May 8, 2024
This does not pertain to Temporary SLP-Assistants, SLP-Assistants with a full registration, or Audiology Assistants. Please be sure to review their supervision/observation requirements separately.
The NCBOESLPA’s observation requirement for temporary licensees is different from the ASHA observation requirement for the clinical fellowship.
The Board has made some adjustments to allow some flexibility in the month-to-month providing of direct observation hours during the supervised experience year (SEY). However, the Board still feels it is important to spread the observation hours out evenly throughout the SEY. Supervisors of temporary licensees must provide on-site direct observation of the temporary licensee’s work with patients totaling a minimum average of four hours per month for temporary licensees working full-time (30 or more hours per week) and two hours per month for temporary licensees working part-time (less than 30 hours per week). The average number of hours of observation should be determined every 3 months. A temporary licensee working full-time must receive twelve hours of direct observation every three months. A temporary licensee working part-time must receive six hours of direct observation every three months. Observation received through real-time telepractice is accepted as direct observation.
A temporary licensee working full-time (30 or more hours per week) should at no time receive less than 2 hours of direct observation within a 30-day period. A temporary licensee working part-time (less than 30 hours per week) should at no time receive less than 1 hour of direct observation within a 30-day period. Exceptions include times when the temporary licensee is not working. For example, summer breaks in the school system or breaks in year-round schools, delayed start dates when the license is first issued, maternity or medical leave. Be aware that the breaks in employment do not exempt the temporary licensee from completing all of the SEY requirements within a 24-month period.
For example:
Full-time Employment
Acceptable for the 3-month segment
January – 5 hours of direct observation were provided
February – 2 hours of direct observation were provided
March – 5 hours of direct observation were provided
Full-time Employment
Not acceptable
January – 3 hours of direct observation were provided
February – 1 hours of direct observation were provided
March – 8 hours of direct observation were provided
Direct observation of a temporary licensee is defined as directly observing the temporary licensee’s work with patients with full focus and attention solely on their practice. Simply being in the same location or room does not qualify as direct observation.
Please feel free to contact the Board’s Office if you have questions or concerns about what the Board considers acceptable supervision for temporary licensees.