In order to help ensure the availability of the highest possible quality speech-language pathology and audiology services to the consumers of Alabama, it is necessary to provide regulatory authority over persons offering such services to the public. The bill was signed into law in 1975 by Governor George C. Wallace, which established the Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, an independent agency of the executive branch of the government of the state of Alabama.

The practice of speech-language pathology and/or audiology is a privilege which is granted to qualified persons by legislative authority in the interest of public health, safety, and welfare. The intent of the licensure law is

1. to require educational training and licensure of any person who engages in the practice of speech-language pathology and/or audiology,
2. to encourage better educational training programs,
3. to prohibit the unauthorized and unqualified practice of speech-language pathology and/or audiology, and
4. to prohibit the unprofessional conduct of persons licensed to practice speech-language pathology and/or audiology.