Speech-Language Pathologist and Audiologist Military Exemption Information

Under Minnesota Statutes, if your speech-language pathologist and/or audiologist license was effective at the time you entered the armed forces or engaged in employment outside of the United States essential to the prosecution of any war or to the national defense, you are exempt from the requirements to renew your license, pay the renewal fee, and complete and report continuing education.

This exemption is effective while you remain in the armed forces or engaged in such employment outside the United States and for six months after discharge or from the date of return within the boundaries of the United States. Your license remains in full force and effect during and for six months following the time you are in the armed forces or engaged in such employment outside the United States.
If you are eligible for this exemption, you must notify us. We will ask you to provide evidence of active duty or of engagement in such employment outside the United States. We will renew your license on the scheduled date without your submitting the renewal application, fees or continuing education report. You must then notify us after discharge or ceasing such employment and within six months.

If you stay in the armed forces or such employment outside the United States for more than one renewal period, we will send you the renewal notice and renewal application as normal. You will need to notify us of continuation of your exempt status, and you may be asked to document your status.

If you choose to renew your license while the exemption is still effective, you may submit the renewal application though not required to, and you do not need to submit a fee or continuing education report.

When you are discharged from the armed forces or return within the boundaries of the United States if engaged in such employment and six months have passed, you must complete the renewal application when sent to you and return it to us with the required fee. You will also need to submit a continuing education report showing coursework hours in an amount prorated to the number of months elapsed since your exempt status ceased.

If you have questions, please contact us at 651-201-4200 or by email to health.slpa@state.mn.us.