In Idaho, the support personnel providing speech-language services to learners with special communication needs in educational settings must obtain at least one of three levels of certification. These levels indicate the degree of education and scope of responsibility of the paratherapist. Beginning at the most basic level, these levels are: (1)speech-language aide, (2)associate degree speech-language assistant, and (3)bachelor's level speech-language associate. This article provides an historical perspective for the development and implementation of the speech-language paratherapist category in Idaho, a brief review of the rationale for and description of a 3-tiered system of speech-language paratherapists that incorporates an articulated career pathway for advancement and a discussion of the system's potential to address national concerns regarding the delivery of speech-language services in educational settings.
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