Bill > HB1950

This bill, effective July 1, 2026, removes the requirement that individuals seeking to become licensed speech-language pathologists in Tennessee must hold a certificate of clinical competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), a professional organization. Instead, the bill allows individuals who have completed their educational requirements and earned at least a master's degree to obtain a provisional license to practice while gaining supervised clinical experience, without needing the ASHA certification. It also clarifies that while ASHA certification or an equivalent is acceptable for provisional licensure as a speech-language pathologist, it is no longer a mandatory prerequisite for eligibility.