(1) A license to practice speech-language pathology or audiology in the state of Montana may be issued at the discretion of the board provided the applicant completes and files with the board an application for licensure and the required application fee. The applicant shall:

(a) hold a valid and unrestricted license to practice speech-language pathology or audiology in another state or jurisdiction, upon determination by the board that the other state's or jurisdiction's license standards at the time of application to this state are substantially equivalent to or greater than current standards in this state. Official written verification of such licensure status must be received by the board directly from the other state(s) or jurisdiction(s);

(b) supply a copy of the certified transcript sent directly from a college, university, or institution approved by the board, including those programs accredited by the American Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; and

(c) supply proof of successful completion of a currently accepted national examination.

(2) An applicant will be deemed to have met the requirements of (1)(b) and (c) by submitting proof of a current certificate of clinical competence.

(3) If an applicant for audiologist licensure is the holder of a valid and unrestricted license to practice audiology in another state, which was issued under standards equivalent to or greater than current standards in this state prior to January 1, 2007, the applicant will not be required to obtain a doctorate to qualify for licensure to practice audiology in the future in this state.