Subdivision 1. Applications for licensure. (a) An applicant for licensure must:

(1) submit a completed application for licensure on forms provided by the commissioner. The application must include the applicant's name, certification number under chapter 153A, if applicable, business address and telephone number, or home address and telephone number if the applicant practices speech-language pathology or audiology out of the home, and a description of the applicant's education, training, and experience, including previous work history for the five years immediately preceding the date of application. The commissioner may ask the applicant to provide additional information necessary to clarify information submitted in the application; and

(2) submit documentation of the certificate of clinical competence issued by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, board certification by the American Board of Audiology, or satisfy the following requirements:

(i) submit a transcript showing the completion of a master's or doctoral degree or its equivalent meeting the requirements of section 148.515, subdivision 2;

(ii) submit documentation of the required hours of supervised clinical training;

(iii) submit documentation of the postgraduate clinical or doctoral clinical experience meeting the requirements of section 148.515, subdivision 4; and

(iv) submit documentation of receiving a qualifying score on an examination meeting the requirements of section 148.515, subdivision 6.

(b) In addition, an applicant must:

(1) sign a statement that the information in the application is true and correct to the best of the applicant's knowledge and belief;

(2) submit with the application all fees required by section 148.5194;

(3) sign a waiver authorizing the commissioner to obtain access to the applicant's records in this or any other state in which the applicant has engaged in the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology; and

(4) consent to a fingerprint-based criminal history background check as required under section 144.0572, pay all required fees, and cooperate with all requests for information. An applicant must complete a new criminal history background check if more than one year has elapsed since the applicant last applied for a license.

Subd. 2. Action on applications for licensure. (a) The commissioner shall act on an application for licensure according to paragraphs (b) to (e).

(b) The commissioner shall determine if the applicant meets the requirements for licensure. The commissioner or advisory council may investigate information provided by an applicant to determine whether the information is accurate and complete.

(c) The commissioner shall not issue a license to an applicant who refuses to consent to a background study within 90 days after submission of an application or fails to submit fingerprints to the Department of Human Services. Any fees paid by the applicant to the Department of Health shall be forfeited if the applicant refuses to consent to the background study.

(d) The commissioner shall notify an applicant, via certified mail, of action taken on the application and of the grounds for denying licensure if licensure is denied.

(e) An applicant denied licensure may make a written request to the commissioner, within 30 days of the date of notification to the applicant, for reconsideration of the denial. Individuals requesting reconsideration may submit information that the applicant wants considered in the reconsideration. After reconsideration of the commissioner's determination to deny licensure, the commissioner shall determine whether the original determination should be affirmed or modified. An applicant may make only one request in any one biennial license period for reconsideration of the commissioner's determination to deny licensure.

Subd. 3. Change of name, employment, and addresses. A licensee who changes addresses must inform the commissioner, in writing, of the change of name, employment, or address within 30 days. A change in name must be accompanied by a copy of a marriage certificate or court order. All notices or other correspondence mailed to or served on a licensee by the commissioner at the licensee's address on file with the commissioner shall be considered as having been received by the licensee.

History: 1996 c 363 s 9; 2003 c 87 s 29; 2008 c 189 s 10; 2016 c 158 art 1 s 67; 1Sp2017 c 6 art 10 s 113,114