Board of Communications Disorders and Sciences

Safeguarding the health, safety, and welfare of Tennesseans by requiring those who practice the profession of speech pathology and audiology in Tennessee to be qualified.

About the Board of Communications Disorders and Sciences

This Board began in 1973 as the Board of Examiners of Speech Pathology and Audiology, then was restructured in 1995 by the State Legislature as the current Board of Communication Disorders and Sciences. Its mission is to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of Tennesseans by requiring those who practice the profession of speech pathology and audiology within this state be qualified. The Board interprets the laws, rules, and regulations to determine the appropriate standards of practice in an effort to ensure the highest degree of professional conduct. The Board is authorized to issue licenses to qualified candidates who have completed appropriate education and successfully completed required examinations. The Board is responsible for the investigation of alleged violations of the Practice Act and rules and is responsible for the discipline of licensees who are found guilty of such violations.

The administrative staff of the Division of Health Related Boards supports the Board by issuing licenses to those who meet the requirements of the law and rules. Renewal notices are mailed from Board’s administrative office approximately forty-five (45) days prior to the expiration of the license to the current address on record. For those licensees who have "opted in," an email will be sent to the email address on file approximately seventy (70) days prior to the expiration date of the license.  This is the only reminder a licensee shall receive. Licensees are responsible for renewing their license on time and keeping the Board apprised of current information. Licenses can be renewed on-line seventy (70) days prior to expiration at https://apps.tn.gov/hlrs/.  Click on "renew license" and follow the prompts.  Failure to renew by the expiration date may result in a fine.

The Board meets throughout the year to conduct administrative business. The seven (7) Board members are appointed by the Governor and serve five (5) year terms. A quorum of four (4) members is required to conduct business. The meetings are open to the public.

Licensure Scam Alert

The Department of Health has been made aware that some licensees of a few different health licensure boards have received fraudulent communications from individuals claiming to be from those licensee’s licensing boards. The communications, often by phone, may threaten arrest or license suspension, demand personal information, or require payment of fines.  Some of them have been accompanied by fraudulent letters claiming to suspend the license. Please note: 

  • Phone calls may “spoof” or appear to be from the boards’ number;
  • If you need to verify the identity of a TN board investigator, call (615) 741-8485 or email OIV.Complaints@tn.gov.
  • The health-related board investigators will never demand that you provide personally identifying information, such as a social security number, date of birth, or bank or credit card account numbers over the phone;
  • These types of licensing scams are a problem nationwide.

 If you believe you are the recipient of a fraudulent communication claiming to be from your licensing board:

  • If you believe you are the recipient of a fraudulent communication claiming to be from your licensing board:
  • Report the communication to the Internet Crime Complaint Center Internet Crime Complaint Center at using the code "TDHHPBSCAM2026".  This will allow law enforcement to link these scams for improved investigation.
  • Complainants can alternatively call the Fusion Center Tipline (800TBIFIND) or submit a tip online at TBI but the IC3 is preferred.

·         Notify the Department of Health at (615) 741-8485 or email OIV.Complaints@tn.gov

  • The Federal Trade Commission also accepts reports about “Imposter Scams” online or at 1-877-382-4357.

Contact

Contact the Board of Communications Disorders and Sciences

615-741-5735 local or 1-800-778-4123 nationwide
Unit1HRB.Health@tn.gov
665 Mainstream Drive, 2nd Floor
Nashville, TN 37243

Applying for Licensure

When completing the application process below, you will be required to submit an official transcript from the institution where you completed your education. The transcript must be mailed directly from the educational institution to the board office located at 665 Mainstream Drive, Nashville, TN 37243 or emailed directly to our office at Unit1HRB.Health@tn.gov.

Effective immediately, anyone coming in person to complete their application, speak to an administrator, or paying a fee will be required to have an appointment. This will ensure excellent customer service. To schedule an appointment please email Unit1HRB.Health@tn.gov. An administrator will contact you with a date and time. 

Applications

Applying for initial licensure from your professional licensing board has become a bit easier. The Department of Health has been working on an online application process that will allow all health care professionals to apply online for an initial license and complete (and update as necessary) a practitioner profile mandatory for certain professions. The process is user friendly and convenient and even allows you to pay for your initial application utilizing a credit card, debit card or e-check. You will also be able to upload many of the documents required to complete your initial application!  Please go to the initial application link below to begin the online process.

For mailing documents please send to: Board of Communication Disorders and Sciences; 665 Mainstream Dr; Nashville TN 37243

Online Renewal Instructions

The Board administrative office is receiving multiple calls and emails regarding the new renewal system.  Please read the following information to assist you in renewing your license.

Renewal:

♦     The first time you access the Licensure and Regulatory System site, you need to click on Begin Here For Sign-Up to create your account.  Even if you renewed online in the past, if you have not accessed the new system since it begin March 23, 2018, then you will need to create an account.

  • Make your User ID something that you will remember, such as your email address.
  • If you applied for initial licensure online, you can use the same account you created to apply online to continue maintaining your license, including renewing.

♦     When you create your account, you must add any other current license(s) you hold to the account if you are already a licensee.  If you do not add your current license(s) to the account, you will not be given any option except to apply for a new license.

♦      After you create an account, please remember what User ID and Password that you used so you can access the system in the future.

  • There is a “Forgot Password” and “Forgot User ID” function if needed. Please try this before calling the board administrative office.
  • Other features of the online system are:

·      Change your addresses, include email addresses with the Change of Address application.

·      Change your name with the Change of Name application.  You must attach your marriage certificate or divorce decree.

·      Request a duplicate wall license or renewal certificate.

We cannot take debit/credit cards over the phone or in office.  You can pay online by debit/credit card or by e-check.  The address in the licensure system must match the address on the debit/credit card or you will get an error message and the renewal won’t be completed.

♦      If the Department of Revenue has notified the board that your professional privilege tax is unpaid, the board cannot renew your license until a tax clearance letter is received.  This only applied to licensees required to pay the tax who did not pay the tax timely.   The Board cannot take payments for the Privilege Tax.  You must contact the Department of Revenue at 615-741-7071.

♦     Can a third party manage my professional license?

For this online system, only one account can be created for a professional license.  Once an account is created that links a professional license, the person creating the account will have access based upon the use id and password used to establish the account.  If done by a third party, the licensee, without knowledge of the user id and password, will not be able to manage their professional license using this online system.  During business hours, you can contact your board to disassociate your license from an online account established by a third party.   However, weekends and holidays may be particularly problematic if you do not know the account details to manage your license through this online system.  We do not advise management of your professional license by a third party. The law requires a licensee to maintain current information with their licensure board.  Failure to do so could result in a disciplinary action by the board.

Meetings, Members, & Minutes

Meeting Schedule

Click for the Calendar of Events for the Board of Communication Disorders and Sciences

Public Notices will remain online until the minutes are ratified and posted on the Meeting Minutes page.

Unless otherwise noted, all events take place at 665 Mainstream Drive, MetroCenter.

Members

Member Position Representation Term Expires
Matthew Ward  Chair Speech Pathologist 06-30-2024
Courtney Painter
 Board Member Speech Pathologist 06-30-2028
Vacant Board Member Speech Pathologist 06-30-2026
Alicia Barker
 Secretary Audiologist 06-30-2025
Richard E. Morton Board Member Consumer 06-30-2022
Skye Jones  Board Member Audiologist 06-30-2026
Dr. Kenneth Fletcher Board Member Physician/Otolaryngologist 06-30-2025

Meeting Minutes

Continuing Education

Requirements

Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists

All Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists must complete a minimum of ten (10) hours of continuing education during each calendar year.

Five (5) hours of the ten (10) hour requirement must have been obtained in the licensee's area of practice (Speech Language Pathology or Audiology); and

Five (5) hours of the ten (10) hour requirement may regard either Speech Language Pathology or Audiology.

For new licensees, proof of successful completion of all education and training requirements required for licensure in Tennessee, pursuant to Rule 1370-01-.04, which have been completed during the twelve (12) months preceding licensure, shall constitute continuing education credit for the initial period of licensure.

Speech Language Pathology Assistants

All Speech Language Pathology Assistants must complete a minimum of five (5) hours of continuing education during each calendar year. For new registrants, proof of successful completion of all education and training requirements required for registration in Tennessee, pursuant to Rule 1370-01-.14, which have been completed during the twelve (12) months preceding registration, shall constitute continuing education credit for the initial period of registration.

Multi-media Education

Multi-Media - With successful completion of a written post-experience examination to evaluate material retention, multi-media courses may be taken for continuing education credit.

For Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists, the ten (10) hours required may be granted for multi-media courses during each calendar year.

For Speech Language Pathology Assistants, the five (5) hours required may be granted for multi-media courses during each calendar year.

Multi-Media courses may include courses utilizing:

Group: Synchronous, live event. Instruction requires the simultaneous participation of all students and instructors in real time. Learners interact with the learning materials and the instructor at a specific location and time. Examples include but are not limited to workshops, seminars, symposium, webinar/videoconference, journal group, grand rounds, conventions, and conferences.

Individual: Asynchronous. Learners choose their own instructional time frame and location and interact with the learning materials and instructor according to their own schedules. Examples include but are not limited to video recordings, correspondence courses, audio recordings, programmed study, computer-assisted learning, and reading peer review journals/newsletters.

Blended: Combines elements of both group and individual learning experiences. These may be distance learning/online as well as face-to-face/in person.  These courses might have prerequisite reading, videotaping/case study viewing that must be completed prior to, during, or after the face-to-face/in person portion. Examples include but are not limited to live webinar that has required reading/case study review for which the participant will earn credit for successfully completing prior to, during, or after the live segment.

Independent Study: A learning event proposed by the learner and reviewed, monitored and approved by a Board approved independent study provider.

At this time, it is not required that licensees register for an account but the board is encouraging licensees utilize this as a tool to assist in the tracking of the required continuing education. CE Broker is the official tracking system for the Tennessee Board of Communication Disorders. The Board has provided you with a free Basic Account, so you'll have their helpful CE tracking tools right at your fingertips.

Free Access

Within the free Basic Account, you will have access to your Course History and CE Compliance Status. This lists all of the courses which have been reported thus far and indicates whether or not you have satisfied your renewal requirements. From here, you may easily find and report any CE that might be missing. CE Broker is 100% free to use and you will never have to pay to access all of the necessary tools to renew your license!

How to activate your free CE Broker account

Activating your free Basic Account provided to you by your board is a simple 3-step process.

1 | Visit https://cebroker.com/tn/account/basic/

2 | Next, enter your license number

3|   Then, start tracking your continuing education!

Comprehensive Course Search

One of the best free tools CE Broker provides is the Course Search. You can easily find every course needed to successfully complete your license renewal, with just a few clicks! After you are finished with each course, educational providers will report the credits directly into CE Broker for you - but you should always retain a copy of the certificates for your records. To find courses, visit courses.cebroker.com/search/tn and select your profession.

Helpful Support Center

CE Broker provides dedicated support 8AM- 8PM ET, Monday through Friday, with a team of experts trained on the rules and regulations of the Tennessee Board Communication Disorders. You can reach them by phone at 877-434-6323, or via email and live chat. For additional information and helpful guides, please visit: https://help.cebroker.com/

Other Benefits of using CE Broker

Track and know precisely how many hours you've completed and how many hours are remaining;

Available convenience features like a personalized transcript and a personal account manager;

Bring CE compliance wherever you go with the CE Broker mobile app (available for Iphone and Android).

Multistate Regulations

The Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC) allows eligible licensed audiologists and speech-language pathologists an alternative method for providing services in other member states. If you are interested in learning more about the ASLP-IC Compact, including any rules that are open for public comment, please use the following link: https://aslpcompact.com/commission/

Rulemaking Notice Details

ASLP-IC Public Notice: https://aslpcompact.com/commission/commission-rulemakings/

Title of Rule: Proposed Amendment to ASLP-IC Rule on Data Set Reporting Requirements

Purpose: To further define terms pursuant to Section 8.C.6, Section 9 and Section 10 of the ASLP-IC.

Title of Rule: Proposed Amendment to ASLP-IC Bylaws

Purpose: To amend the ASLP-IC Bylaws to change the Commission’s fiscal year to begin on October 1 and end on September 30.

Comment Period Start Date: Friday, August 15, 2025

Comment Period End Date: Interested persons may electronically submit written comments on the proposed rule to info@aslpcompact.com with the subject line “Comment on Proposed Amendment to ASLP-IC Rule on Data Set Reporting Requirements” or “Comment on Proposed Amendment to ASLP-IC Bylaws”. Written comments on the proposed rule must be submitted by 5 p.m. ET on Monday, September 15, 2025. Public Comment may also be made by attending the meeting at which the rule will be discussed and voted on. 

Meeting at which Rule will be discussed and voted on: Saturday, September 20, 2025

ASLP-IC Commission Annual Business Meeting

Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston Harbor Mt. Pleasant
100 Ferry Wharf Road
Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, 29464

or

via video conference by registering here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/kb3sZd0HQlmkLHLMHS6HOw#/registration

Frequently Asked Questions

Questions

8:00 a.m - 4:30 p.m. central standard time.

The administrators can be reached at 615-741-5735 or by email Unit1HRB.Heatlh@tn.gov.

If you have previously created an account in this licensure system, but cannot recall your Username and/or password, please click the appropriate Forgot Password or Forgot User ID link to recover your account credentials.
If you have forgotten or do know the email address used to create your account, you can contact the board administrators at 615-741-5735 local or 800-778-4123 nationwide, or email Unit1HRB.Health@tn.gov to update or retrieve your email address.

A provider must be licensed in the state of Tennessee to provide treatment to a client in Tennessee or operated in a free clinic environment.

Unless in a free clinic environment, the provider must be licensed in Tennessee, and the client must be in Tennessee.

Policies, Rules, & Statutes

Policies

Rules

Click here for Rules and Regulations pertaining to the Tennessee Board of Communication Disorders and Sciences

Statutes

Statutes are proposed and made law by the Tennessee State General Assembly (Legislature). The Board, following specific notice requirements and hearings, adopts rules. Both have the force of law and may be used in the regulation of a profession. The statutes pertaining to this Board are found at T. C. A. 63-1 (Division of Health Related Boards) and T.C.A. 63-17 Part 1 (Speech Language Pathologists and Audiologists).

Click here to review the Tennessee Code Annotated. (This link will take you to a website that is not maintained by the Tennessee Department of Health).

This Page Last Updated: March 30, 2026 at 1:21 PM