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Required Professional Experience (RPE)
When you have completed the coursework and clinical practicum requirements and are ready to begin your period of required professional experience, you will find a link to the application packet at the bottom of this document. If you are unable to print any of these documents please contact the office and we will mail them to you.
To be eligible for licensure, an applicant must submit evidence of no less than thirty-six (36) weeks of full-time experience or seventy-two (72) weeks of part-time experience in the area in which licensure is sought. This experience is referred to as the "required professional experience (RPE)". Full-time experience is defined as a minimum of 30 hours per week. Part-time experience is defined as a minimum of 15 hours per week. Consequently, 15-29 hours per week is credited as part-time according to the statutes.
Once your RPE registration form has been approved, a confirmation letter will be sent to both you and your supervisor. You will receive your actual temporary license approximately 4 weeks after the date of your approval letter. You will note that the approved dates on the letter will allow you to continue working as an RPE for an additional period of time beyond the usual thirty-six (36) or seventy-two (72) week period. This will provide you and your supervisor additional time to submit your verification form to the Board for processing and for the issuance of your official license.
If seeking licensure in speech-language pathology, this experience must be obtained under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist. If seeking licensure in audiology, this experience must be obtained under the supervision of a licensed audiologist. This professional experience shall follow completion of the coursework and clinical practicum requirements described previously.
This professional experience may be gained in a variety of settings. Because other regulatory programs provide consumer protection in some work settings (for example, in the public schools) the law provides that speech-language pathologists and audiologists who are employed in certain exempt settings are not required to be licensed. Nevertheless, it is possible to obtain the professional experience required for licensure in one of the "exempt" settings, as long as the supervisor has qualifications deemed equivalent by the Board.
Should there be a change in your RPE setting, you are no longer required to notify the Board and receive prior approval. However, if there is a change in supervisor your new supervisor will be required to submit the signature page of the Supervisor Responsibility Statement within 30 days. Your previous supervisor must submit the required professional experience verification immediately upon termination of supervision. If there is a change from full-time to part-time or visa versa you must send a letter to the Board signed by both you and your approved supervisor. It will be your responsibly to ensure that all of the requirements defined in the RPE Acknowledgement Statement are being met.
EXEMPT SETTINGS
Effective July 1, 2003, any person obtaining their required professional experience for licensure in California must hold the RPE Temporary License regardless of the work setting. (i.e. employment in the public school or veterans hospital is no longer exempt for the purposes of completing the RPE.)
NON-EXEMPT SETTINGS
If you plan to complete your RPE period in a setting where licensure is required, (e.g., a private practice, speech and hearing clinic, hospital, etc.), the statutes require that you submit your plan to the Board for approval prior to commencing practice. Experience obtained in violation of the laws and regulations will not be acceptable for the licensure requirements.
Note: An RPE candidate who fails to file an RPE plan on a timely basis may be considered to be engaged in the unlicensed practice of speech-language pathology or audiology and may be subject to a citation and fine. The RPE supervisor may also be subject to discipline for aiding and abetting unlicensed practice.
SUPERVISION REQUIRED
The RPE supervisor must provide a minimum of eight-(8) hours per month direct supervision during full-time employment regardless of the setting. At least 50% of the supervisor's direct supervision (four (4) of the eight (8) hours) must be during the applicant's evaluation, assessment and treatment procedures.
For part-time employment, the RPE supervisor must provide a minimum of four-(4) hours per month direct supervision. At least 50% of the supervisor's direct supervision (two (2) of the four (4) hours) must be during the applicant's evaluation, assessment and treatment procedures.
The remainder of the supervisory time for either full-time or part-time applicants may cover record keeping, evaluation, assessment, reports, treatment plans, summaries of case conferences, plans for management, etc.
At the end of the RPE, the supervisor is required to complete the Required Professional Experience Verification form provided by the Board verifying the satisfactory or unsatisfactory completion of the experience.
Note: Experience obtained in a classroom setting where the RPE candidate is teaching academic subjects in addition to providing therapy is creditable only for the portion of the hours where the RPE candidate is providing therapy.
You must allow 5 weeks for processing of the RPE temporary license application. Before calling the office to check the status of your application please go to our web site under "Verify a License", then "Verify a Licensee", enter only your last name. When your full name appears click on your name and that will bring up your licensing information. You may print that screen and use it as proof of current licensure until you have received the approval letter or actual license. If, after 5 weeks your name does not appear you should contact the office.
