Frequently Asked Questions
How can I find out if my audiologist, hearing aid dispenser or speech-language pathologist is licenses and in good standing? When does the Board meet and can anyone attend the meetings? How do I file a complaint with the Board? How do I change my address with the Board? How do I change my name with the Board? What can I do if I have lost my license? Does the Board have an Inactive License Status? If my license has been expired for more than 5 years, can I reinstate it? Do I need to have an employment position to apply for a Limited License to do my CFY? Can I start my CFY if I will not officially graduate for another month or so? If I have a limited license, do I have to notify the Board if my supervisor or place of employment changes? Do I need to pass the National Exam before I can obtain a Limited License? Is there an additional fee to transfer from a Limited to a Full License? How does the Board determine the number of Continuing Education Units (CEU's) for a program? When do I need to start obtaining CEU’s and can CEU’s be carried over from one renewal to the next? What happens if I am audited for my continuing education hours by the Board? How long do I have to maintain the continuing education records in my file? What should I do if I am not sure whether a course or program would be approved by the Board?
How can I find out if my audiologist, hearing aid dispenser or speech-language pathologist hold an active, valid license and is in good standing?
Individuals can verify the licensure status of an audiologist, hearing aid dispenser, speech-language pathologist or speech-language pathology assistant by using the Board's online verification system. Please click on the "Online Verification" link in the Online Services section on the Board's homepage. If an individual is not able to verify the license status using the online verification system, the individual may contact the Board Office at 410-764-4725 to check if the health care provider is licensed and in good standing.
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When does the Board meet and can anyone attend the meetings?
News from the Board
The Board meets once a month on the third Thursday of the month at 4:00 p.m. at the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 4201 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21215. The Board does not meet in August and December.
Regular Session meetings of the Board are open to the public and the Board welcomes your attendance. Licensees may earn continuing education credit for attending Regular Sessions - please contact the Board's Executive Director to provide advance notice of your attendance for continuing education credit.
Unless otherwise specified on the Board's homepage all Board meetings are held in Room 110. Call the Board office for directions.
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How do I file a complaint with the Board?
Click on the Consumer tab for information on how to file a complaint with the Board and the Board’s process for handling complaints. Anyone can contact the Board Office by phone for additional information regarding the complaint resolution process.
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How do I change my address with the Board?
A licensee is required by law to submit information regarding a mailing address change to the Board within 60 days of the change.
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How do I change my name with the Board?
A licensee is required by law to submit information regarding a name change to the Board within 30 days of the change. A licensee must send a typed notice with original signature of the name change along with a copy of the marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order for a name change.
The fee for a revised license issued in the licensee's new name is $5.00 and is payable by check or money order.
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What can I do if I have lost my license?
Replacement License Request under Licensing Forms
A licensee who requires a duplicate copy of their professional license must submit a type request with original signature. The request should include the reason for the replacement. All requests for a duplicate license must include the $5.00 duplicate license fee. The Board does not have the authority to waive the duplicate license fee for any reason.
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Does the Board have an Inactive License Status?
Yes, there is an inactive license status. The inactive status may only be requested at the time of renewal. The inactive status will become effective at the conclusion of the late renewal period. The inactive status is good for two years and must be renewed to continue in the inactive status for an additional two years. An individual may reactivate to an active status at any time providing all fees are paid and all continuing education requirements are met.
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If my license has been expired for more than 5 years, can I reinstate it?
If a license has been expired for more than 5 years the practitioner must reapply for a new license and meet all current requirements. Application forms are available under the "Forms" tab. Contact the Board for additional information.
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Do I need to have an employment position to apply for a Limited License to do my Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY)?
Yes, applicants for a limited license must have made arrangements for a CFY position in order to apply for the limited license. The applicant and the applicant's prospective supervisor at the employment setting must complete and sign the AS2 form (Verification of Supervision for Limited License).
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Can I start my CFY if I will not officially graduate for another month or so?
Yes, but the applicant must submit a letter from the educational program's Department Chair stating that the applicant has completed the academic coursework and all the clinical hours. The applicant must make arrangements to have the final graduate transcript showing your Master’s Degree conferred date to be sent direcltly to the Board no later than 60 days after the limited license is issued. The final transcript must become part of the licensee's file. Limited licensees may not transfer to a full license without the official transcript on file.
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If I have a limited license, do I have to notify the Board if my supervisor or place of employment changes?
Yes, limited licensees must submit a new AS2 form to the Board if either the supervisor or employer changes. A limited licensee cannot begin practicing as a speech-language pathologist limited licensee under a new supervisor or at a new employment setting until the AS2 is approved by the Board and a revised limited license has been issued.
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Do I need to pass the National Exam before I can obtain a Limited License?
No, passing the National Exam is not a requirement to be approved for a Limited License. However, to transfer to a full license, the limited licensee must submit proof of having passed the National Exam by having the official exam scores sent to the Board Office or by ensuring that the Board has access to the official scores on the ETS online score reporting system.
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Is there an additional fee to transfer from a Limited to a Full License?
No, there is no additional fee to transfer a Limited LIcense to a Full License provided that the Limited LIcenee has demonstrated proof of having met the minimum requirements for Full Licensure before the limited license expires.
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How does the Board determine the number of Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) for a program?
The Board gives one CEU for each hour of attendance (1 CEU = 1hour). The Board counts the number of hours for the program after deleting time for breaks and lunch (unless there is a speaker during the lunch).
The Board’s CEU’s and ASHA CEU’s are not displayed in the same manner. ASHA denotes an hour of continuing education as 0.1 CEU. Accordingly, ASHA denotes 1.0 CEU as 10.0 hours.
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When do I need to start obtaining CEU’s and can CEU’s be carried over from one renewal to the next?
Speech-language pathologists must obtain the minimum number of CE hours in the two calendar years prior to the expiration of a license. All CE hours must be earned prior to December 31 the year prior to renewal. To renew a license that expires on May 31, 2016 a speech-language pathologist must earn at least 30.0 CE hours between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2015.
Audiologists must obtain the minimum number of CE hours in the preceeding license cycle. To renew a license that expires May 31, 2016 an audiologist must earn at least 30.0 CE hours between June 1, 2014 and May 31, 2016.
Hearing aid dispensers must obtain the minimum number of CE hours in the preceeding license cycle. To renew a license that expires January 31, 2017 a hearing aid dispenser must earn at least 30.0 CE hours between February 1, 2015 and January 31, 2017.
CE hours cannot be carried over from one renewal period to another.
CE hours are prorated for anyone who obtains a new license, reinstates a license, or reactivates a license.
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What happens if I am audited for my continuing education hours by the Board?
If selected for an audit of continuing education activities for the renewal of a license, the licensee must submit to the Board continuing education completion certificates completed in the approrpriate time period. Continuing education documentation must be sent to the Board for the renewal application process to be completed provided all other requirements have been met.
Do not send continuing education completion certificates to the Board unless you have been notified and instructed to do so.
Continuing education audit notices for speech-language pathologists are issued in January of the year the license expires.
Continuing education audit notices for speech-language pathology assistants are issued in March of the year the license expires.
Continuing education audit notices for audiologists are issued in March of the year the license expires.
Continuing education audit notices for hearing aid dispensers are issued in November the year preceding the expiration of the license.
Failure to complete the continuing education requirements may result in disciplinary action being taken against the licensee.
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How long do I have to maintain the continuing education records in my file?
The law requires that all licensees, even those who were not audited, must maintain their continuing education records for at least 4 years.
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What should I do if I am not sure whether a continuing education course or program would be approved by the Board?
Send a Completed Continuing Education form from the Forms Page. The agenda for the program and any additional information you may have to the Board Office.
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