Application Information

Upon initial licensure, an applicant is granted a 60 day grace period to work while his/her initial application is being reviewed. This grace period begins on the date that the Board acknowledges receipt of all application documents. This means that an individual cannot begin working as a Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist in Louisiana until LBESPA issues the grace period once all application documents are submitted.

Be sure to check your dashboard within 1-2 days for required documents needed for your application. You may also track the status of your application on your dashboard. Applications will be processed within 3-4 weeks from the date that all information is received. Upon receipt of a completed application packet, a letter will be sent to applicant via email granting such grace period.

All applicants who wish to obtain licensure are required to submit a completed state and federal criminal background check to the Board office. Criminal background reports generated for or by another agency cannot be accepted to satisfy this requirement. The Board is not permitted to issue a grace period or license until the results of the report and a completed application have been received. Completion time varies from 1 to 8 weeks, depending on circumstances. Criminal history rap sheet findings will extend the completion time. Note that inadequate fingerprints and incorrect payment amount (either too much or too little) will result in delays with the Louisiana State Police (LSP). Background checks are only valid for 90 days upon receipt from the Louisiana State Police (LSP) without an application submitted to the Board. If 90 days passes without a completed application, the background check must be completely reprocessed and resubmitted. Additional information regarding criminal background checks can be found here.

A completed Application includes the following:

A completed Criminal Background Check from the Louisiana State Police Headquarters will be required for all licensees. The criminal background check will only be good for 90 days from the date received in the Board office. All documents required for fingerprinting can be found on the board's website https://www.lbespa.org/page/CBC

College transcript(s) (undergrad and/or graduate) must be official copies only. This can be submitted via e-script to mricca@lbespa.org or in a sealed envelope.

A copy of your current ASHA Membership card or letter of verification can be emailed to mricca@lbespa.org. If not yet ASHA certified and applying for a provisional speech-language pathology license, a breakdown of clinical practicum hours signed by Clinic/Program Director can be emailed to mricca@lbespa.org. You must also request that a passing Praxis score be sent electronically from ETS (Audiology and/or Speech-Language Pathology). Provisional Speech-Language Pathologists have one year to submit a passing score on the Praxis. The Board’s code is R7331.

If you are applying for a speech-language pathology assistant license or a provisional speech-language pathology assistant license, your clinical practicum hours must come directly from your program director and can be emailed to mricca@lbespa.org. A minimum of 100 clinical hours from an accredited university is required (See 107.H. for additional requirements).

A Verification of Licensure must be submitted for any state in which you hold or have held an Audiology and/or Speech-Language Pathology license. Verification must be submitted by the Board and can be emailed from the issuing board to mricca@lbespa.org or must be sent in a sealed envelope. Documentation from the Board’s website or a copy of your license card is not acceptable for this purpose.

For all reinstatement requests, please check your dashboard for the continuing education hours required to reinstate your license. Proof of continuing education hours for the years your license has been lapsed should be added to the CE tab in your dashboard.

Additional information may be required after review of your application.

Below are the requirements listed by license type:

Audiology

Doctoral Degree in an Audiology program
Program or clinical director from an accredited educational institution must verify that the individual has met the breadth and depth of clinical experiences
Passing score on Praxis examination OR ASHA certification OR ABA Certification with Praxis examination
Completed criminal background check

Provisional Speech-Language Pathology

Master’s Degree in a speech-language pathology program
400 clinical practicum hours* if graduate program began after January 1, 2004
Completed criminal background check

Provisional License Process Infographic

Provisional Speech-Language Pathology Assistant

Bachelor’s Degree in a speech-language pathology program
100 clinical practicum hours*
Must be obtained through a regionally accredited educational institution or its cooperating programs. Of the 100, 75 shall be obtained with direct patient/client contact with a minimum of 20 hours in speech disorders, a minimum of 20 hours in language disorders, and the remaining 35 hours may be obtained in the areas of speech, language or hearing disorders. The remaining 25 hours may be obtained through observation of assessment and therapy. No simulation experiences will be accepted.
Completed criminal background check

Speech-Language Pathology

Master’s Degree in a speech-language pathology program
400 clinical practicum hours* if graduate program began after January 1, 2004
Passing score on Praxis examination or ASHA certification
Completion of 36 weeks of full-time post-graduate professional employment experience.
Completed criminal background check

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant

Bachelor’s Degree in a speech-language pathology program
225 clinical practicum hours*
The first 100 of which shall have been obtained through a regionally accredited educational institution or its cooperating programs. Of the 100, 75 shall be obtained with direct patient/client contact with a minimum of 20 hours in speech disorders, a minimum of 20 hours in language disorders, and the remaining 35 hours may be obtained in the areas of speech, language or hearing disorders. The remaining 25 hours may be obtained through observation of assessment and therapy. The remaining 125 hours may have been obtained on-the-job and/or through a regionally accredited educational institution or its cooperating program. No simulation experiences will be accepted.
Completed criminal background check

*Supervised clinical practicum hours submitted must reflect the depth and breadth of clinical experiences across the lifespan.