Virginia § 54.1-2621 - (Effective July 1, 2027) Scope of practice of speech-language pathology assistants

§ 54.1-2621. (Effective July 1, 2027) Scope of practice of speech-language pathology assistants

A. A licensed speech-language pathology assistant shall only engage in those duties that adhere to the code of ethics of the Board and are planned, designed, and supervised by a licensed speech-language pathologist, including:

1. Assisting with speech, language, and hearing screenings without clinical interpretation of results;

2. Administering and scoring screenings for clinical interpretation by the supervising speech-language pathologist;

3. Assisting with, but not administering or interpreting the results of, client assessments, including setting up the testing environment, gathering and preparing materials, and taking notes;

4. Administering and scoring assessments and progress monitoring tools without clinical interpretation of results, if the licensed speech-language pathology assistant meets the examiner requirements for such tools and the supervising speech-language pathologist has verified that such examiner requirements have been met;

5. Performing routine activities for therapy sessions in accordance with a plan developed and directed by the speech-language pathologist who retains the professional responsibility for such client, including (i) implementing documented care plans or protocols, (ii) providing direct therapy services to address treatment goals, (iii) adjusting and documenting the amount and type of support or scaffolding provided to the client in treatment to facilitate progress, and (iv) developing and implementing activities and materials for teaching and practice of skills to address the goals of the client;

6. Providing treatment through a variety of service delivery models as directed by the supervising speech-language pathologist;

7. Utilizing telecommunications technology to provide services remotely to clients as directed by the supervising speech-language pathologist;

8. Documenting client performance and reporting such performance information to the supervising speech-language pathologist;

9. Providing caregiver coaching, including modeling and teaching communication strategies and providing feedback regarding caregiver-client interactions for facilitation and carryover of skills;

10. Sharing objective information regarding client performance without interpretation or recommendations as directed by the supervising speech-language pathologist;

11. Assisting with programming augmentative and alternative communication devices and assisting and training clients with using such devices;

12. Demonstrating strategies and assisting clients with skills included in the feeding and swallowing plan developed by the supervising speech-language pathologist;

13. Signing or initialing informal treatment notes and, upon request, co-signing formal documents with the supervising speech-language pathologist;

14. Assisting with clerical duties and site operations, including preparing materials, scheduling appointments and activities, preparing charts, records, or graphs, and performing checks and maintenance of equipment;

15. Assisting clients with transitioning to and from therapy sessions; and

16. Performing duties not otherwise restricted to the practice of speech-language pathology.

B. A speech-language pathologist assistant shall not engage in the practice of speech-language pathology, including the following:

1. Representing himself as a speech-language pathologist;

2. Performing diagnostic tests or evaluations;

3. Performing procedures that require a professional level of clinical judgment and technical skill;

4. Interpreting results and observations of feeding and swallowing evaluations or screenings performed by a speech-language pathologist;

5. Participating in formal conferences or meetings without the presence of the supervising speech-language pathologist;

6. Providing interpretative information to a client, the family of a client, or any other individual;

7. Writing, developing, or modifying a client's treatment plan;

8. Assisting in or providing services described in subsection A unless directed by the supervising speech-language pathologist;

9. Signing any formal documents in place of the supervising speech-language pathologist;

10. Selecting a client for service or discharging a client from service;

11. Making a decision regarding the need for additional services or making a referral for service;

12. Disclosing clinical or confidential information either orally or in writing to anyone other than the supervising speech-language pathologist, unless mandated by law or authorized by the supervising speech-language pathologist; or

13. Developing or determining the swallowing or feeding strategies or precautions for a client or providing feeding or swallowing treatment.

C. A licensed speech-language pathology assistant shall be supervised by a speech-language pathologist, who shall retain full legal and ethical responsibility for the client.

2025, c. 649.