**For more than 50 years, the New York State Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NYSSLHA) has represented the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology and individuals served by members of these professions.**
**Our Mission**
Empowering members to serve individuals with hearing, communication and related disorders through best practices, professional development and advocacy.
**Our Vision**
The leading New York association and resource for professionals in communication sciences and disorders.
**Our Values**
In serving the members, the leadership is guided by these principles:
-Innovation
-Diversity
-Integrity
-Collaboration
-Our Members
A Speech-Language Pathologist is a professional trained in the study of human communication, its normal development, its disorders and its treatment. A speech-language pathologist is licensed and certified by the State Education Department in New York.
An Audiologist is a professional concerned with normal and impaired hearing, and with identification, evaluation and rehabilitation of those who have hearing problems. An audiologist is licensed by the State Education Department in New York.
**Licensed Professionals in NYS as of January 2013**
**SLPs 16,032**
**Audiologists 1,361**
SLP and audiologist licensure requirements include obtaining a graduate degree or its equivalent, 375 hours of supervised clinical experience, 36 weeks of full-time supervised experience (or equivalent part-time), and passage of a national exam. The individual must be 21 years of age and of good moral character.
Licensed speech-language pathologists and audiologists are also required by law to complete 30 hours of continuing competency learning activities every three years.
