Title 201 | Chapter 017 | Regulation 012E


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STATEMENT OF EMERGENCY
201 KAR 17:012E

Pursuant to KRS 13A.190(1)(a)2., KRS 334A.055, and KRS 334A.188 SECTION 3.B.1, this emergency amendment to the administrative regulation is being promulgated to comply with the adoption of 2026 HB 657 which requires the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (the "Board") to require a national and state criminal background investigation for every applicant seeking an initial license issued by the Board to engage in the practice of speech-language pathology and audiology, and applicants seeking to reinstate a license. The criminal background investigation shall be by means of a fingerprint check by the Department of Kentucky State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The effective date of KRS 334A.055 requires that this emergency amendment be promulgated to ensure there is no delay in processing applications upon the effective date of the Act. As a result, this emergency amendment to the administrative regulation—and the identical amendment to the ordinary regulation being concomitantly filed—have been amended to align with this statutory change to offset the potential delay in processing licensure applications—whereby the Board would be unable to process applications and collect fees in accordance with the terms of the statute—and therefore "prevent an imminent loss of federal or state funds" pursuant to KRS 13A.190(1)(a)2. This emergency amended administrative regulation is temporary and will be replaced by an ordinary amended administrative regulation as provided by KRS 13A.190. The ordinary amendment will be filed with this emergency amendment and will be identical.

MARGARET ADKINS, Au.D., CCC-A, Board Chair
ANDY BESHEAR, Governor

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
Board of Speech-Language Pathology And Audiology
(Emergency Amendment)

201 KAR 17:012E.Application, education, and requirements for licensure as a speech-language pathologist.

Section 1.

Application for Licensure. Each applicant for licensure as an SLP shall:

(1)

Submit an "Application for Licensure", form DLP-LPC-04;

(2)

Pay the fee as established in 201 KAR 17:030;

(3)

Have official academic transcripts sent directly by the academic institution to the board; and

(4)

Have the results of a national and state criminal background investigation performed within the last ninety (90) days by the Department of Kentucky State Police (KSP) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) submitted directly to the board. The applicant shall pay any required fee to the KSP and FBI. Any cases officially expunged shall not have to be disclosed by the applicant and shall not be considered by the board as a conviction.

Section 2.

Education and Experience. Each applicant for licensure in speech-language pathology in Kentucky shall meet the requirements established in this section.

(1)

(a)

An applicant shall provide a certified transcript confirming attainment of a master's degree in the area of speech-language pathology or communication disorders from a program accredited by the Council for Academic Accreditation of the American Speech Language Hearing Association, or possess equivalent education.

(b)

An applicant shall have equivalent education if the applicant holds a doctoral degree in speech-language pathology, communication disorders, or a related area from a program accredited by the Council for Academic Accreditation of the American Speech Language Hearing Association.

(2)

The applicant shall have passed a national PRAXIS examination in speech-language pathology.

(3)

In accordance with KRS 334A.035(1)(c), within thirty (30) days after completion of the postgraduate professional experience, the applicant shall submit a complete application for licensure under this section. The applicant's supervisor shall verify the successful completion of postgraduate professional experience by signing the application, or the applicant may submit their American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certification number as proof of successful completion of the postgraduate professional experience.

(4)

In addition to fulfilling the requirements of this administrative regulation and paying the requisite fees established in 201 KAR 17:030, Section 1, an applicant licensed in another state shall comply with the provisions of KRS 334A.187.

Section 3.

Incorporation by Reference.

(1)

"Application for Licensure", DPL-SLPA-4, July 2026, is incorporated by reference.

(2)

This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Kentucky Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Department of Professional Licensing, 500 Mero Street, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

201 KAR 17:012E
MARGARET ADKINS, Au.D., CCC-A, Board Chair
APPROVED BY AGENCY: July 15, 2026
FILED WITH LRC: July 16, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.:
PUBLIC HEARING AND COMMENT PERIOD: A public hearing on this administrative regulation shall be held on September 22, 2026, at 3:00 P.M. Eastern Time, at the Mayo-Underwood Building, 500 Mero Street, Frankfort, Kentucky in PPC Conference Room 127CW. Individuals interested in being heard at this hearing shall notify this agency in writing by five workdays prior to the hearing, of their intent to attend. If no notification of intent to attend the hearing was received by that date, the hearing may be cancelled. A transcript of the public hearing will not be made unless a written request for a transcript is made. If you do not wish to be heard at the public hearing, you may submit written comments on the proposed administrative regulation. Written comments shall be accepted through September 30, 2026. Send written notification of intent to be heard at the public hearing or written comments on the proposed administrative regulation to https://ppc.ky.gov/reg_comment.aspx or the contact person.
CONTACT PERSON: Name: Sara Boswell Janes, Title: Staff Attorney III, Agency: Department of Professional Licensing, Office of Legal Services Address: 500 Mero Street Phone Number: (502) 782-2709 (office) Fax: (502) 564-4818 Email: Sara.Janes@ky.gov Link to public comment portal: https://ppc.ky.gov/reg_comment.aspx.

REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS AND TIERING STATEMENT
Contact Person:
Sara Boswell Janes, Phone Number: (502) 782-2709 (office), Email: sara.janes@ky.gov
Subject Headings:
Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, Licensing, Occupations and Professions
(1) Provide a brief summary of:
(a) What this administrative regulation does:
This regulation establishes requirements for licensure as a speech language pathologist
(b) The necessity of this administrative regulation:
This regulation is necessary to implement the provisions of KRS 334A.030.
(c) How this administrative regulation conforms to the content of the authorizing statutes:
The regulation is in conformity as the authorizing statute gives the board the ability to promulgate regulations generally.
(d) How this administrative regulation currently assists or will assist in the effective administration of the statutes:
This regulation will assist the board in administering this program by identifying the requirements for licensure as a speech language pathologist.
(2) If this is an amendment to an existing administrative regulation, provide a brief summary of:
(a) How the amendment will change this existing administrative regulation:
The amendment retitles the administrative regulation to identify all included regulatory topics; incorporates the requirement that all applicants for licensure by the board obtain a national and state criminal background investigation from the KSP and FBI pursuant to KRS 334A.055; reorganizes provisions to clarify application requirements; strikes legal requirements that duplicate the statutes; authorizes the applicant to submit their ASHA certification number as proof of successful completion of the postgraduate professional experience; updates the application for licensure to meet new requirements and ADA compliance, and incorporates necessary forms by reference.
(b) The necessity of the amendment to this administrative regulation:
The amendment to this administrative regulation is necessary to clarify application requirements, to comply with KRS 334A.055 and KRS 334A.188, the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact, relating to criminal background investigations, to update existing MIR for ADA compliance and to incorporate necessary forms not previously incorporated by reference.
(c) How the amendment conforms to the content of the authorizing statutes:
The amendment to this administrative regulation is in conformity with the authorizing statute that gives the board the ability to promulgate regulations generally regarding licensure requirements.
(d) How the amendment will assist in the effective administration of the statutes:
The amendment to this administrative regulation will assist the board in administering this program and the efficient collection of necessary information submitted by the licensee, and properly incorporate material referenced.
(3) Does this administrative regulation or amendment implement legislation from the previous five years?
Yes, 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 6, Section 3.
(4) List the type and number of individuals, businesses, organizations, or state and local governments affected by this administrative regulation:
This regulation will not affect the 4179 active and 85 inactive existing speech-language pathologist licensees, but will affect new applicants for licensure.
(5) Provide an analysis of how the entities identified in question (4) will be impacted by either the implementation of this administrative regulation, if new, or by the change, if it is an amendment, including:
(a) List the actions that each of the regulated entities identified in question (4) will have to take to comply with this administrative regulation or amendment:
An applicant for licensure must have a criminal background investigation report by means of a fingerprint check by the KSP and FBI submitted directly to the Board and pay the required fee directly to the KSP and FBI.
(b) In complying with this administrative regulation or amendment, how much will it cost each of the entities identified in question (4):
Applicants for licensure will have no new fees for application to the board, but will have to pay additional fees for a criminal background investigation. The board understands the fees to be as follows: $20.00 for the KSP; $18.00 for the FBI, and fingerprinting services to complete the request of $10.00 for some local law enforcement agencies who provide the service, or $20.00 for a private vendor like IdentiGO. The total cost is anticipated to be between $48.00 and $58.00.
(c) As a result of compliance, what benefits will accrue to the entities identified in question (4):
Kentucky will be in compliance with the requirements of KRS 334A.188 and the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact, thus allowing Kentucky to advance towards its participation in the Compact allowing certain Kentucky credential holders to obtain the privilege to practice in Member States and give Member State credential holders the ability to obtain the privilege to practice in Kentucky. This will provide Kentucky citizens in need of speech language pathology and audiology services with a larger pool of service providers, which increases accessibility to care in rural areas, and thus promotes public safety. Additionally, the amendments will clarify licensure requirements and identify the necessary forms.
(6) Provide an estimate of how much it will cost the administrative body to implement this administrative regulation:
(a) Initially:
No new costs are anticipated to implement this administrative regulation.
(b) On a continuing basis:
No new costs are anticipated on a continuing basis.
(7) What is the source of the funding to be used for the implementation and enforcement of this administrative regulation or this amendment:
The board’s operations are funded by fees paid by credential holders and applicant.
(8) Provide an assessment of whether an increase in fees or funding will be necessary to implement this administrative regulation, if new, or by the change if it is an amendment:
No increase in fees or funding will be required for the Board to implement this administrative regulation
(9) State whether or not this administrative regulation establishes any fees or directly or indirectly increases any fees:
The amendment to this administrative regulation does not establish fees paid to the board directly. Indirectly, this administrative regulation increases fees paid by applicants, however, payment will be to the Kentucky State Police and Federal Bureau of Investigation for criminal background investigation reports submitted directly to the board.
(10) TIERING: Is tiering applied?
(Explain why or why not) Tiering is not applied to this regulation as it applies to all applicant license types.

FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(1) Identify each state statute, federal statute, or federal regulation that requires or authorizes the action taken by the administrative regulation:
. KRS 334A.055 and 334A.080(3).
(2) State whether this administrative regulation is expressly authorized by an act of the General Assembly, and if so, identify the act:
Yes, 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 6, Section 3.
(3)(a) Identify the promulgating agency and any other affected state units, parts, or divisions:
(a) The Kentucky Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology is the promulgating agency and the only affected state unit, part or division.
(b) Estimate the following for each affected state unit, part, or division identified in (3)(a):
1. Expenditures:
For the first year:
No new expenditures anticipated initially for the Board. Expenditures for the Kentucky State Police are unknown, if any.
For subsequent years:
No new expenditures are anticipated on a continuing basis for the Board. Expenditures for subsequent years for the Kentucky State Police are unknown, if any.
2. Revenues:
For the first year:
No new revenues are anticipated initially for the Board. This administrative regulation will generate revenue for the Kentucky State Police in the first year, however, based on the average number of applicants paying a projected fee of $20, the revenue is anticipated to be less than $10,000 in the first year.
For subsequent years:
No new revenues are anticipated during subsequent years for the Board. This administrative regulation will generate revenue for the Kentucky State Police in subsequent years, however, based on the average number of applicants paying a projected fee of $20, the revenue is anticipated to be less than $10,000 in subsequent years.
3. Cost Savings:
For the first year:
Unknown
For subsequent years:
Unknown
(4)(a) Identify affected local entities (for example: cities, counties, fire departments, school districts):
Local law enforcement
(b) Estimate the following for each affected local entity identified in (4)(a):
1. Expenditures:
For the first year:
Unknown
For subsequent years:
Unknown
2. Revenues:
For the first year:
Unknown
For subsequent years:
Unknown
3. Cost Savings:
For the first year:
Unknown
For subsequent years:
Unknown
(5)(a) Identify any affected regulated entities not listed in (3)(a) or (4)(a):
The Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(b) Estimate the following for each regulated entity identified in (5)(a):
1. Expenditures:
For the first year:
Unknown
For subsequent years:
Unknown
2. Revenues:
For the first year:
This administrative regulation may generate revenue for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the first year, however, based on the average number of applicants paying a projected fee of $18, the revenue is anticipated to be less than $10,000 in the first year.
For subsequent years:
This administrative regulation may generate revenue for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in subsequent years, however, based on the average number of applicants paying a projected fee of $18, the revenue is anticipated to be less than $10,000 in the first year.
3. Cost Savings:
For the first year:
Unknown
For subsequent years:
Unknown
(6) Provide a narrative to explain the following for each entity identified in (3)(a), (4)(a), and (5)(a)
(a) Fiscal impact of this administrative regulation:
The anticipated revenue for the first year and subsequent years, based on the average number of anticipated applicants with that fee, would be less than $10,000.
(b) Methodology and resources used to reach this conclusion:
Methodology and resources used are the fiscal department within the Public Protection Cabinet, Department of Professional Licensing.
(7) Explain, as it relates to the entities identified in (3)(a), (4)(a), and (5)(a):
(a) Whether this administrative regulation will have a "major economic impact", as defined by KRS 13A.010(14):
It is not anticipated that this administrative regulation will have an overall negative or adverse major economic impact to the entities identified.
(b) The methodology and resources used to reach this conclusion:
Methodology and resources used are the fiscal department within the Public Protection Cabinet, Department of Professional Licensing.

Emergency Effective: 7/16/2026


Page Generated: 7/23/2026, 4:32:14 PM