Scope of Practice for the 216 License
Speech/Language Therapist
The following suggested guidelines have been developed to provide
overarching guidance to public school districts in implementing the new
216 license for Speech/Language Therapists.
 A bachelor’s level Speech/Language Therapist (216) will be licensed
to provide articulation assessment and treatment to eligible
students.
 Articulation Therapy – includes the treatment of speech sound
errors, instruction in correct sound production, and the facilitation of
production in sentences and conversational speech.
 Students diagnosed with more severe speech problems (voice,
fluency, and language disorders) must be served by a Speech/
Language Clinician/Pathologist, which is a Master’s-level, fullycertified Speech/Language Pathologist with a 215AA license and/or
with an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Certificate
of Clinical Competence.
 The maximum caseload for the 216 Speech/Language Therapist is 60
students.
 The 216 Speech /Language Therapist will work under the
guidance/direction of, and in collaboration with, a Master’s-level,
fully-certified Speech-Language Pathologist with a 215AA license
and/or with an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Certificate of Clinical Competence. (See the suggested guidance
outlined in Working in Collaboration: A Mentoring Model developed
by the DeSoto County School District.)
Revised May 31, 2012
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Scope of Practice for the 216 License
Speech/Language Therapist
 The scope of practice for the 216 Speech/Language Therapist may
include the following duties:
1. Participate in Child Find activities as assigned by the district
special education director and/or building principal.
2. Conduct articulation assessments and develop assessment
reports.
3. Participate in meetings, including, but not limited to, TST, MET,
IEPs, etc.
4. Participate in the development of IEPs and any other related
activities for scheduling and conducting the IEP meeting.
5. Conduct treatment of articulation deficits following the student’s
IEP (a documented treatment plan) as assigned by the district
special education director.
6. Communicate with parents/guardians, including but not limited
to, procedural safeguards, assessment results, eligibility
requirements, and student progress on meeting IEP goals.
7. Develop therapy schedules to implement IEPs.
8. Document therapy information such as therapy logs, notes, and
other data.
9. Collaborate with school personnel as necessary to provide the
articulation therapy services for the assigned caseload.
10.Maintain confidentiality of personal student information and
educational records as required by state and federal regulations.
11.Perform other duties consistent with other school instructional
staff as assigned by the director of special education and/or
building principal.
12.Participate in other school-related activities consistent with other
school instructional staff as assigned by the director of special
education and/or building principal.
Revised May 31, 2012
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Scope of Practice for the 216 License
Speech/Language Therapist
Limitations. The following are not within the scope of practice for the 216
Speech/Language Therapist:
 The 216 Speech/Language Therapist may not perform duties related
to the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of more severe
speech/language problems, including voice, fluency, and language
disorders.
 The 216 Speech/Language Therapist may not serve as the
chairperson of the eligibility determination committee.
 The 216 Speech/Language Therapist may not represent himself or
herself as a Master’s-level, fully-certified Speech/Language
Pathologist with a 215AA license and/or with an American SpeechLanguage-Hearing Association Certificate of Clinical Competence.
Revised May 31, 2012
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