# COMAR Title 10 — Maryland Department of Health

## Subtitle 38 — Board of Physical Therapy Examiners

### Chapter 09 — Speech-Impaired Applicants

**Authority:** Health Occupations Article, §§13-206 and 13-302(e)(3), Annotated Code of Maryland

**Administrative History:** Effective date: December 7, 1992 (19:24 Md. R. 2126)

#### Regulation .01 Speech-Impaired Applicants.

*COMAR 10.38.09.01*

A. An applicant who claims a speech impairment shall fulfill all requirements for application and shall submit to the Board the following:

  (1) Documentation of the applicant's impairment from an otolaryngologist, who has current certification from the American Board of Otolaryngology; and

  (2) Documentation of the applicant's impairment from a speech-language pathologist who has current certification from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.

B. The Board shall require the speech-impaired applicant to prove ability to communicate adequately with patients and other health care professionals. The proof of ability to communicate shall include:

  (1) Three letters from supervising physical therapists or instructors in a physical therapy program, attesting to the applicant's ability to communicate in a professionally competent manner; and

  (2) A meeting before the Board where the applicant shall be required to demonstrate the manner in which communication with patients will occur.

C. A speech-language pathologist or otolaryngologist may be asked to attend the meeting in an advisory capacity to the Board to aid in assessing the applicant's ability to communicate.

#### Regulation .02 Other Requirements.

*COMAR 10.38.09.02*

A. A foreign-trained speech-impaired applicant shall notify the Board before taking a Board-approved standardized test of oral competency.

B. The Board shall attempt to locate a speech-language pathologist fluent in the applicant's native language to assess the impairment.

C. A foreign-trained applicant who is in need of foreign accent reduction, but has competency in his or her native language, may obtain assistance from a bilingual speech-language pathologist before attempting to pass the test of spoken English.