21 NCAC 64 .1003. LICENSEE REQUIREMENTS

(a)  Licensees who register an Assistant must have held a current, permanent license in North Carolina for two years or equivalent qualifications from another state. Temporary license holders shall not register Assistants.

(b)  Licensees who register an Assistant must demonstrate understanding of the basic elements of the registration and supervision process (scope of practice, ethics, written protocols, record keeping), and satisfactorily complete a knowledge demonstration on the registration/supervision process.

(c)  Licensees must submit the application and annual fee for registration of the Assistant to the Board.

(d)  Licensees must assure that patients are informed when services are being provided by an Assistant.

(1)           The Assistant must wear a badge that includes the job title:  "SLP-Assistant."

(2)           When services are to be rendered by an Assistant, the patient or family must be informed in writing. This notification form must be kept on file in the patient's chart, indicating the patient's name and date notified.

(e)  Tasks that are within the scope of responsibilities for an Assistant are listed in Rules .1004 and .1005 of this Section. The standards for all patient services provided by the Assistant are the full responsibility of the Supervising Licensee and cannot be delegated. Therefore, the assignment of tasks and the amount and type of supervision must be determined by the Supervising Licensee to ensure quality of care considering: the skills of the Assistant, needs of the patient, the service-setting, the tasks assigned, and any other relevant factors.

(1)           Before assigning a treatment tasks to an Assistant, the Licensee must have first evaluated the patient, written a general treatment plan, and provided the Assistant with a written session protocol specifying the following for patient behaviors:

(A)          eliciting conditions;

(B)          target behavior; and

(C)          contingent response.

(2)           The Supervising Licensee must document the Assistant's reliable and effective application of the treatment protocol with each patient. Each time a new protocol is introduced, the Supervising Licensee must assure and document that the Assistant is utilizing all three protocol elements (A, B, C) effectively.

(3)           For every patient encounter (screening or treatment) in which an Assistant provides service, there must be legible signatures of the Assistant and one Supervising Licensee.

(4)           These signed and dated patient encounter records must be retained as part of the patient's file for the time period specified in Rule .0209 of this Chapter and may be requested by the Board.

(5)           The Board may do random audits of records to determine compliance with its rules.

(6)           When patient services are being rendered by an Assistant, the Supervising Licensee must be accessible to the Assistant in order to assure that direct observation and supervision can occur when necessary.

(f)  The Primary Supervising Licensee shall assess the Assistant's competencies during the initial 60 days of employment using the performance-based competency assessment and orientation checklist provided by the Board on the Board's website. The completed checklist shall be submitted to the Board within 90 days of registration. A new competency checklist must be completed and filed within 90 days each time the primary supervising Licensee changes.

(g)  Any attempt to engage in those activities and responsibilities reserved solely for the Supervising Licensee shall be regarded as the unlicensed practice of speech-language pathology.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90-298.1; 90-304(a)(3);

Eff. July 1, 1998;

Amended Eff. December 1, 2013.