Summer 2025 Newsletter

President's Corner

Vickie Pullins, MS, CCC-SLP

It has been an exciting year for NCSB. We have dedicated much of our work this year in partnership with ASLP-IC. In our role as Secretariat, we continue assisting the ASLP-IC Commission with various administrative tasks that will facilitate the compact becoming operational this fall. With more than 37 states, including USVI, the Compact is transforming how qualified professionals can practice across state lines-improving access to care, reducing delays in service delivery and increasing workforce flexibility.

The other area of focus has been on the planning for our 38th annual NCSB conference, Bridging Regulatory Issues in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. We are looking forward to seeing all of you for a great conference from September 18-20, 2025, in Mount Pleasant, SC. We encourage you to send one or more Board representatives. If you have recently appointed new board members, please register them for the full-day, preconference workshop scheduled for Thursday, September 18th. The ASLP-IC will once again hold their annual meeting immediately following the conference on September 20th. If you are unable to attend the ASLP-IC annual commission meeting in person, there will be an option to attend virtually. We have more details about the preconference workshop, conference, and ASLP-IC’s annual commission meeting inside this edition and also on NCSB’s website at: https://ncsb.info/conference.

We are looking forward to seeing you in beautiful Mount Pleasant, SC.

Vickie Pullins, M.A./CCC-SLP
NCSB President - 2025

38th Annual NCSB Conference - Update

We look forward to seeing everyone at the 38th Annual NCSB Pre-Conference Workshop and Conference from September 18-20, 2025, in fabulous Charleston, South Carolina. This year’s conference theme is “Bridging Regulatory Issue in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.” The venue is the Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston Harbor in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. This year’s conference will feature nationally recognized and expert speakers addressing topics about due process - from filing a complaint to enforcing a disciplinary action, utilizing licensure data, developing an enforcement framework, bridging ethical practice, challenges to board deference, communication, telehealth, and other topics. We’ll also include updates from the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC), ETS, ASHA, ADA and AAA, and hear about the importance of licensure boards from a consumer.

There will be a separate registration for our pre-conference workshop on Thursday, September 18th. The pre-conference workshop is a full-day training course for new board members or returning board members who want a refresher. Board attorneys and new board administrative staff also benefit from this highly regarded training. For more information about the pre-conference workshop, including the workshop schedule, please visit NCSB’s website at: https://ncsb.info/workshop.

Continuing education hours for the pre-conference workshop (0.6 CEUs or 6 clock hours) and conference (0.95 CEUs or 9,5 clock hours) are pending approval by the American-Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and have been approved by American Academy of Audiology (AAA). We will take care of the reporting of everyone’s continuing education hours to ASHA or AAA, and all attendees will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the conference.

Registration for the pre-conference training is $225 per person for member states and $325 for non-member states. Registration for the conference, which includes the Friday luncheon and breaks, is $325 per person for member states and $500 for non-member states. There is a discounted registration rate of $300 per person for multiple attendees from a member state. Cancellation is as follows: on or before August 15: 90% of registration fees; beginning September 16: no refund due to cancellation.

We have negotiated a discounted room rate of $199/ night for Wednesday and Thursday nights and $249/night for Friday and Saturday nights, plus tax at the conference venue, Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston Harbor in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. We strongly urge those attending to make their reservations as soon as possible. The Group Rate is available until August 15th or until rooms sell out.

We have more details about the pre-conference and conference, including online registration. Please visit NCSB’s website at: https://ncsb.info/conference.

We would also like to report that immediately following the conclusion of the conference on Saturday, the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact Commission will hold its Annual Commission meeting of delegates at the same venue. If you plan to attend our conference, we invite you to attend their annual meeting, which will be open to the public from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

We look forward to seeing you in Charleston in September.

CMS Reverses Its Interpretation of a Qualified SLP

If your state licensure board licenses individuals under a provisional or conditional speech-language pathology license to complete a postgraduate professional experience (internship), then you undoubtedly received telephone calls and e-mails from your licensees and employers about the impact of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) clarification to Chapter 15 of the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual that made provisional or conditional SLPs, including those pursuing the Clinical Fellowship Year for American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certification, ineligible for reimbursement under Medicare Part B services.

Very strong advocacy efforts ensued following CMS’ clarification, which included a meeting by ASHA representatives with CMS. ASHA recently announced that as of July 28, 2025, CMS has confirmed that it is reversing its previous guidance regarding the qualifications of provisional licensees, including clinical fellows (CFs), to now align with state licensure requirements. NCSB would like to express its appreciation to ASHA and everyone who advocated and signed ASHA’s petition urging CMS to reverse it previous guidance. You can view ASHA's announcement at the following link.

ETS Praxis Exam – Update on Confidentiality Breach with SLP Praxis Examination – Member States Urged to Contact ETS to Verify Names

It has recently come to NCSB’s attention that the Educational Testing Service (ETS) SLP Praxis (registered name), examination was recently compromised, which has resulted in a small percentage of candidates, primarily individuals testing in June and July, having their scores cancelled. Here is a link to an explanation about this situation that is posted on ASHA’s site.

What Should Member States Do?

NCSB recommends that member states contact ETS’ Office of Testing Integrity by e-mailing them at TSReturns@ets.org or by calling them at 1-609-406-5430 to verify whether anyone your board licensed in June or July, who was required to pass the SLP Praxis exam, was amongst the 25 candidates who had their passing score cancelled. The scores for these 25 test candidates were cancelled for violating ETS’ test taker confidentiality agreement by harvesting and distributing PRAXIS (registered) exam questions. Additionally, another 155 candidates were found to access the exam content, giving them an unfair advantage. These 155 candidates will not be able to test for 90 days.

NCSB is recommending this action because member states should determine whether such conduct is grounds for disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, proposing to deny the application for license, and/or suspending, revoking, or placing on probation a license that was issued after an exam score or exam appointment was cancelled based on your own laws and rules governing grounds for disciplinary action.

Proposed Bylaw Changes

The NCSB Board of Directors is proposing a change to its bylaws under Article III, Individual Membership, Honorary Membership, Voting Rights and Privileges, and Article VII, Board of Directors Number & Qualifications. See the full text of the proposed changes.

This notice of the proposed bylaw changes in this newsletter serves as formal publication.

The proposed changes will be voted upon at the NCSB Conference Corporate Business Meeting, scheduled for Friday, September 19, 2025 in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. The amendments will require a 2/3 majority vote by the member states in attendance at the corporate business meeting.

Spotlight on Licensure Board

Idaho Speech, Hearing and Communication Services Licensure Board

NCSB periodically spotlights licensure boards so that readers can gain a perspective of what is happening with regulation across the country. The spotlight may contain information about the members of the Board, how to file a complaint, and other pertinent data for all interested audiologists and speech-language pathologists. This edition shines the spotlight on Idaho.

Idaho Speech, Hearing and Communication Services Licensure Board

The Idaho Speech, Hearing and Communication Services Licensure Board regulates the practice and licensure of people offering speech-language and hearing services in the State of Idaho under the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. The board issues the following licenses and permits:

• Audiologists;
• Speech Language Pathologists;
• Provisional Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists (completing internship);
• Speech-Language Pathologist Assistants;
• Hearing Instrument Specialists;
• Sign Language Interpreters; and
• Deaf Interpreters.

Licensees must complete 10 hours of CEU for each license 12-month renewal period.

The board consists of seven (7) members appointed by the governor. The governor may consider recommendations for appointment to the board from the Idaho speech, language, hearing association, inc. (ISHA), any Idaho association of hearing aid dealers and fitters, any Idaho association of sign language interpreters and any individual residing in this state. Two (2) members of the board shall be speech-language pathologists, one (1) member shall be licensed as a sign language interpreter, two (2) members shall be audiologists, one (1) member shall be a hearing aid dealer and fitter, and one (1) member shall be appointed from the public at large.

Each professional member shall:

1. be a resident of the state of Idaho for no less than one (1) year immediately preceding their appointment;
2. be engaged in rendering services to the public, teaching, or performing research in the field of audiology, speech-language pathology, sign language interpreting, or hearing aid dealing and fitting for a period of not less than five (5) years preceding his or her appointment;
3. be a currently practicing audiologist, speech-language pathologist, sign language interpreter, or hearing aid dealer and fitter; and
4. maintain a valid license in audiology, speech-language pathology, sign language interpreting, or hearing aid dealing and fitting.

The public member appointed shall have been a resident of the state of Idaho for not less than one (1) year immediately preceding his appointment. The public member may not be associated with or financially interested in the practice or business of audiology, speech-language pathology, sign language interpreting, or hearing aid dealing and fitting, nor may the public member be engaged in an allied or related profession or occupation.

Board members serve a term of three (3) years at the pleasure of the governor. In the event of a vacancy other than expiration of a term, the governor shall appoint a replacement to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Contact information:

Idaho Speech, Hearing and Communications Services Licensure Board
Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses
8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mountain Time (except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays)
Mailing: P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0063
Physical: 11351 W Chinden Blvd, Bldg 6, Boise, ID 83714
Phone: (208) 334-3233
Fax: (208) 334-3945
E-mail: shs@IBOL.IDAHO.GOV
https://dopl.idaho.gov/shs/

NCSB Membership

NCSB encourages interested individuals/board to join NCSB. Categories of membership are as follows:

• Full Membership:  Organizations eligible to apply for Full Membership are those boards, advisory councils, committees, or comparable bodies which conduct and maintain programs for the licensing of speech-language pathologists and audiologists in their respective states or provinces.  The cost for Full Membership is $450.
  
  
• Individual Membership:  This category is available to any individual who presently has served as a member, executive director, administrator, or attorney affiliated with a speech-language pathology and/or audiology board.  Additionally, any SLP or AUD holding current licensure and with an interest in regulatory matters is entitled to apply for this affiliation.  Individual members from states that are member boards in good standing shall receive discounted membership.  The cost for Individual Membership is $35.00 for individuals whose state is a member board and $50.00 for individuals residing in states that do not hold membership in NCSB.
  
  
• Association Membership:  This category refers to organizations that either directly or indirectly provide services to individuals with communication disorders and whose members are impacted by licensing or certification of SLPs and AUDs.  Individuals may also apply for this level of membership; however, membership is restricted to individuals who are members of an organization eligible to apply for Association Membership.  The cost of Association Membership is $450.

Join NCSB on Facebook

Get “social” with NCSB and keep up to date on the latest news and information from NCSB.  Join NCSB on Facebook and have access to early announcements of conference locations, accommodations, and programs. Membership in the Facebook group is open to anyone who is a past or present member of your state’s licensure board in speech-language pathology or audiology, state and national association leaders - or if you are interested in trending information and hot topics related to the regulation of the communication profession.  Invite your friends to “like” and “follow” us.  Connect with your colleagues about timely issues in the professions and share news about what is happening in your state.

National Council of State Boards

3416 Primm Lane
Birmingham, AL 35216 USA
P: 205-823-6106
info@ncsb.info
http://ncsb.info