Board of Speech, Audiology and Hearing

Welcome to the website of the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR), an agency within the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation. We appreciate your visit to our homepage and we look forward to assisting you. OPOR’s Gardiner office is open to the public from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm. While you are welcome to visit our offices, for faster service, we encourage you to take advantage of our many online services.

To ensure that someone is available to assist you, we recommend that you schedule an appointment in advance. Please contact us by email or by phone or through our other online services, and we will assist you. After making an appointment, click on this link for directions.

 

You may follow this link to the Secretary of State's office to view a list of board members. Members of the public should not contact board members with questions or comments.  All questions, comments or any other board-related matters must be directed to the Board Staff; (207) 624-8624.

 

Purpose

The Board of Speech, Audiology & Hearing Aid is established to license qualified speech pathologists and audiologists and hearing aid dealers and fitters and to assure that communicatively disabled people in the State of Maine receive competent services.

The primary responsibilities of the Board are to evaluate qualifications of and examine applicants; grant licenses to those who meet board requirements, investigate complaints, and take disciplinary action against licensees when warranted.

Notice Regarding License Verification Requests (PDF)

Effective March 1, 2019, the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR) will no longer issue paper license verifications. License verifications are available, free of charge, on OPOR’s official database, https://www.pfr.maine.gov/ALMSOnline/ALMSQuery/Welcome.aspx?board=4170. This database is updated in real time as changes occur. The Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation considers this information to be a secure, primary source for license verification.

Speech-Language Pathologists Mandated Reporters

Maine law requires that medical, mental health and social services personnel immediately report or cause a report to be made to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) when the provider knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that an incapacitated or dependent adult has been or is likely to be abused or neglected or that a suspicious incapacitated or dependent adult death has occurred - MRS § 22 c 958-A 

Public Law 2023 c. 36 LD 35 which was signed into law April 23, 2023, "An Act to Establish Adult Protective Services Training Requirements for Professionals Mandated to Report Suspected Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation to Enhance Protection of Incapacitated and Dependent Adults" now requires mandated reporter training at least once every four years.

DHHS Mandated Reporter for Adult Protective Services (APS) Training Module Website 

 

What's New

Hearing Aid Dealer and Trainee Examination Forms

Statutory/Law Changes

  • TELEHEALTH: On June 21, 2021, the Governor signed LD 791, An Act Regarding Telehealth Regulations, into law as P.L. 2021, c. 291.  This emergency legislation became effective immediately and authorizes licensees of the board to provide services via telehealth, subject to all applicable laws and rules governing confidentiality, professional responsibility and standards of practice.  The board will be adopting more specific rules governing telehealth services.  Please use the “GET NOTIFIED” link below if you would like to be notified of proposed rulemaking and other board news, information and updates.  Notice of proposed rules will also be advertised in the Maine Secretary of State weekly rulemaking notice and in newspapers in the state, as well as posted on the board’s webpage. 

  • 2023 Public Law Chapter 310 (LD 717) "An Act to Adopt the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (PDF)

    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 please use the following link: https://aslpcompact.com/commission/.

 

ASLP-IC RULMAKING, TITLE OF RULE, ASLP-IC RULE ON IMPLEMENTATION OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK REQUIREMENT https://aslpcompact.com/commission/commission-rulemakings/

Board Notices

NOTICE CONCERNING DELIVERY OF SPEECH, AUDIOLOGY & HEARING AID LICENSES
Speech, Audiology and Hearing Aid licenses are now delivered to licensees via email. The email sender is displayed as "noreply@maine.gov" and the subject as "YOUR OFFICIAL (license type) LICENSE IS ATTACHED". Paper licenses will NOT be mailed to licensees with an email address on file with the Board.
You have the opportunity to update your contact information when you renew your license online or you may update your email address and other contact information anytime here.