1. California Academy of Audiology Licensing Board Update 2018
Paul R. Sanchez, Executive Officer

2. Who are we? Part of the Department of Consumer Affairs
Responsible for regulating the practices of speech-language pathology, audiology, and hearing aid dispensing
Composition of the Board
2 Speech-Language Pathologists
2 Audiologists
2 Hearing Aid Dispensers
3 Public Members
Board Office staff – 10 employees
Partnership with Attorney General’s Office, Division of Investigation, DCA, and other contracted experts

3. Why do we need a Licensing Board?
§ Legislative findings The Legislature finds and declares that the practice of speech-language pathology and audiology and hearing aid dispensing in California affects the public health, safety, and welfare and there is a necessity for those professions to be subject to regulation and control. Added to B&P Stats 1972 § Priority of board; Protection of the public Protection of the public shall be the highest priority for the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board in exercising its licensing, regulatory, and disciplinary functions. Whenever the protection of the public is inconsistent with other interests sought to be promoted, the protection of the public shall be paramount. Added to Statutes 2002

4. What does a Licensing Board do?
License
Develop, approve, and conduct examinations
Promote standards through legislative and regulatory processes
Enforcement

5. Licensure
Authorizes the individual to practice his or her profession
Privilege that must be earned and maintained
Required to maintain a minimum standard
Governed by state laws and regulations- administered and enforced by the Board

6. Maintaining your License
Audiologist license renews every 2 years. Expires on the last day of birth month.
Dispensing audiology license renews every year. Expires on the last day of date- issued month.
See Board website table explaining CE requirements for licensees at speechandhearing.ca.gov. Under “Licensee/Continuing Education”
DCA sends courtesy renewal form approximately 90 days prior to license expiration date. Renew at this time – do not wait!
Keep your address current with the Board, to ensure that you receive a renewal by mail.

7. Maintaining your License
Complete the renewal application
(allow at least 6-8 weeks for processing the renewal application)
Certify completion of the CE.
Answer the conviction declaration question.
Complete an address change if necessary.
Pay the appropriate renewal fee by check or money order.
Renewals are processed by “Central Cashiering.”
Your license is deemed active and current when the renewal application is processed, check has cleared, and status of your license is updated on the Board’s website.

8. CE Requirements Non-Dispensing Audiologists
California Code of Regulations
TWO YEAR - License Renewal Requirements:
24 hours every 2-year license renewal
6 hours may be obtained through self-study
Self-Study is defined as viewing pre-recorded courses, listening to audiotapes, and/or online courses which are non-participatory (recorded courses that include a live chat or test upon completion are still considered self-study.) Live online courses are not self- study and are considered the equivalent to sitting in a class.
4 hours may be obtained through related or indirect client care courses
Not more than 50% of the CE hours required of a licensed non-dispensing audiologist, may be in hearing aid courses, but  shall not be obtained from courses where the content focuses on equipment, devices, or other products of a particular publisher, company or corporation. CCR§ (e)

9. CE Requirements Dispensing Audiologists
California Code of Regulations
ONE YEAR - License Renewal Requirements:
12 hours of CE per annual renewal
50% of the CE hours shall be in courses related to hearing aid dispensing, but shall not be obtained from courses where the content focuses on the equipment, devices, or other products of a particular manufacturer.
50% of the CE hours shall be relevant to the practice of audiology and shall not be coursework focused on hearing aid dispensing.
1.5 hours may be obtained through self-study, 1.5 hours may be obtained through related or indirect client care courses.

10. CE Requirements CE Compliance: Applies to both DAUs & AUDs
All courses related to the dispensing of hearing aids offered by hearing aid manufacturers are reviewed and approved by the Board as an applicable course offering.
CE courses for DAUs, unlike HADs, do not require individual approval unless the courses are provided by a manufacturer. Provider of the course must be an “approved” provider such as AAA, ASHA, etc.
See Board website table explaining CE requirements for licensees at speechandhearing.ca.gov under “Licensee - Continuing Education”

11. CE Audits Resuming
A total of 733 licensees from all license types were randomly selected and audited for compliance during their last renewal cycle.
The initial pass rate was 79 percent (579).
Audiologist pass rate was 89 percent.
Approximately, 17 percent (126) failed the initial audit and approximately 4 percent (28) did not respond.
As of July 1, 2018, of those who failed the initial audit, 81 licensees corrected their deficiency.

12. Licenses Issued Annually
FY12/13
FY13/14
FY14/15
FY15/16
FY16/17
FY17/18 AU 76 57 89 48 53 77
DAU 19 UA 26 24 30
SLP
1056
974
1143
1352
1457
1482
SLPA
407
325
550
606
501
558
RPE
727
702
836
834
897
945
HAD Permanent 84 49 92
140
120
137
HAD Trainee 95
139
145
180
152
169
HAD Temp (Out-of-State) 7 5 9 16 20
TOTAL LICENSES ISSUED
2532
2306
2929
3268
3285
3473

13. Licensee Population LICENSEE POPULATION FY12/13 FY13/14 FY14/15AU
609
584
612
556
698
720
DAU
942
971
988
1,045
1,211
1,246
Both License Types
1,551
1,555
1,600
1,601
1,909
1,966
SLP
12,696
13,285
13,967
14,860
18,024
19,161
SLPA
1,771
1,969
2,343
2,795
3,752
4,118
RPE
682
768
802
806
1,174
1,232
AIDE
120
119
124
133
235
216
HAD
946
913
948
996
1,179
1,266
HAD Trainees 95
145
160
158
238
204
HAD Temp (Out-of-State) 9 8 7 18 28
TOTAL LICENSEES
17,870
18,762
19,951
21,367
26,529
28,191

14. Board Enforcement
We will investigate all violations of the Board’s laws and regulations, including:
Sexual misconduct
Conviction of a criminal offense related to the profession
Any practice outside the scope of the speech-language pathologist, audiologist, dispensing audiologist, and hearing aid dispenser's license or below accepted professional standards
Deceptive or misleading advertising
Unlicensed practice

15. How to file a Complaint
Web address: speechandhearing.ca.gov

16. How to file a Complaint

17. Complaint Process Written complaint received at Board office.
Complaint file opened and a case number is issued.
Acknowledgment letter sent to complainant.
Complainant information is confidential. In some cases, licensee may be advised of complainant's specific concerns. In that event, the licensee is advised of the complaint and asked to respond.
Investigation - Depending on the seriousness of the allegations or number of complaints received, cases may be referred to investigator.

18. Complaint Process
Board may issue a citation and fine as a corrective action against licensee.
If investigation results warrant formal discipline, report is forwarded to the Attorney General's Office with request to initiate legal proceedings seeking revocation, probation, or other discipline.
Complainant informed of the final disposition of the case.
Citations and formal discipline are public information.
Citation remains on licensing record for five years
Formal discipline remains on licensing record permanently

19. Enforcement Statistics Fiscal Year 2017-18
License Type
Population
Complaints Received*
Citation
Formal Discipline
Audiologists
1,966
(1,246 DAUs) 38 3
SLPs
19,161 69 6 5
SLPAs
4,118 47
RPEs
1,232 21 2 1
Aides
216
HADs
1,266 84 7 4
HAD Trainees
204 17
HAD Temp (Out-of-State) 28
Total
28,191
278 20 13
*Includes convictions/subsequent arrest reports.

20. Audiologist Complaint Issues
Board received 38 complaints against audiologists
17 – Advertising
6 – Criminal charges/Convictions
6 – Unprofessional conduct
3 – Fraud
3 – Unlicensed activity
1 – Discipline by another state agency
1 – Negligence/incompetence
1 – Refund/Warranty Issues

21. Audiologist Complaint Outcomes
Since 2011, the Board has received complaints annually against audiologists
33% - No action taken
Non-jurisdiction, no violation, record on file
24% - Educational letter
15% - Duplicate
Less than 10% - Formal discipline
Probation, revocation, surrender, etc.
Less than 10% - Citation and fine

22. Board Enforcement We do not investigate: Fee or billing disputes
Personality conflicts
Anything outside of the Board’s legal jurisdiction
General business practices

23. Licensing Fees Update License Type Current Fees (2002) Proposed Fee
Renewal (24 months)
- Audiologist (non-dispensing)
- Speech-Language Pathologist
$110
$150
Initial Application
Audiologist
Speech-Language Pathologist
$60
-Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
$75
$100
Audiology Aide
$10
$30
California Code of Regulations, Section and list current, affected licensing board fees, effective January 1, 2002.
Board regulations to be updated to reflect fee increase for initial and renewal fees.

24. We Need Subject Matter Experts
Subject matter experts assist the Board in any of the following areas:
Examination development
Serving as “Examiners” for Hearing Aid Dispenser practical
Assisting the Board with enforcement case review
Interested in Serving as an subject matter expert?
Please visit speechandhearing.ca.gov for more information

25. 2017 Occupational Analysis
At the May 2018 Board meeting, the Office of Professional Examination Services (OPES), presented the 2017 Occupational Analysis (OA) of the Audiology profession.  
The analysis included dispensing audiology exam and licensing requirements.
Based OA, OPES determined that audiologists wishing to dispense hearing aids should not have to take the hearing aid dispensers’ practical exam.
Doctoral level of education
Training/supervised clinical experience
Performance-based assessment on hearing aid dispensing
Taking of ear impressions, assessing and fitting patients for hearing aids, and programming and troubleshooting hearing aids.

26. 2017 Occupational Analysis
Current law, BPC Section (a) requires that audiologists “pass an examination, approved by the Board, relating to selling hearing aids” to sell hearing aids in California.
This section of the law was enacted during the 2010 merger of the HAD Bureau and the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board.
BPC Section (d) further directs the Board to require the exam provided at the time by the Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau until DCA completes an exam validation and OA and a determination is made that a different exam is to be administered.
At August 2018, the Board voted in favor of accepting OPES’ recommendations.
NEXT STEPS: Proposed language changing dispensing audiologist exam requirements in regulations.

27. Changes to Self-Study CE Hours for Licensure Renewal
California Code of Regulations Section Continuing Professional Development Requirements state audiologists can complete a maximum of 6 hours of self-study every two years.
Board approved an increase in self-study hours from a maximum of 6 hours to a maximum of 12 hours (out of the minimum of 24 hours) at the November Board meeting.
New regulations to increase allowable self-study hours should become effective 2018/2019.

28. New Notice to Consumers Requirement
California Code of Regulations Section Notice to Consumers approved by the Board at its May 2017 meeting.
Regulation requires practitioners to display a consumer notice at the practitioner’s point of service regarding the roles and responsibilities of the Board similar to other healing arts boards consumer notices.
Regulation will apply to all Board licensees, including those licensed professionals working in school settings.
Effective date will be approximately 2019/2020.

29. New Fingerprinting Requirements
Language in California Code of Regulations Section Requirements for Renewal of License updated and approved at the May licensing board meeting.
Licenses expiring after June 30, 2018 and those not previously electronically fingerprinted, as a condition of renewal, must get provide a full set of electronic fingerprints to Department of Justice for the purpose of conducting and successfully completing a criminal history record check through the Department of Justice.

30. Coming Soon: Online License Renewal
Online renewal by Spring of 2019
Will update daily
Limited to renewals
Interim solution until we upgrade our database
Board has begun work on database conversion

31. Connect with the Board Future Board Meetings:
November 8-9 or 29-30, 2018, Sacramento
February 7-8, 2019, Los Angeles
May 2-3, 2019, Northern California
Web address: speechandhearing.ca.gov
Address: 2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 2100, Sacramento, CA 95815
Telephone: