SECTION 111.81. Intern in Audiology License--Internship and Supervision Requirements

(a) A licensed intern in audiology (intern) must be supervised by a licensed audiologist who has been approved by the department to serve as the intern's supervisor (supervisor).

(b) A supervisor must agree to assume responsibility for all services provided by the intern. The supervisor must comply with the requirements set out in the Act and §111.154.

(c) Intern Plan and Agreement of Supervision Form. An Audiology Intern Plan and Agreement of Supervision Form shall be submitted in a manner prescribed by the department and completed by both the applicant and the proposed supervisor. The proposed supervisor must meet the requirements set out in the Act and §111.154.

(1) Written approval from the department shall be required prior to practice by the intern in audiology. The Audiology Intern Plan and Agreement of Supervision Form shall be submitted upon:

(A) application for an intern license;

(B) any changes in supervision; and

(C) the addition of other supervisors.

(2) If more than one audiologist agrees to supervise the intern, each proposed supervisor must submit an Audiology Intern Plan and Agreement of Supervision Form.

(3) The intern may not practice without an approved Audiology Intern Plan and Agreement of Supervision Form. The supervisor may not allow an intern to practice before an Audiology Intern Plan and Agreement of Supervision Form is approved.

(4) If the supervisor ceases supervision of the intern, the supervisor shall notify the department, in a manner prescribed by the department, and shall inform the intern to stop practicing immediately. The supervisor is responsible for the practice of the intern until notification has been received by the department.

(5) If the intern's supervisor ceases supervision, the intern shall stop practicing immediately. The intern may not practice until a new Audiology Intern Plan and Agreement of Supervision Form has been submitted to and approved by the department.

(d) Internship Requirements. The internship shall:

(1) begin after completion of all academic course work under §111.80;

(2) consist of 1,600 hours of supervised clinical work as defined in paragraph (3); and

(3) involve primarily clinical activities such as assessment, diagnosis, evaluation, screening, treatment, report writing, family/client consultation, and/or counseling related to the management process of individuals.

(e) Changes in Internship. Prior to implementing changes in the internship, written approval from the department is required.

(1) If the intern changes the intern's supervisor or adds additional supervisors, a current Audiology Intern Plan and Agreement of Supervision Form shall be submitted by the new proposed supervisor and approved by the department before the intern may resume practice as prescribed under subsection (c).

(2) If the intern changes the intern's supervisor, the Audiology Report of Completed Internship Form shall be completed by the former supervisor and the intern and submitted to the department upon completion of that portion of the internship. It is the decision of the former supervisor to determine whether the internship meets the department's requirements. The department shall review the form and inform the intern of the results.

(3) A supervisor who ceases supervising an intern shall submit an Audiology Report of Completed Internship Form for the portion of the internship completed under the supervisor's supervision. This must be submitted within 30 days of the date the supervision ended.

(4) If no hours were earned under an approved supervisor, the licensed intern or the approved supervisor must submit a signed, written statement that no hours were earned and provide the reason.

(5) If the intern changes the intern's employer but the supervisor and the number of hours employed per week remain the same, the supervisor shall submit a signed statement or submit in a manner prescribed by the department giving the name, address and phone number of the new location. This must be submitted within thirty (30) days of the date the change occurred.

(f) Notwithstanding the supervision provisions in this section, the department may establish procedures, processes, and mechanisms for the monitoring and reporting of the supervision requirements.

Source Note: The provisions of this §111.81 adopted to be effective May 1, 2018, 43 TexReg 2544; amended to be effective August 1, 2020, 45 TexReg 5172