Statement of Professional Recognition (SPR)

The following are authorizations requiring or permitting statements of professional recognition and licenses obtained from the professional licensure division, department of public health, or the board of nursing:

School Audiologist

School Nurse

School Occupational Therapist

School Physical Therapist

School Social Worker

Special Education Nurse

Speech-language Pathologist

16.2 School audiologist.


Application for SPR can be found here as .pdf or here as .doc

If an applicant has completed a master’s degree in audiology but has not completed the education sequence or chooses not to be certified, the applicant must obtain a license from the Iowa board of speech pathology and audiology, department of public health. Additionally, the person is required to obtain an SPR from the board of educational examiners.
The holder of this statement of professional recognition (or endorsement) is authorized to serve as a school audiologist to pupils from birth to age 21 who have hearing impairments (and to a maximum allowable age in accordance with Iowa Code section 256B.8).
The special education director (or designee) of the area education agency must submit a letter requesting that the authorization be issued. The following documents must be included:

  1. A copy of a temporary or regular license issued from the professional licensure division, department of public health.
  2. An official transcript reflecting a master’s degree in audiology.

Temporary authorization.
A temporary SPR will be issued for one school year. An approved human relations course must be completed before the start of the next school year. The applicant must provide evidence that:

  1. The applicant has completed the human relations component within the required time frame; and
  2. The class of license from the professional licensure division is a regular license in the event a temporary license was issued initially.

16.3 School nurse.


Application for SPR can be found here as .pdf or here as .doc

A person who has passed the registered nurse examination and is licensed by the Iowa board of nursing may obtain a statement of professional recognition (SPR) from the board of educational examiners.
The holder of an SPR is authorized to promote the health and safety of the students in an accredited school district, including providing medical treatment as allowed under the authority granted by virtue of holding a license from the Iowa board of nursing.

  1. Applicant has passed the registered nurse examination, is licensed by the Iowa board of nursing
  2. Hold a baccalaureate degree.
  3. While employed by an accredited K-12 school district, applicant maintains licensure with the Iowa board of nursing.

16.4 School occupational therapist.


Application for SPR can be found here as .pdf or here as .doc

A person who holds a degree or equivalent baccalaureate in occupational therapy and a valid license to practice occupational therapy in Iowa as granted by the professional licensure division, department of public health, may obtain a statement of professional recognition (SPR) by the board of educational examiners.
The holder of this authorization may serve as a school occupational therapist to pupils from birth to age 21 who have physical impairments (and to a maximum allowable age in accordance with Iowa Code section 256B.8). The legalization for this support personnel is through a statement of professional recognition (SPR) and not through teacher licensure.
The special education director (or designee) of the area education agency must submit a letter to the board of educational examiners to request that the authorization be issued.
An applicant must also submit the following documents:

  1. A copy of a temporary or regular license from the professional licensure division, department of public health.
  2. An official transcript.

Temporary authorization.
A temporary SPR will be issued for one school year if the class of license from the professional licensure division is temporary. A regular SPR will be issued with verification of a regular license and of at least a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy.

16.5 School physical therapist.


Application for SPR can be found here as .pdf or here as .doc

A person who holds a degree or equivalent baccalaureate in physical therapy and a valid license to practice physical therapy in Iowa as granted by the professional licensure division, department of public health, may be issued a statement of professional recognition (SPR) by the board of educational examiners.
The holder of this authorization can serve as a school physical therapist to pupils from birth to age 21 who have physical impairments (and to a maximum allowable age in accordance with Iowa Code section 256B.8). The legalization for this support service personnel is through a statement of professional recognition (SPR) and not through teacher licensure.
The special education director (or designee) of the area education agency must submit a letter to the board of educational examiners to request that the authorization be issued.
An applicant must also submit the following documents:

  1. A copy of a temporary or regular license from the professional licensure division, department of public health.
  2. An official transcript.

Temporary authorization.
A temporary SPR will be issued for one school year if the class of license from the professional licensure division is temporary. A regular SPR will be issued with verification of a regular license and of at least a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy.

16.6 School social worker.


Application for SPR can be found here as .pdf or here as .doc

A person who meets the requirements set forth below may be issued a statement of professional recognition (SPR) by the board of educational examiners. Alternatively, a person may meet the requirements for an endorsement in this area as set forth in 282—Chapter 15.
An individual who meets the requirements of 282—subrule 15.7(4) or 16.6(2) is authorized to serve as a school social worker to pupils from birth to age 21 (and to a maximum allowable age in accordance with Iowa Code section 256B.8).
The special education director (or designee) of the area education agency or local education agency must submit an application to request that the authorization be issued. The application must include:
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