Certificate of Clinical Competence Requirements

            The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) will change the “standards and implementation procedures for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology” effective September 1, 2014. The reason for changing the standards and implementation are available to the public at ASHA’s website. The specific changes and how they differ from the current 2005 standards and implementation are delineated as well at ASHA in an easy to follow PDF file.

            I expect to obtain my Certificate of Clinical Competence before the new procedures take effect. I will graduate this December and hopefully be able to start a Clinical Fellowship (CF) shortly after graduating. If I am able to start a CF within the first quarter of 2013 I should be a certified SLP under the current 2005 standards. However, if for whatever reason I do not complete and certify before the 2014 changes are implemented I do not have concerns. The biggest change, in my opinion, which may affect most people graduating in 2013 and later, is having to have had completed a statistics course.

            Statistics, from my experience, intimidates many college students and is a difficult course to grasp and pass. However, from what I remember because I did take this course over seven years ago, statistics is very applicable to our field. Statistics is a course which combines mathematics with research. To obtain certification of clinical competence SLPs need to demonstrate understanding and application of research. Additionally SLPs may also choose to go into the area of research. Therefore I can understand why ASHA has chosen to update the standards to specify completion of a statistics course over any mathematics course.  

            The other changes noted in the new standards include what I would call a play on language. For example, a change from “could” to “should” and “demonstrate” to “has demonstrated” all of the required skills. The changes also entail moving standards from one area to another and simplifying the language. For example ASHA removed redundant information, such as how to apply for ASHA membership, when the information is available on the physical application. The new standards also simplified and aligned the commencement day of intervals to the January 1 immediately following all new applications and those applying for maintaining certification.

            Just as the 2005-2014 comparison document states, the new standards are easier to understand and clearly explain what is required for obtaining and maintaining certification.  

References

Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2012). 2014 Standards for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology. Retrieved September 24, 2012 from http://www.asha.org/Certification/2014-Speech-Language-Pathology-Certification-Standards/.