(a) Unless otherwise indicated, an applicant must submit all required information and documentation of credentials on department-approved forms.

(b) An applicant for an audiology license must submit the following required documentation:

(1) a completed application on a department-approved form;

(2) if not previously submitted when applying for an intern's license, an original or certified copy of the transcript(s), which shows the conferred doctoral degree in audiology or a related hearing science;

(3) if the degree was not earned at an institution as described in §111.70(b), official documentation from the ASHA Council for Clinical Certification that the conferred doctoral degree is adequate for ASHA Certification or from the ABA that the conferred doctoral degree is adequate for ABA Certification;

(4) if the applicant's transcript is in a language other than English or the degree was earned at a foreign university, an original evaluation form from an approved transcript evaluation service stating that the applicant's degree is a doctoral degree in audiology or a related hearing science;

(5) if the applicant currently holds a Texas intern in audiology license, a Report of Completed Audiology Internship Form completed by the applicant's supervisor and signed by both the applicant and the supervisor;

(6) if the internship was completed out-of-state, one of the following documents regarding the supervisor must be submitted: (A) if that state requires licensure, a copy of the supervisor's valid license to practice in that state; or (B) if that state does not require licensure, an original letter from ASHA stating the supervisor held the Certificate of Clinical Competence or ABA Certification when the applicant completed the internship;

(7) a Praxis Exam Score Report showing the applicant passed the examination described in §111.21;

(8) proof of successfully completing the jurisprudence examination under §111.23; and

(9) the initial application fee required under §111.160.

(c) If not previously submitted when applying for an assistant or intern license, an applicant for an audiology license must submit a completed legible set of fingerprints, on a form prescribed by the department, to the Department of Public Safety for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record information. An applicant must successfully pass a criminal history background check pursuant to Texas Occupations Code, Chapters 51 and 53, and the department's criminal conviction guidelines.

(d) Waiver of Clinical Experience and Examination Requirements. An applicant who currently holds either the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence or the ABA Certification may submit official documentation from ASHA or ABA as evidence that the applicant meets the clinical experience and examination requirements as set out in the Act and this subchapter for an audiology license. Such an applicant must submit:

(1) an original or certified copy of a signed letter from ASHA or ABA which verifies the applicant currently holds the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence or ABA Certification in the area of audiology;

(2) an original or certified copy of the transcript(s) showing the conferred degree of all relevant course work which also verifies that the applicant possesses a minimum of a doctoral degree in audiology or a related hearing science;

(3) the required documents under subsection (b)(1) and (8) and subsection (c); and

(4) the initial application fee required under §111.160.

(e) Upgrade from Intern License to Full License. An applicant, who holds a current Texas intern in audiology license, may upgrade to an audiology license by submitting:

(1) a completed upgrade application on a department-approved form;

(2) the required documents under subsection (b)(2), (5), and (7) and subsection (c); and

(3) the initial application fee required under §111.160.

(f) An applicant must complete all licensing requirements within one year from the date the application was submitted. After that year an applicant will be required to submit a new application and all required materials in addition to paying a new application fee.

Source Note: The provisions of this §111.75 adopted to be effective October 1, 2016, 41 TexReg 4441; amended to be effective May 1, 2018, 43 TexReg 2544; amended to be effective August 1, 2020, 45 TexReg 5172