Frequently Asked Questions
About the ASLP-IC
The Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC) is an interstate agreement that provides a pathway by which audiologists and speech-language pathologists can obtain the authorization to practice in states where they do not hold a license. To join the compact, a state must enact the compact model legislation via its legislative process.
Practitioners can use their home state professional license to apply for a compact privilege to practice in other participating states.
It is a license granted by your home state, i.e., where you live, pay taxes and have your driver’s license. This is the license you will use to apply for compact privileges in other participating states once applications become available.
A privilege to practice, or compact privilege, is granted via Compact legislation and obtained using the CompactConnect data system. It is based on a practitioner’s home state license and gives a practitioner the authorization to practice in other member states.
A home state license granted by your home state is where you live, pay taxes, and have your driver’s license.
No. Although your state enacting the compact is a necessary step, it does not automatically approve your license for use in other participating states. Practitioners must apply for the privilege to practice in each state through the compact. See the CompactConnect FAQs for more information.
Member states must implement or utilize procedures for considering the criminal history records
of applicants for Initial Privilege to Practice. These procedures shall include the submission of
fingerprints or other biometric-based information by applicants for the purpose of obtaining an
applicant’s criminal history record information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and
the agency responsible for retaining that state’s criminal records.
- A member state cannot participate in authorizing issuance of compact privileges until such member state has completed the requirements to fully implement the FBI Criminal Background Check requirement established in Section 3 of the Compact. As used in Section 3.B.1 of the Compact, full implementation of the FBI Criminal Background Check requirement means that the member state’s licensing board is using the results of the FBI record search on criminal background checks in making licensure decisions for all applicants seeking an initial license to practice as an Audiologist or Speech-Language Pathologist in the member state.
- Results of the criminal background check shall be reviewed solely by the member state in accordance with state law and shall not be shared, unless otherwise permitted under state law, with individuals, other member states, or the Commission.
- To avoid default, member states must have completed all required processes, requirements, and applications necessary to request the ability to receive the results of the FBI record search on criminal background checks, as required by the Compact.
- A Member State shall regularly notify the Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology – Interstate Compact Commission (ASLP-ICC) of steps taken and progress toward implementation of a Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Background Check policy.
Your home state must be an ASLP-IC member state to participate in the compact. A state must pass legislation to join the compact, onboard with the CompactConnect system, and then the state can begin issuing and receiving privileges to practice. See the map of member states here: https://aslpcompact.com/compact-map/
To qualify, a practitioner’s home state must be a compact member. The practitioner must have:
- An active, unencumbered license in their home state.
- Earned an accredited degree according to Section 3E and 3F of the compact.
- Completed a supervised practicum and approved national examination.
- Completed a supervised post-graduate professional experience (applicable to speech-language pathologists only).
- No disqualifying criminal history.
- A valid Social Security Number or National Practitioner Identifier.
Assistants are not eligible for compact privileges. Individuals with Department of Education credentials alone are not eligible for compact privileges.
Holding a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) issued by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) or being American Board of Audiology Certified (ABA) by the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) is not a requirement to participate in the compact. However, each member state retains authority over the requirements for licensure in their state. If a member state requires the CCC or the ABA for licensure, that is outside of the jurisdiction of the compact.
States can become members by enacting the compact model legislation through the state’s legislature and governor.
If you would like to get involved in your state, please contact your state legislators, the state chapter of your national membership organization, or your state licensing board. Commission meetings are open to the public!
Convert means when an audiologist or speech-language pathologist changes primary state of residence by moving from a compact member state or a non-compact member state and privileges to practice in member states are deactivated. The home state license converts to a single state license and can no longer be used to participate in the Compact. Former privileges to practice in member states may be converted to single-state licenses by those states.
- “Deactivate” in the case of an adverse action revoking or suspending the home state license means to terminate the active status of a home state license and all privileges to practice and;
- “Deactivate” in the case of a change of primary state of residence to a non-compact member state means to terminate the active status of all privileges to practice in member states and;
- “Deactivate in the case of non-renewal of a home state license means to terminate the active status of a home state license and all privileges to practice and;
- “Deactivate” in the case of non-renewal of a remote state privilege to practice means termination of the active status of that remote state’s privilege to practice.
Encumbrance means any limitation on the full and unrestricted practice of audiology or speech-language pathology of the licensee by the regulating authority.
- Under the compact, the “initial privilege to practice” is granted when a licensed audiologist or speech-language pathologist completes the steps necessary to gain eligibility to apply for privileges to practice under the compact. These steps are completed by the licensee’s home state, and include verifying the applicant’s education, examination record, and criminal history
record. - To qualify for an initial privilege to practice an audiologist or speech-language pathologist must hold an active and unencumbered license in their home state which is a member of the compact.
- These privileges allow the privilege holder to practice speech-language pathology or audiology, as applicable, in one or more of the other compact member states, and are separate from the individual’s license to practice audiology or speech-language pathology in their home state.
“Primary State of Residence” means the state (also known as the Home State) in which an audiologist or speech-language pathologist who is not Active-Duty Military declares a primary residence for legal purposes as verified by: driver’s license, federal income tax return, lease, deed, mortgage or voter registration or other verifying documentation as further defined by Commission Rules.
Applying for Privileges and CompactConnect
CompactConnect is a collaborative licensure compact data system. It supports the implementation and operation of interstate occupational licensure compacts for the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology-Interstate Compact Commission (ASLP-ICC), Counseling Compact Commission (CCC), and Occupational Therapy Compact Commission (OTCC).
CompactConnect Home Page: https://app.compactconnect.org/Dashboard
Compact Connect Help Desk: https://compactconnect.zendesk.com/hc/en-us
As states are onboarded to CompactConnect, these announcements will be updated on the Home Page and the Compact Map.
For more information on the timeline for your state, contact your home state licensing agency/board.
When registration opens in your home state, visit CompactConnect: https://app.compactconnect.org/Dashboard.
For more information on the application timeline for your state, contact your home state licensing agency.
For assistance in the registration process, visit the CompactConnect Help Desk: https://compactconnect.zendesk.com/hc/en-us
The fees for compact privilege are a combination of the $50 ASLP-IC administrative fee and state fees for each compact privilege. The state fees are set individually by each member state and will be visible once applications open. States may change their required fees at their discretion.
The ASLP-IC administrative fee covers the commission’s operating budget and operating costs and is subject to change at any time as voted upon by the Full Commission.
States that require a jurisprudence examination may also charge a fee collected by the state and not the Compact Commission.
State Fees and Jurisprudence requirements can be found here and will be available on the CompactConnect dashboard as applications open.
Practitioners only need to complete continuing education requirements in their home state. They do not need to complete units for other states where they hold compact privileges.
Practitioners will need to complete jurisprudence examinations in each state where they are required as part of their compact privilege application. The jurisprudence examination must be completed before applying for a compact privilege in the remote member state that requires the jurisprudence exam.
States that require a jurisprudence examination may charge a fee as part of the registration process to take the exam. That fee will be collected by the state and not the Compact Commission.
If you make one request, you will pay one administrative fee. If you make five requests, you will pay the administrative fee five times. This allows the Commission to keep the administrative fee lower, so more practitioners have equitable access to apply for a privilege to practice in another state. The lower fee means that those who use the compact at a higher frequency bear more of the financial burden of keeping the compact operational. The Commission is designed to be self-funded and has ongoing financial obligations it must meet through the collection of administrative fees.
The length of time a practitioner has a privilege to practice in a state is determined by the renewal cycle of the practitioner’s home state. For example, if the licensee renews their home state license every two years, then the time frame to renew their compact privilege will also be every two years by the time their home state license is set to expire. If a licensee must renew their home state license every year, their compact privilege must be renewed each year before expiration.
Active duty military, military veterans, and the spouse of active duty military and/or military veterans will be required to pay the $50.00 ALSP-IC administrative fee for each privilege to practice request. Some states may waive the state fee(s) for active duty and spouses. This information will be provided in CompactConnect once applications open.
Most major credit and debit cards will be accepted via CompactConnect. Cash or checks will not be accepted.
No refunds are issued.
For questions about your home state and the timeline for opening applications in CompactConnect, contact your state licensing agency.
For questions about the ASLP-IC Compact or CompactConnect in general, use the Contact Us form to get in touch with the Commission.
Additional Licensing Information
If a state Department of Education does not require a separate credential to practice in the school system, you can do so through the compact privilege to practice.
If a state Department of Education requires a separate credential to practice in the school system, you must obtain that credential to practice in schools.
If a state does not require a separate credential to dispense hearing aids, audiologists can do so through the compact privilege to practice.
If a state requires a separate credential to dispense hearing aids, audiologists must obtain that credential to dispense hearing aids.
Professionals practicing through the compact must have a license to practice independently. If your role requires supervision (such as a clinical fellowship), you are not eligible to practice through the compact.
You are able to participate in the compact if you received a license under previous licensing requirements. The licensing requirements in the compact ensure all member states have the same requirements for individuals entering the profession.
No. Assistants are not eligible for compact privileges.
To qualify, a practitioner’s home state must be a compact member, and the practitioner must have:
- An active, unencumbered license in their home state.
- Earned an accredited degree according to Section 3E and 3F of the compact.
- Completed a supervised practicum and approved national examination.
- Completed a supervised post-graduate professional experience (applicable to speech-language pathologists only).
- No disqualifying criminal history.
- A valid Social Security Number or National Practitioner Identifier.
What are the benefits of pursuing a compact privilege?
If you apply for an individual state license, you must submit additional documentation with your application. This includes transcripts, exam scores, and official verifications, all of which incur extra costs that must be considered when calculating the total cost of a state license. However, when applying for a privilege to practice, you do not need to provide transcripts, exam scores, or official verifications, resulting in significant cost and time savings for the applicant.
Once your home state and the state in which you seek a privilege to practice are fully onboarded to the compact commission’s data system, the Commission’s goal is for licensees to receive their privilege to practice soon after their application and payment are submitted.
A compact privilege to practice eliminates duplicative administrative paperwork and application processing burdens on member state licensing authorities giving practitioners significantly reduced wait times before being authorized to begin practice in a remote state.
You are only required to meet the continuing education (CE) requirements of your home state, eliminating the need to navigate differing CE standards across multiple states and resulting in potential time and cost savings.
Licensees can save time by avoiding the need to track and maintain multiple licenses and expiration dates. Privileges will expire in alignment with the home state’s license renewal cycle, freeing up time that could be used to serve additional clients.