89R9619 DNC-F     By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 2442       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to educational requirements for licensing as an   audiologist.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 401.304, Occupations Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as   follows:          (a)  To be eligible for licensing as a speech-language   pathologist or audiologist, an applicant must:                (1)  if the application is for a license in:                      (A)  speech-language pathology, possess at least   a master's degree with a major in at least one of the areas of   communicative sciences or disorders [from a program accredited by a   national accrediting organization that is approved by the   commission or department and recognized by the United States   secretary of education under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20   U.S.C. Section 1001 et seq.) in an accredited or approved college or   university]; or                      (B)  audiology, possess at least:                            (i)  a master's degree in audiology   conferred on or before December 31, 2007; or                            (ii)  a doctoral degree in audiology or a   related hearing science [from a program accredited by a national   accrediting organization that is approved by the commission or   department and recognized by the United States secretary of   education under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section   1001 et seq.) in an accredited or approved college or university];                (2)  submit a transcript from a public or private   institution of higher learning showing successful completion of   course work in amounts set by the commission by rule in:                      (A)  normal development and use of speech,   language, and hearing;                      (B)  evaluation, habilitation, and rehabilitation   of speech, language, and hearing disorders; and                      (C)  related fields that augment the work of   clinical practitioners of speech-language pathology and audiology;                (3)  have successfully completed at least 36 semester   hours in courses that are acceptable toward a graduate degree by the   college or university in which the courses are taken, at least 24 of   which must be in the professional area for which the license is   requested;                (4)  have completed the minimum number of hours,   established by the commission by rule, of supervised clinical   experience with persons who present a variety of communication   disorders; and                (5)  have completed the full-time supervised   professional experience, as defined by commission rule, in which   clinical work has been accomplished in the major professional area   for which the license is being sought.          (a-1)  A degree required under Subsection (a)(1) must be   obtained from a program accredited by a national accrediting   organization that is approved by the commission or department and   recognized by the United States secretary of education under the   Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. Section 1001 et seq.) in an   accredited or approved college or university.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.