Wisconsin Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Professional Association

WSHA posts the following continuing education events as a benefit to members. The opinions expressed are the speakers' and do not necessarily reflect the policies and practices of the WSHA or of individual members.

Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Continuing Education Requirements in Wisconsin

Six Semester Credits
The six semester credits must be completed in the five year period preceding the new July 1 license start date (i.e. if the new license will start July 1, 2011, credits must be completed between 7/1/2006 and 6/30/2011). Credits earned in one five-year period may not be "banked" for use in a future period. Semester credits completed after June 30 of the year a license expires will not be accepted for a five-year renewal. If all required credits are not completed by June 30 of the year a license expires, the applicant may be eligible to apply for a one-year non-renewable license (indicate in Section III of form PI-1602-5R). If the additional credits needed for a five-year license are completed during the one-year non-renewable license period (from July 1 to June 30), the applicant may then apply (with a new application PI-1602-5R form and fee) for another five-year license.

Professional Development Plan (PDP)
An educator may satisfy the professional growth requirement by successfully completing a PDP as authorized in Chapter PI 34 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code. Choosing the PDP option to renew a license in one renewal cycle does not obligate the educator to use the PDP process to renew that license in future renewal cycles. For more information, see PDP FAQs.

Please visit the DPI web page at http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/tepdl/renewal.html or call 1-800-441-4563 for more detailed information. It will describe how each educator level must proceed, for example, initial educator/professional educator/ master educator. Each one is different.

Department of Regulation and Licensing
Speech-language pathologists and audiologists who work in settings other than public schools are licensed through the Department of Safety and Professional Services (formerly DRL). Twenty hours of continuing education are required every two years to maintain the DSPS license, and the subject matter for this continuing education must be related to one’s specific area of practice. There are numerous sources, including the Wisconsin Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Association, for receiving continuing education to meet these requirements. Courses offered in alternative delivery methods-such as distance education via home study, videoconferencing, or Internet courses-may also be approved, and the DSPS has a procedure for such approval. For more information about the DSPS license and continuing education requirements, write:

The Department of Safety and Professional Services (formerly DRL)
State of Wisconsin
P.O. Box 8935
Madison, WI 53708-8935
Phone 608-266-2811

General licensing information

Audiologist

Hearing Instrument Specialist

Speech-Language Pathologist

ASHA requires thirty hours or 3.0 CEUs in a 36-month cycle to maintain certification (CCC) Your start date for these requirements depends on the year you initially earned your CCC.

A recent change to Wisconsin Administrative Code has modified the Continuing Education (CE) requirement for our professions. The change, which took effect September 1, 2011, will require you to obtain two (2) hours of CE in Ethics as part of the overall biennial requirement of 20 CE hours.

You must meet the new CE requirement prior to your next license renewal in January 2013. Please note that the overall number of required CE hours has not changed. The new requirement simply states that two (2) of the 20 hours of CE must be in Ethics. The remaining CE hours may be obtained from any other course approved by the Hearing and Speech Examining Board.

How much continuing education do I need to maintain my DSPS (formerly DRL) license?
You need 20 clock hours every two years. At the time of licensure renewal, you will be required to sign a statement attesting to the completion of this requirement.

Do the hours I collect for renewing my DRL license have to be ASHA CEU approved?
No, they do not. While ASHA CEUs are a convenient means to collecting the 20 hours, they are only one option. You may take hours approved by another agency or association (e.g., AAA). You may file an independent study for clock hours with WSHA to gain approval to take a workshop that has not been pre-approved by a CEU sponsor. There is a charge for this, and you must file the paperwork at least 30 days ahead of time, not retroactively for independent study approval.

Can I use the same continuing education clock hours to count toward both a DRL license and a DPI license renewal?
Yes, you may. Keep in mind that the hours required for Department of Public Instruction (DPI) license renewal allows for more content areas than does DSPS. For example, in-service hours gained for “stress in the workplace” may count for DPI license renewal but not DSPS, since it does not directly address speech-language or audiology issues. To ensure that your clock hours will count toward licensure renewal, it is safest for you to stick with ASHA- or AAA-approved CEU hours.

What kind of proof will I need that I have completed the 20 hours?
You are responsible for maintaining information on how each of your 20 hours was earned, as well as evidence of successful completion. This may include holding onto paperwork received from ASHA, AAA, or another organization such as WSHA through whom you completed your independent study. The burden of proof is on you, not on any other agency, on WSHA, or on the Department of Safety and Professional Services.

Can I get DSPS credit for attending a conference that hasn’t been approved by ASHA, AAA or DPI?
Any organization or conference sponsor can submit a ”Continuing Education Approval Request” (Form #2440) to the Hearing and Speech Examining Board at least 45 days prior to the start of the conference. The board will review the request at their regularly scheduled board meetings. The board meets four times a year. Programs or courses offered prior to the next available board meeting will not be approved. The board will not review courses submitted by individuals.

What do I have to do if I only have a DPI license?
Nothing. The 20 clock hours of continuing education only affects those who wish to renew their DSPS licenses. Those with DPI licenses should continue to follow the continuing education requirements for DPI license renewal.

What is the relationship between WSHA and the DSPS?
The Department of Safety and Professional Services is a state-funded office that oversees the licensing of audiologists, hearing instrument specialists, speech-language pathologists, and many other professionals in the state of Wisconsin. They use WSHA as a prime resource when licensure issues arise. The Hearing and Speech Examining (HAS) Board oversees the rules and regulations guiding licensure and handles any complaints and customer service concerns. It is the HAS Board that has the authority to monitor continuing education required for license renewal.

What is the relationship between WSHA and the DPI?
The Department of Public Instruction is the state agency overseeing the education of school-age children in Wisconsin. To maintain a teaching license from the DPI, a professional must meet the required continuing education hours specified in regulations. These hours may be obtained through continuing education offerings by WSHA, although it is not possible to gather all the continuing education hours needed solely through WSHA’s continuing education offerings.

What is the relationship between WSHA and ASHA with regard to continuing education?
ASHA has advocated for continuing education requirements for license renewal, but there is no mandate from them. ASHA approves and reviews continuing education providers, of which WSHA is one. Clock hours approved for ASHA CEUs are always accepted by the DRL as part of the continuing education requirement.

If you have other questions, please direct them to Karen Schneider, WSHA’s Continuing Education Administrator for ASHA, at wsha@wisha.org or 800-545-0640.