nh-2026-213: Continued Status, License Renewal, and Reinstatement

1. Agency: Governing Board of Speech-Language Pathologists and Hearing Care

Providers Agency Address: Office of Professional Licensure and Certification 7 Eagle Square Concord, NH 03301

6. (a) Summary of what the rule says and of any proposed amendments including

whether the rule implements a state statute for the first time: The Board of Hearing Care Providers (former Board) was abolished pursuant to 2021, 91:185, effective July 1, 2021, which repealed RSA 137-F. The former Board was effectively merged, pursuant to Chapter Law 2021, 166-186, with the Governing Board of Speech-Language Pathologists, and reimplemented as the Governing Board of Speech- Language Pathologists and Hearing Care Providers (Board). The Board proposes to adopt Sphc 400 rules on continued status, license renewal, and reinstatement requirements pursuant to Chapter Law 2023, 79:277, which repealed the authority of the Board of Directors of Allied Health Professionals and transferred the responsibility for the administration of the Board to the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC), effective September 1, 2023. ADMINISTRATIVE RULES (603) 271-3680 Generated on 09/10/2026 The proposed rules establish the requirements for the renewal of licenses and certifications, continuing competence requirements, reinstatement requirements, and directs the public to Plc 1002.50, which contains the applicable fees for credential holders. X Does this rule implement a state statute for the first time? If yes, please explain: Sphc 400 rules are proposed to implement the following statutes for the first time: Laws of 2024, Chapter 327:146, 151, effective July 1, 2024 Laws of 2024, Chapter 366:16, effective July 1, 2026 Laws of 2023, Chapter 112, effective July 1, 2023 Laws of 2023, Chapter 79:277, effective September 1, 2023 Laws of 2022, Chapter 21:1, 3, effective June 17, 2022 Laws of 2023, Chapter 212:8, effective October 3, 2023 Laws of 2021, Chapter 91:167-186, effective July 1, 2021 Laws of 2021, Chapter 197:1, 29-30, effective July 1, 2021 6. (b) Brief description of the groups affected: Licensees applying to renew a license in an occupation regulated by RSA 326-F are affected by the proposed rules. 6. (c) Specific section or sections of state statute or federal statute or regulation which the rule is intended to implement: Specific State Statute Which the Rule Rule Implements Sphc 401.01 RSA 310:8 Sphc 401.02 RSA 310:8; RSA 328-F:18-a RSA 310:8; RSA 326-F:6; RSA 328-F:11, Sphc 402.01 I(b) Sphc 402.02 RSA 310:8; RSA 310:9 Sphc 403.01 RSA 310:8; RSA 328-F:18-a Sphc 403.02 RSA 310:8; RSA 328-F:11, I(f) Sphc 404.01 RSA 310:5; RSA 310:6 ADMINISTRATIVE RULES (603) 271-3680 Generated on 09/10/2026

7. Contact person for copies and questions including requests to accommodate

persons with disabilities: Name: Chantell Wheeler Title: Rules Administrator Address: Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, 7 Eagle Phone Number: (603) 271-8311 Square, Concord, NH 03301 FAX Number: Email: oplc-rules@oplc.nh.gov

8. Deadline for submission of materials in writing or, if practicable for the agency, in

the electronic format specified: Tuesday, November 17, 2026 _ Fax X Email Oplc-rules@oplc.nh.gov _ Other

9. Public hearing scheduled for:

Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2026 Time: 2:20 PM Place: Office of Professional Licensure and Certification 7 Eagle Square Concord, NH 03301 Electronic Access, if applicable: N/A

10. Fiscal Impact Statement (Prepared by Legislative Budget Assistant):

FIS #: 26:175, dated: Thursday, September 3, 2026

2. Cite the Federal mandate. Identify the impact on state funds:

No federal mandate, no impact on state funds.

3. Cost and benefits of the proposed rule(s):

The Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) states that, although these are new rules, there are no new costs or benefits. The OPLC notes that the Board of Hearing Care Providers was abolished pursuant to Chapter 91:185, Laws of 2021. Pursuant to Chapters 166-186, Laws of 2021, that Board was effectively merged with the Governing Board of Speech-Language Pathologists, now re-named the Governing Board of Speech-Language Pathologists and Hearing Care Providers. The current Board proposes to adopt Sphc 400 rules on continued status and license renewal requirements pursuant to Chapter 79:277, Laws of 2023, which repealed the ADMINISTRATIVE RULES (603) 271-3680 Generated on 09/10/2026 authority of the Board of Directors of Allied Health Professionals and transferred the responsibility for the administration of the Board to the (OPLC), effective September 1, 2023. The OPLC states that although the proposed rules are new, they create no new costs or benefits. Existing application costs and fees remain unchanged, as they are already established under Plc 1000.

C. To independently owned businesses:

None. 11. Statement Relative to Part I, Article 28-a of the N.H. Constitution: There are no costs associated with this rule. These rules do not apply to political subdivisions. These rules do not mandate or assign any new, expanded, or modified programs or responsibilities to any political subdivision in such a way as to necessitate additional local expenditure, and therefore, these proposed rules do not violate Part I, Article 28-a of the N.H. Constitution. ADMINISTRATIVE RULES (603) 271-3680 Generated on 09/10/2026