Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact is an agreement between states that will provide state-by-state licensure portability for professionals. Ultimately, reducing the number of hoops to go through to attain multiple state licensures allowing increased accessibility for those who need treatment. We as professionals would apply for privilege to practice under the compact and states within the agreement will exchange information to include verification of licensure and disciplinary sanctions while regulating their rules of practice. In 2020, West Virginia Legislature unanimously passed the proposal for ASLP-IC and became the first state to approve the interstate compact agreement and pioneer the flexibility of professionals to practice in multiple states. It would take ten more states to enact before the compact could become operative. In 2021, Nebraska became the tenth state to sign to adopt the ASLP-IC making the compact officially recognized to operate. Since, the ASLP-IC Commission voted in an executive committee and held an inaugural meeting in 2022 to establish rules and adopt bylaws to continue the plan to make the compact more operational, expand to other states through advocacy, and create a database to communicate with state licensing boards. Currently, thirty states have enacted the agreement into law. A map showcasing the current states with additional states in the process of proposing to join can be seen here: ASLP-IC Map. Similar to the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact which includes twenty-eight states as of right now, the ASLP-IC can be seen as beneficial. Some offered benefits include improve continuity of care, increased ability to practice for transient military spouses, improved access and choice of providers, increased opportunity for telehealth, and reduction of barriers such as licensure processing time allowing professionals to promptly begin their practice and offer support to those who are in need. Applications for privilege are anticipated to open in late 2024 to early 2025.

The thirty states that have adopted include: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

References:

American Occupational Therapy Association. (n.d.). Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact. Aota.org. https://www.aota.org/advocacy/issues/ot-licensure-compact 

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2020, March 10). West Virginia Becomes First State to Pass ASLP-IC. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/news/2020/west-virginia-becomes-first-state-to-pass-aslp-ic/ 

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2021, April 1). Nebraska Becomes the Critical 10th State to Adopt the Interstate Compact. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/news/2021/nebraska-becomes-10th-state-to-adopt-compact/ 

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2022, January 14). ASLP-IC Progresses to the Next Phase. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/news/2022/aslp-ic-progresses-to-the-next-phase/ 

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC). American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/advocacy/state/audiology-and-speech-language-pathology-interstate-compact/ 

Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact. (n.d.). https://aslpcompact.com/

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