West Virginia § 30-32-15 - 30-32-15. Speech-language pathology and audiology assistants; supervision requirements.

§ 30-32-15. 30-32-15. Speech-language pathology and audiology assistants; supervision requirements.

(a) Commencing July 1, 2014, speech-language pathology assistants and audiology assistants shall register with the board and shall:

(1) Possess a minimum of an associate's degree from an institution or technical training program with a program of study designed to prepare the student to be a speech language pathology or audiology assistant;

(2) Work only under the supervision of a licensee licensed in the professional field in which the assistant is working; and

(3) Meet all requirements set by the board.

(b) Licensees who supervise assistants shall:

(1) Report to the board the name and field of practice of each assistant working under the licensee's supervision;

(2) Complete initial supervision training prior to accepting an assistant for supervision and upgrade supervision training as required by the board;

(3) Document preservice training and credentials of the assistant;

(4) Provide direct supervision of the first three hours of treatment by the assistant for each patient or client, followed by a minimum of one direct observation for each subsequent two week period and document the direct observation;

(5) Provide general supervision and be responsible for the extent, kind and quality of service provided by the assistant and for all services provided by the assistant;

(6) Ensure that persons receiving services from an assistant receive prior written notification that services are to be provided, in whole or in part, by an assistant; and

(7) Meet all other requirements set by the board.