HISTORY OF THE BOARD

The Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology & Hearing Aid Dispensers Board (SLPAHADB) started out as a committee operating under the jurisdiction of the Medical Board of California in 1974. The committee regulated two professions, speech-language pathology and audiology, before it transitioned into its own independent health regulatory agency, the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board (SLPAB). In 2010 the Hearing Aid Dispensers Bureau merged with SLPAB forming the current SLPAHADB. The board joins other allied health boards operating under the auspices of the Department of Consumer Affairs with the statutory mission of consumer protection.

SLPAHADB regulates the practices of speech-language pathology, audiology and hearing aid dispensing in California by licensing those who meet minimum standards of competency. Among its functions, the Board promulgates laws and regulations; issues, renews, suspends, and revokes licenses; and imposes disciplinary sanctions, when necessary.

Today we license over 11,000 speech-language pathologists, 1,500 audiologist (900 are hearing aid dispensing audiologist), and 900 hearing aid dispensers.