be recognized for fulfilling the 20-hour sequence:

1.Curriculum courses (e.g., reading, methods, curriculum development).

2.Foundations (e.g., philosophy of education, foundations of education).

3.Educational measurements (e.g., school finance, tests and measurements, measures and evaluation of instruction).

4.Educational psychology (e.g., educational psychology, educational psychology measures, principles of behavior modification).

5.Courses in special education (e.g., introduction to special education, learning disabilities).

6.Child development courses (e.g., human growth and development, principles and theories of child development, history of early childhood education).

NOTE: General education courses (e.g., introduction to psychology, sociology, history, literature, humanities) will not be credited toward fulfillment of the required 20 hours.

(3)An applicant will have completed an approved human relations component.

(4)An applicant will have completed an approved exceptional learner component.

b.A person may meet the requirements in this subrule or the requirements for an SPR in this area as set forth in 282—Chapter 16.

These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 256.