Special provisions

§ 8208. Special provisions. (1) Every person regularly employed in teaching or working as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist for not less than two years prior to the effective date of this article shall be issued a license by the department, if he is a person of good moral character; twenty-one years or older, has been engaged in such practice in the state for at least two years in accordance with regulations of the commissioner of education, and possesses

(a) the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association certificate of clinical competence in speech-language pathology and/or audiology, or the equivalent thereof as determined by the board in accordance with the commissioner's regulations; or

(b) a masters degree in speech-language pathology, audiology or communication disorders appropriate to the license being sought and a total of five years experience; or

(c) a bachelors degree in speech-language pathology, audiology or communication disorders appropriate to the license being sought and thirty postgraduate semester hours in subjects satisfactory to the board and a total of five years experience; or

(d) a bachelors degree and sufficient postgraduate study to be the equivalent of a masters degree in speech-language pathology, audiology or communication disorders as determined by the board in accordance with the commissioner's regulations and a total of five years experience.

Applications for a license under this section shall be submitted by January first, nineteen hundred eighty and applicants shall have until that date to fulfill the requirements set forth by this chapter.

(2) This article shall not prohibit the practice of speech-language pathology or audiology by a corporation provided that such practice is carried on by a licensed speech-language pathologist or audiologist or persons exempt under this article and a violation of this provision shall be a class A misdemeanor.

(3) Any person or firm offering the services of a speech-language pathologist or audiologist shall employ only persons licensed or exempt under this article and a violation of this provision shall be a Class A misdemeanor.

(4) (a) The commissioner, pursuant to the recommendation of the board shall promulgate regulations defining appropriate standards of conduct for the dispensing of hearing aids by licensed audiologists. Such regulations shall also define continuing education requirements which such dispensing audiologist shall meet as a condition of maintaining registration pursuant to this article.

(b) Audiologists engaged in the practice of dispensing hearing aids shall comply with the applicable provisions of article thirty-seven-a of the general business law.