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Speech and Hearing Professionals Board outlines licensing and enforcement role, requests modest budget
Summary
Greg Thornton, executive director of the Ohio Speech and Hearing Professionals Board, testified on board operations, licensing volume, enforcement activity and a modest biennial budget request tied to licensing and a new practical exam.
Greg Thornton, executive director of the Ohio Speech and Hearing Professionals Board, told the House Education Committee the board licenses about 11,000 professionals who work in settings ranging from schools to hospitals and that the agency is self‑funded through licensure fees.
Thornton said the board issues roughly 400 initial licenses per year and processes more than 10,000 renewal applications every two years. He described the enforcement program, noting a full‑time investigator and a recent referral that led to prosecution for unlicensed practice involving elderly victims. He said the board maintains a 98% customer satisfaction rating and that application fees for audiologists and speech‑language pathologists have not increased since 1992.
On the budget, Thornton said the board’s requested appropriation represents a small decrease in FY 2026 and a modest increase in FY 2027 tied to payroll and a new practical exam for hearing aid fitters. He described efficiencies achieved by sharing back‑office services with other state agencies and said the board has not increased staff since 1994.
Thornton described the board’s interstate licensure compact (Ohio joined in 2021) and collaborations with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, university graduate programs, and other state agencies on workforce and dyslexia‑related work groups. He said the board audits continuing education compliance, makes referrals to prosecutors and federal agencies when appropriate, and works with constituencies across urban, suburban and rural districts.
Representative Brennan asked about the board’s role implementing “Madeline’s Law” to require insurers to cover hearing aids for minors; Thornton said the board will finalize dispensing guidelines at an upcoming March meeting and expected to meet the law’s timeline. Representative Thomas asked about eLicenseOhio; Thornton said all licenses are processed through that system and renewals generate reminders and flags for follow‑up when applicants report convictions or disciplinary actions.
Thornton asked committee members to consider the board’s work sustaining professional standards and protecting consumers in school settings and other care environments.
