Montana Board of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists

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Board Information

Our services are available through remote delivery.  We are available to assist customers through our online public portal at EBIZ.MT.GOV/POL (Professional and Occupational Licenses) and EBIZ.MT.GOV (for Permits). For other services, please contact us via email at DLIBSDWEBHELP@MT.GOV or by phone (406) 841-2300.

Mission Statement: The mission of the Board of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists is to protect the health, safety and well-being of Montana citizens through regulation of the practice of speech-language pathology and audiology and the licensing of competent professionals. The board makes every effort to include relevant and current information pertaining to licensing and regulation on our website.  Please contact us if you need additional information, or to provide comments on how we can improve the website.

Welcome to the Board of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists

  • Be aware that there are scams that specifically target licensees.

    Fraudsters may pretend to be government employees, claiming that there is a problem with your professional license or that they have questions about your practice.

    In some cases they find publicly available license information, such as your name, and then call your place of business pretending to be licensing board staff, attempting to elicit personally identifiable information.

    Department of Labor and Industry employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.

    We may call you in some situations, but will never do the following over the phone:

    • Threaten suspension or revocation of your license
    • Demand immediate payment from you
    • Require payment by cash, gift card, pre-paid debit card, internet currency, or wire transfer
    • Ask for personal details or banking information

    The following scenarios should raise suspicion:

    • A caller saying there is a problem with your professional or occupational license (licensing boards send renewal notices by mail and email)
    • Any call asking you to pay a fine or debt with retail gift cards, wire transfers, pre-paid debit cards, internet currency, or by mailing cash
    • A request to verify your social security number in its entirety over the phone

    Learn more about fraud prevention and reporting at https://dojmt.gov/consumer/identity-theft/

     

  • HB 210 (2021) sponsored by the Montana Speech-Language Hearing Association (MSHA) was passed by the Legislature during the 2021 Session. Under this bill there is no longer registration for unlicensed speech-language pathology or audiology aides. To be clear, there will be no aide registration this year or in any subsequent years since the board no longer has authority to require registration of unlicensed aides under this new statute that takes effect on 10/1/21.

    The other main piece of HB 210 is the creation of speech-language pathology and audiology assistant licenses. The board is currently working on rules to implement these new license types. The original timeline would have allowed individuals to begin applying for assistant licenses toward the end of the December 2021. However, as was recently discovered and discussed by the board at its meeting the morning of 9/13/21, there is in fact no appropriate assistant licensing exam available for all potential applicants to the requirements of Montana's new statutes under HB 210. Therefore, the board will need to go out for bid in order to find a contractor to write and administer an appropriate licensing exam which likely means the assistant licenses will not be available until Fall 2022.

    One final note with regard to billing practices and regulations. Laws pertaining to billing, including private insurance and Medicare and Medicaid are still outside the board's jurisdiction and regulatory authority just as they were prior to the passage of HB 210. As a licensee you are expected to comply with other state and federal laws that pertain to your scope of practice. However, it is not this board that regulates those specific areas so if you have questions regarding billing and unlicensed individuals working under the supervisor of a licensee you could trying contacting the Office of the Commissioner of Securities and Insurance and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services for more information. You could also try contacting your state and/or national professional association(s) to see if they have any recommendations regarding resources.

    If you would like to stay current on the board's progress to implement assistant licenses you can request to be added to the board's interested parties list. Those on the interested parties list receive all board meeting agendas and notices of all proposed rulemaking. E-mail questions and/or your request to be added to the list to dlibsdhelp@mt.gov. You can also check the board's website at https://boards.bsd.dli.mt.gov/speech-language-pathologists/. Recordings of board meetings, including the 9/13/21 meeting, can also be found on the website.

    • Even in normal years, graduation season is a busy time for license application processing staff. The board recognizes that the current COVID-19 pandemic has created discord in the normal application, examination, and licensure process. We are striving to address these concerns and potential roadblocks as quickly as possible; however, please understand that this will not occur overnight. The board must continue its public safety mission while adapting to daily changes occurring from the pandemic. This will take time.
    • Applicants are encouraged to begin their application for licensure and to complete as much of the required information as possible.
    • Applications remain valid for one year under normal circumstances. If you submit your application and an item is missing, our licensing specialist will work with you to complete the application. We do not deny applicants for submitting an incomplete application. By completing the application’s remaining parts, exempting exams, etc., you can get ahead on the licensure process.
    • Online applications are the most efficient application method and allow you to upload your own supplemental forms directly into your application at any time.  Click here to go to our online system to create an account and begin your application. 
    • Paying the fee triggers the beginning of the staff review process. Be aware that to verify authenticity, some documents such as exam results, and transcripts must be sent to the department directly from the source and cannot be uploaded by the applicant.
    • Make sure your address and e-mail information are up-to-date. You can update your information at any time by logging into your online account
    • E-mail is the board's primary form of communication so a current e-mail helps ensure you stay current on board information.
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