Oklahoma § 59-1577 - State participation in the Compact

§ 59-1577. State participation in the Compact

A. A license issued to an audiologist or speech-language

pathologist by a home state to a resident in that state shall be

recognized by each member state as authorizing an audiologist or

speech-language pathologist to practice audiology or speech-language

pathology, under a privilege to practice, in each member state.

B. A state shall implement or utilize procedures for

considering the criminal history records of applicants for initial

privilege to practice. These procedures shall include the

submission of fingerprints or other biometric-based information by

applicants for the purpose of obtaining an applicant's criminal

history record information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation

and the agency responsible for retaining that state's criminal

records.

1. A member state shall fully implement a criminal background

check requirement, within a time frame established by rule, by

receiving the results of the Federal Bureau of Investigation record

search on criminal background checks and use the results in making

licensure decisions.

2. Communication between a member state, the Commission and

among member states regarding the verification of eligibility for

licensure through the Compact shall not include any information

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

received from the Federal Bureau of Investigation relating to a

federal criminal records check performed by a member state under

Public Law 92-544.

C. Upon application for a privilege to practice, the licensing

board in the issuing remote state shall ascertain, through the data

system, whether the applicant has ever held, or is the holder of, a

license issued by any other state, whether there are any

encumbrances on any license or privilege to practice held by the

applicant, whether any adverse action has been taken against any

license or privilege to practice held by the applicant.

D. Each member state shall require an applicant to obtain or

retain a license in the home state and meet the home state's

qualifications for licensure or renewal of licensure, as well as,

all other applicable state laws.

E. An audiologist applicant shall:

1. Meet one of the following educational requirements:

a.

on or before, December 31, 2007, has graduated with a

master's degree or doctorate in audiology, or

equivalent degree regardless of degree name, from a

program that is accredited by an accrediting agency

recognized by the Council for Higher Education

Accreditation, or its successor, or by the United

States Department of Education and operated by a

college or university accredited by a regional or

national accrediting organization recognized by the

board,

b.

on or after, January 1, 2008, has graduated with a

doctoral degree in audiology, or equivalent degree,

regardless of degree name, from a program that is

accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the

Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or its

successor, or by the United States Department of

Education and operated by a college or university

accredited by a regional or national accrediting

organization recognized by the board, or

c.

has graduated from an audiology program that is housed

in an institution of higher education outside of the

United States:

(1) for which the program and institution have been

approved by the authorized accrediting body in

the applicable country, and

(2) the degree program has been verified by an

independent credentials review agency to be

comparable to a state licensing board-approved

program;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

2. Have completed a supervised clinical practicum experience

from an accredited educational institution or its cooperating

programs as required by the board;

3. Have successfully passed a national examination approved by

the Commission;

4. Hold an active, unencumbered license;

5. Have not been convicted or found guilty, and has not entered

into an agreed disposition, of a felony related to the practice of

audiology, under applicable state or federal criminal law; and

6. Have a valid United States Social Security or National

Practitioner Identification number.

F. A speech-language pathologist applicant shall:

1. Meet one of the following educational requirements:

a.

has graduated with a master's degree from a speech

language pathology program that is accredited by an

organization recognized by the United States

Department of Education and operated by a college or

university accredited by a regional or national

accrediting organization recognized by the board, or

b.

has graduated from a speech-language pathology program

that is housed in an institution of higher education

outside of the United States:

(1) for which the program and institution have been

approved by the authorized accrediting body in

the applicable country, and

(2) the degree program has been verified by an

independent credentials review agency to be

comparable to a state-licensing-board-approved

program;

2. Have completed a supervised clinical practicum experience

from an educational institution or its cooperating programs as

required by the Commission;

3. Have completed a supervised postgraduate professional

experience as required by the Commission;

4. Have successfully passed a national examination approved by

the Commission;

5. Hold an active, unencumbered license;

6. Have not been convicted or found guilty, and has not entered

into an agreed disposition, of a felony related to the practice of

speech-language pathology, under applicable state or federal

criminal law; and

7. Have a valid United States Social Security or National

Practitioner Identification number.

G. The privilege to practice is derived from the home state

license.

H. An audiologist or speech-language pathologist practicing in

a member state shall comply with the state practice laws of the

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 59. Professions and Occupations

state in which the client is located at the time service is

provided. The practice of audiology and speech-language pathology

shall include all audiology and speech-language pathology practice

as defined by the state practice laws of the member state in which

the client is located. The practice of audiology and speech

language pathology in a member state under a privilege to practice

shall subject an audiologist or speech-language pathologist to the

jurisdiction of the licensing board, the courts and the laws of the

member state in which the client is located at the time service is

provided.

I. Individuals not residing in a member state shall continue to

be able to apply for a member state's single-state license as

provided under the laws of each member state. However, the single

state license granted to these individuals shall not be recognized

as granting the privilege to practice audiology or speech-language

pathology in any other member state. Nothing in this Compact shall

affect the requirements established by a member state for the

issuance of a single-state license.

J. Member states may charge a fee for granting a Compact

privilege.

K. Member states shall comply with the bylaws and rules and

regulations of the Commission.

Added by Laws 2020, c. 42, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2020.