The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association has approved the application of the communication disorders program at the University of Arkansas to provide continuing education to practitioners.

The U of A program will host a symposium Feb. 24 on campus for its first continuing education opportunity since receiving approval. Julie Masterson, associate provost and dean of the Graduate School and professor of communication sciences and disorders at Missouri State University, is the keynote speaker. For more information and cost, visit the online registration page.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's Continuing Education Board granted the approval through 2022. Providers are allowed to offer continuing education courses for audiologists and speech-language pathologists for continuing education units they need to continue practicing.

"We are pleased to welcome the University of Arkansas communication disorders program as our newest ASHA-approved CE provider organization," said Elise Davis-McFarland, president of the association, in a news release. "The University of Arkansas joins 540 organizations across the county and around the world that have had their organizational process and courses reviewed by our experts in continuing education to ensure the highest possible standards are met."

The U of A program successfully demonstrated adherence to ASHA standards that focus on design, development, administration and evaluation of its continuing education courses.

The communication disorders program in the College of Education and Health Professions offers a bachelor's degree and a master's degree, which is required for entry into the profession. It also operates the University of Arkansas Speech and Hearing Clinic on campus, which provides comprehensive speech, language and hearing services to people of all ages in the greater Northwest Arkansas area. Clinical services are provided by students enrolled in the communication disorders program who are supervised by speech-language pathologists with their Certificate of Clinical Competence.