The Council For Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC), chaired by Robert Novak, met July 15 - 17, 2005 at the ASHA National Office. All Council members, with the exception of Julie Washington, were in attendance. Also attending were Tommie Robinson, Jr., the Monitoring Vice President for Quality of Service in Speech-Language Pathology as the Executive Board liaison to the CFCC, and a representative from the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Judy Brasseur. A representative from the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA), Dennis Burrows, attended in place of the ex officio CAA member, Amy Wohlert.
The following activities occurred during the meeting:
- The CFCC was presented with several files from individuals applying for certification by the National Office due to questions and concerns. The Council reviewed these files and provided direction to National Office staff on further action.
- Council reviewed questions from university programs, applicants and potential applicants with regard to the policy on eligibility for certification and how policy governs completion of such applications. Council reviewed Standard I, along with the implementation language for this standard, and reaffirmed that individuals who had completed graduate academic course work and clinical practicum through a program that was not accredited by the CAA, would not be eligible to apply for ASHA certification. Likewise, they reviewed the implementation language outlining which applicants must submit fully completed applications when applying for certification. The Council upheld the language specifying that individuals who began their graduate course work in a program that held Candidacy for accreditation would be required to submit a fully completed application for certification.
- CFCC provided National Office certification staff with guidance on processing applications under the 2005 speech-language pathology standards from individuals who were educated under previous standards. The Council determined that the only mechanism for individuals to apply for certification under the 2005 standards is through submission of a fully completed application form that indicates that the applicant has met the knowledge and skills specified in the 2005 standards. The assessment of the acquisition of requisite knowledge and skills will be the responsibility of the director of the graduate program from which the individual graduated and it is the expectation of the CFCC that the program would provide information on the mechanisms used in performing that assessment of the applicant so that this can be provided to the CFCC with the application form.
- The CFCC discussed the need for curricula to support academic programs in developing supervision competencies in their graduates (e.g. Audiology standard IV. B19). They also noted that programs may need to develop these same competencies with their clinical supervisors/instructors. The CFCC recommended that a joint committee be developed with CAPCSD and CAA that would be charged with developing an initial training module that might use the ASHA 1984 position paper on clinical supervision as one resource. Stephanie Martin will be the CFCC representative, with ASHA National Office support provided by Carol Williams. Judy Brasseur will be the CAPCSD representative; CAA representation will be determined during their meeting.
- The Council spent significant time reviewing its internal operating procedures to assure that it is conducting activities that are representative of a quality personnel certification program. They began work on a performance self-assessment plan and on a plan to assess the performance of the chair. They also reviewed the mechanism for appointment of individuals to the Council. They drafted a concept that will be shared with the Executive Board and, if approved, will be sent to the Legislative Council. Finally, as part of the overall quality management plan for the certification program, the Council discussed a plan for closely monitoring and auditing the work of the National Office certification staff as they process applications. More information will be provided in this area and, once finalized, will be added to the CFCC's Operating Manual.
- The CFCC reviewed a recommendation from the Clinical Fellowship Subcommittee to remove the implementation language from the 2005 Speech-Language Pathology Certification Standards that refers to an "Employer(s) Verification Form." It was the finding of the Council that there would be no information gained from a separate form that could not be gathered through other documentation.
- The certification maintenance process was reviewed for the Council and they discussed requests from retired, non-practicing individuals who wished to keep the designation of "CCC" but could not/did not need to participate in professional development activities. The Council approved the establishment of two categories to address these requests and gave approval to certification staff to work with other National Office staff in implementing these changes. Once finalized, this information will be communicated to the certificate holders.
- CFCC reaffirmed its desire to have a representative of the National Council of State Boards of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (NCSB) attend part of the CFCC meetings as an observer, in line with the observer designated by CAPCSD. The invitation will again be communicated to NCSB. Finally, the CFCC reviewed their approved Convention presentations and highlighted areas that needed to be covered during these sessions. The next meeting of the CFCC will occur during the ASHA Convention on November 17, 2005.
Reprinted by permission of the American Speech-Lanuage-Hearing Association.
