Utah Advances Proposal to Deregulate Audiology Licensure

The Utah Department of Professional Licensing (DOPL), in coordination with the Office of Professional Licensing Review (OPLR), has proposed sweeping changes to audiology professional licensure. These changes are part of a broader effort across several health professions to reduce state licensure requirements. National deregulation movements, such as those advanced by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), influenced this reform effort. The initiative began as a regulatory review and research effort but has since evolved into a proposal presented to the Utah Senate Business and Labor Committee. At the committee’s hearing last week, audiologists, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), and hearing instrument specialists (HIS) voiced opposition, while legislators supported the proposal’s findings.

Under the current proposal, Utah would replace:

1. Licensure for audiologists, SLPS, and HIS with a one-time certification.
2. Maintain certification through different options: continuing education, a minimum number of practice hours, or national certification. Eliminating the need for a state CE audit.
3. Eliminate the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board, leaving no formal advisory body to review standards of practice, disciplinary matters, or professional conduct.

The Academy strongly opposes the proposed deregulation, emphasizing that it would lower professional practice standards and put patient safety at risk. The Academy’s government relations team has been actively engaged on this issue since August, working closely with Utah audiologists to coordinate advocacy efforts. Staff also convened a strategy meeting with other organizations to align next steps and attended the last week to monitor stakeholder testimony.