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Part 3: UMD CSD Program and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Associaiton (ASHA)

You are responsible for meeting the requirements of the UMD CSD Program, which include and exceed the standards of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Your performance in the CSD Program is based on your demonstration of professional knowledge and skills through Formative and Summative Assessments. Summative Assessment occurs when you complete a given course and when you complete the National Praxis Exam. Please refer to ASHA for information about the Praxis Exam. Formative assessment is an ongoing evaluation of your professional growth and development. Please refer to the Department link on Formative Assessment.

About ASHA

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) issues Certificates of Clinical Competence (CCC) to individuals who present evidence of their ability to provide independent clinical services to persons who have disorders of communication. Individuals who meet the standards specified by the Association´s Council on Professional Standards may be awarded a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) or Audiology (CCC-A). Individuals who meet the standards in both professional areas may be awarded both certificates.

ASHA is the scientific, professional, and credentialing association in the United States of America for:

• Speech-language pathologists
• Audiologists
• Speech, Language, and Hearing Scientists

Graduate education programs in speech pathology and audiology must hold accreditation from ASHA. The UMD Graduate Program in Speech-Language Pathology has held accreditation from ASHA since 1978.

All faculty and clinic instructors in the CSD Department hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA. All off-site practicum supervisors hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA. As interns, you work under the Certificate of Clinical Competence that your supervisor has earned.

To quote ASHA:

ASHA Code of Ethics

As you participate in observation and practicum activities and as you have client contact, you are expected to abide by the ASHA Code of Ethics. The Code of Ethics is available on ASHA´s web site and in the Student Handbook Appendix.

ASHA Membership and Certification Handbook

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association issues Certificates of Clinical Competence to individuals who present evidence of their ability to provide independent clinical services to persons who have disorders or differences in communication. Individuals who meet the standards of the Association´s Council on Professional Standards may be awarded a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) or Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). Individuals who meet the standards in both professional areas may be awarded both certificates. This Handbook delineates the process for obtaining the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence. The first steps for obtaining your CCCs are to earn your Masters Degree and pass your Praxis exam. The final step is to complete your Clinical Fellowship, after you have earned your degree.

Please take the time to review the ASHA Membership & Certification Handbook. In addition to requirements for degree acquisition through the CSD Department, the ASHA Handbook explains the process for Clinical Fellowship and acquisition of the Certificate of Clinical Competence.

ASHA requires all candidates to demonstrate basic knowledge and skills in their prospective profession. Your graduate program is designed to give you opportunities to demonstrate knowledge and skills toward your degree. For details, please refer to ASHA Knowledge and Skills Acquisition.

Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology

ASHA´s Certificates of Clinical Competence are granted in speech-language pathology and audiology to individuals who present evidence of their ability to provide independent clinical services to persons who have disorders and differences in communication. Persons who meet the standards specified by the Association´s Council on Professional Standards may be awarded by Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) or in Audiology (CCC-A). Individuals who meet the standards in both professional areas may be awarded both certificates.

Requirements for holding a CCC

• Graduate degree in speech pathology or audiology
• Active interest in the field of communication
• Meet academic course work and clinical practicum requirements in the professional area
• Complete a supervised clinical fellowship
• Achieve a passing score on the praxis exam

ASHA members may provide services only when the individual hold the appropriate CCC or is in the process of obtaining the CCC under the supervision of a professional who hold the appropriate CCC.

ASHA members may supervise the provision of clinical services only when the individual holds a current CCC in the appropriate area.

Effective January 1, 2005, all certificate holders in speech-language pathology, regardless of their date of certification, will be required to participate in continuing professional development activities to maintain their certification.

Standard I: Degree

All graduate course work and graduate clinic practicum must be initiated and completed in an institution whose program is accredited by the ASHA Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA).

Standard II: Institution of Higher Education

The graduate degree must be granted by a regionally accredited institution of higher education.

Standard III: Program of Study—Knowledge Outcomes

Applicants for CCCs must have a master´s or doctoral or other recognized post-baccalaureate degree. Applicants must have earned at least 75 semester credit hours (including at least 35 at the graduate level) that reflect a well-integrated program of study dealing addressing a depth and breadth of knowledge outcomes pertinent to the field of study:

• The biological/physical sciences and mathematics
• The behavioral and/or social sciences, including normal aspects of human behavior and communication; and
• The nature, prevention, evaluation, and treatment of speech, language, hearing, and related disorders.

Coursework must address issues pertaining to normal and abnormal human behavior across the lifespan and must consider issues of cultural competence in professional practice.

Specific ASHA Standards state academic course work must be sufficient to achieve the following knowledge outcomes:

• Standard III-A
  • The applicant must demonstrate knowledge of the principles of biological sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, and the social/behavioral sciences.
• Standard III-B
  • The applicant must demonstrate knowledge of basic human communication and swallowing processes, including their biological, neurological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural bases.
• Standard III-C
  • The applicant must demonstrate knowledge of the nature of speech, language, hearing, and communication disorders and differences and swallowing disorders, including the etiologies, characteristics, anatomical/physiological, acoustic, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural correlates. Specific knowledge must be demonstrated in the following areas:
    • articulation
    • fluency
    • voice and resonance, including respiration and phonation
    • receptive and expressive language (phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics) in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and manual modalities
    • hearing, including the impact on speech and language
    • swallowing (oral, pharyngeal, esophageal, and related functions, including oral function for feeding; orofacial myofunction)
    • cognitive aspects of communication (attention, memory, sequencing, problem-solving, executive functioning)
    • social aspects of communication (including challenging behavior, ineffective social skills, lack of communication opportunities)
    • communication modalities (including oral, manual, augmentative, and alternative communication techniques and assistive technologies)
• Standard III-D
  • The applicant must possess knowledge of the principles and methods of prevention, assessment, and intervention for people with communication and swallowing disorders, including consideration of anatomical/physiological, psychological, developmental, and linguistic and cultural correlates of the disorders.
• Standard III-E
  • The applicant must demonstrate knowledge of standards of ethical conduct.
• Standard III-F
  • The applicant must demonstrate knowledge of processes used in research and the integration of research principles into evidence-based clinical practice.
• Standard III-G
  • The applicant must demonstrate knowledge of contemporary professional issues.
• Standard III-H
  • The applicant must demonstrate knowledge about certification, specialty recognition, licensure, and other relevant professional credentials.

Standard IV: Program of Study—Skills Outcomes

The following Skills Outcomes are delineated by ASHA as the minimum prerequisite for applicants wishing to obtain ASHA CCCs:

• Standard IV-A
  • The applicant must complete a curriculum of academic and clinical education that follows an appropriate sequence of learning sufficient to achieve the skills outcomes in Standard IV-G
• Standard IV-B
  • The applicant must possess skill in oral and written or other forms of communication sufficient for entry into professional practice.
• Standard IV-C
  • The applicant for certification in speech-language pathology must complete a minimum of 400 clock hours of supervised clinical experience in the practice of speech-language pathology. Twenty-five hours must be spent in clinical observation, and 375 hours must be spent in direct client/patient contact.
• Standard IV-D
  • At least 325 of the 400 clock hours must be completed while the applicant is engaged in graduate study in a program accredited in speech-language pathology by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.
• Standard IV-E
  • Supervision must be provided by individuals who hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence in the appropriate area of practice. The amount of supervision must be appropriate to the student´s level of knowledge, experience, and competence. Supervision must be sufficient to ensure the welfare of the client/patient.
• Standard IV-F
  • Supervised practicum must include experience with client/patient populations across the life span and from culturally/linguistically diverse backgrounds. Practicum must include experience with client/patient populations with various types and severities of communication and/or related disorders, differences, and disabilities.
• Standard IV-G
  • The applicant for certification must complete a program of study that includes supervised clinical experiences sufficient in breadth and depth to achieve the following skills outcomes:
    1. Evaluation:
       • conduct screening and prevention procedures (including prevention activities)
       • collect case history information and integrate information from clients/patients, family, caregivers, teachers, relevant others, and other professionals
       • select and administer appropriate evaluation procedures, such as behavioral observations, non-standardized and standardized tests, and instrumental procedures
       • adapt evaluation procedures to meet client/patient needs
       • interpret, integrate, and synthesize all information to develop diagnoses and make appropriate recommendations for intervention
       • complete administrative and reporting functions necessary to support evaluation
       • refer clients/patients for appropriate services
    2. Intervention:
       • develop setting -appropriate intervention plans with measurable and achievable goals that meet clients´/patients´ needs. Collaborate with clients/patients and relevant others in the planning process.
       • implement intervention plans (involve clients/patients and relevant others in the intervention process)
       • select or develop and use appropriate materials and instrumentation for prevention and intervention
       • measure and evaluate clients´/patients´ performance and progress
       • modify intervention plans, strategies, materials, or instrumentation as appropriate to meet the needs of clients/patients
       • complete administrative and reporting functions necessary to support intervention
       • identify and refer clients/patients for services as appropriate
    3. Interaction and Personal Qualities:
       • communicate effectively, recognizing the needs, values, preferred mode of communication, and cultural/linguistic background of the client/patient, family, caregivers, and relevant others
       • collaborate with other professionals in case management
       • provide counseling regarding communication and swallowing disorders to clients /patients, family, caregivers, and relevant others
       • adhere to the ASHA Code of Ethics and behave professionally

Standard V: Assessment

Applicants must demonstrate achievement of the above knowledge and skills through formative and summative assessment. In the UMD CSD Program, formative assessment is completed through coursework and various developmental activities. The ePortfolio system is used to house materials that demonstrate growth for the purposes of formative assessment. Summative assessment is completed through Program exams and coursework performance and completion of the National Praxis Exam. ASHA specifies the following assessment requirements:

• Standard V-A: Formative Assessment
  • The applicant must meet the education program´s requirements for demonstrating satisfactory performance through ongoing formative assessment of knowledge and skills.
• Standard V-B: Summative Assessment
  • The applicant must pass the national examination adopted by ASHA for purposes of certification in speech-language pathology.

Standard VI: Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Fellowship

ASHA requires successful completion of a Clinical Fellowship after successful completion of academic coursework and practicum. The Clinical Fellowship is supervised by a professional who currently holds the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in the appropriate field of practice. Applicants are responsible for arranging their own clinical fellowship supervision.

Standard VII: Maintenance of Certification

Members of ASHA must demonstrate continued professional development in order to maintain the Certificate of Clinical Competence. Members are required to submit a report every 3 years, showing a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education activity during that period.

Please refer to the ASHA Membership and Certification Handbook for further information on obtaining and maintaining the Certificate of Clinical Competence.

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