(1) The supervisor is obligated to ensure that the aide assist only in the provision of those services which are within the abilities of the aide as determined by the training and experience of that aide or assistant. The supervisor is directly responsible for all decisions affecting the client in all phases of diagnosis, treatment, and disposition. It is recognized that administrative responsibilities for an aide or assistant may be with other than the professional supervisor and those responsibilities are not included in this regulation.

(2) All speech-language pathology aides or assistants shall be under the appropriate supervision for their category of aide. Each aide or assistant shall comply with the following function guidelines for the appropriate aide category:

(a) aide or assistant I may:

(i) perform tasks identified by the speech-language pathology supervisor according to the therapy plan, which do not violate any provision of Title 37, chapter 15, MCA, or these rules;

(ii) conduct speech-language evaluations, and write evaluation reports which have been properly signed off by the supervisor;

(iii) conduct screening activities;

(iv) interpret data or clinical experience into diagnostic statements of clinical management policies with supervisor review;

(v) transmit clinical information to appropriate persons with supervisor approval;

(vi) write or plan individual or group therapy/rehabilitation plans which have been properly signed off by the supervisor;

(vii) attend and allow to function as part of the child study and individual education planning (IEP) meetings.

(b) aide or assistant II may:

(i) perform tasks identified by the speech-language pathology supervisor according to the therapy plan, which do not violate any provision of Title 37, chapter 15, MCA, or these rules;

(ii) conduct speech-language evaluations under the supervision of the supervisor, and write evaluation reports which have been properly signed off by the supervisor;

(iii) conduct screening activities as permitted by the supervisor;

(iv) interpret data or clinical experience into diagnostic statements of clinical management policies with the supervisor present, or available, for the purpose of immediate communication and consultation;

(v) write or plan individual or group therapy/rehabilitation plans with supervisor review and sign off;

(vi) attend child study and IEP meetings concerning reports and cases prepared by the aide.

(c) aide or assistant III may:

(i) perform tasks identified by the speech-language pathology supervisor according to the therapy plan, which do not violate any provision of Title 37, chapter 15, MCA, or these rules;

(ii) only conduct screening activities expressly permitted by the supervisor.

(3) Speech-language pathology aides or assistants shall comply with the following guidelines on functions which are not allowed for the appropriate aide category:

(a) aide or assistant I may not refer clients to outside professionals;

(b) aide or assistant II may not:

(i) transmit clinical information to anyone other than the professional directly supervising the aide or assistant;

(ii) refer clients to outside professionals.

(c) aide or assistant III may not:

(i) conduct speech-language evaluations;

(ii) interpret data or clinical experience into diagnostic statements of clinical management policies;

(iii) transmit clinical information except to the professional directly supervising the aide or assistant;

(iv) determine the selection of cases;

(v) write or plan individual or group therapy/rehabilitation plans;

(vi) attend child study or IEP meetings except with the permission of the supervisor;

(vii) refer clients to outside professionals.

(4) Speech-language pathologist aides or assistants I may perform diagnostic evaluations, under supervision, only if all of the following conditions have been met:

(a) completion of 100 graduate level clinical clock hours, of which at least 25 hours were diagnostic;

(b) completion of ten semester hours of graduate credits in the professional area;

(c) completion of the master's program within five years of commencement; and

(d) annual submission of a written request for waiver to perform diagnostic evaluations to the board for approval prior to performing any diagnostic evaluations.

(5) Audiology aides or assistants and industrial audiology aides or assistants shall comply with the supervision plan and functions submitted by the supervisor at the time of application, and with all other statutory or rule requirements.