Existing law, until January 1, 2027, establishes the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board within the Department of Consumer Affairs and requires the board to license and regulate speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and hearing aid dispensers. Beginning January 1, 2023, speech-language pathologist are prohibited from performing a flexible fiber optic transnasal endoscopic procedure unless they received written verification from one otolaryngolist certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology that the speech-language pathologist performed a minimum of 25 supervised flexible fiber optic transnasal endoscopic procedures and is competent to perform those procedures.
SB 612 expands existing law to provide that a licensed speech-language pathologist who holds a written verification as described above issued before January 1, 2023 are deemed to meet the specified requirements regarding flexible fiber optic transnasal endoscopic procedures.
(SB 612 amends Section 2530.2 of the Business and Professions Code, and Section 56363 of the Education Code.)