ACT

(July 4)

Journal No. 43,079, dated July 9, 1997

By which the profession of Fonoaudiology is regulated and norms are dictated for its exercise in Colombia.

COLOMBIA CONGRESS

DECRETA:

ARTICLE 1o. DEFINITION. For all legal purposes, it is understood by Fonoaudiology, the autonomous and independent profession of university higher level with scientific character. Its members are interested in, cultivating the intellect, exercising the academy and providing the services related to its object of study. The communicative processes of man, the disorders of language, speech and hearing, variations and communicative differences, and the communicative well-being of the individual, human groups and populations.

PARAGRAFO. For all legal purposes it is also considered professional in Fonoaudiology, all who before the term of this law has obtained the degree of university higher level in therapy of the language.

ARTICLE 2o. AREAS OF PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE. The professional in Fonoaudiology develops the phonoaudiological programs in research, teaching, administration, assistance and counseling in the following areas of professional performance, language, speech and hearing.

ARTICLE 3o. GENERAL FIELDS OF WORK. The exercise of the profession in Fonoaudiology, is aimed at the realization of all professional activity within the following general fields of work and/or service:

a) Design, execution and direction of scientific research;

b) Participation and/or direction of interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research aimed at clarifying new facts and principles that contribute to the growth of knowledge and understanding of its object of study from the perspective of natural and social sciences;

c) Teaching in Furoaudiology faculties and programs, and in related programs;

d) Administration and direction of academic programs for the training of professionals in Fonoaudiology or others;

e) Management of speech services in the health, education, work, communications, welfare and community sectors;

f) Design, execution, direction and control of speech programs for prevention, promotion, diagnosis, intervention, rehabilitation, counseling and consulting for individuals, groups and populations with and without communication disorders;

g) Advice on design and execution and direction in the fields and areas where knowledge and the disciplinary and professional contribution of the Fonoaudiology is required and/or appropriate social benefit;

h) Design, execution and direction of training and non-formal education programs in the area;

i) All professional activities that are derived from the previous ones and which are related to the field of competition of the Fonoaudiology.

ARTICLE 4. FROM THE REGISTRATION AND REGISTRATION OF THE PROFESSIONAL OF THE PHONOAUDIOLOGY IN COLOMBIA. The Colombian Association of Fonoaudiology and Language Therapy, ACFTL, will be the body authorized to carry out the registration and the National Single Register of who exercises the profession of Fonoaudiology in Colombia.

In such a virtue, without prejudice to its own organizational structure, the ACFTL will establish the organization and mechanisms for the fulfillment of the purpose of these functions, in accordance with the legal provisions in force and under the supervision of the National Government.

ARTICLE 5o. OF THE REQUIREMENTS. The ACFTL will register as a professional in Fonoaudiology to whom it meets the following requirements:

1. Accredite professional university degree in Fonoaudiology awarded by a Colombian university higher education institution, recognized by the National Government.

2. Accredit the validation of the degree of university higher-level Fonoaudiology awarded by a foreign university corresponding to studies of this level.

3. Those who prior to this law have obtained a card as a university professional of the Fonoaudiology or Language Therapy, issued by the Ministry of Health or the respective Health Secretariats.

PARAGRAFO. The registration as a professional in Fonoaudiology will be credited with the professional card that will be issued according to the corresponding regulations.

ARTICLE 6o. OF THE INADEQUATE PRACTICE. Understand the inadequate practice of the profession of Fonoaudiology, any action that indicates non-compliance with the provisions of the code of ethics established by the Colombian Association of Fonoaudiology and Therapy of the Language.

ARTICLE 7o. ILLEGAL EXERCISE. For the illegal exercise of the profession of Fonoaudiology, any activity carried out within the field of competence indicated in this law, by those who do not have the quality of the professional level of Fonoaudiologists university or its equivalent of language therapist and is not duly authorized to perform as such.

PARAGRAFO. Those without filling the requirements laid down in this law, exercising the profession of Fonoaudiology in the country, will receive the penalties that the ordinary law sets for the case of the illegal exercise of the professions. The same provision will apply to employers who do not comply with the requirements of this law.

ARTICLE 8o. OF THE ADVISORY AND ADVISORY BODIES. The Federations, the Faculties of Fonoaudiology, Scientific-professional associations and guilds of Fonoaudiologists or therapists of the university higher-level language that officially operate in the country, will be advisory and advisory bodies of the National Government, Departmental, District and Municipal.

ARTICLE 9o. THE COMPULSORY SOCIAL SERVICE. The National Government, taking into account the nature of the social and humanistic content of the Fonoaudiology, may regulate the compulsory social service for the professionals of Fonoaudiology, when the needs of the community.

ARTICLE 10. THE RECOGNITION OF THE PROFESSIONAL LEVEL. The National Government taking into account the professional character of the career of Fonoaudiology, through the different public estates, will establish the necessary mechanisms for the professional You are treated in accordance with your training.

ARTICLE 11. VALIDITY OF THE LAW. This law shall be in force the day after its publication in the Official Journal and repeals any other provisions which are contrary to it.

The President of the Senate,

LUIS FERNANDO LONDONO CAPURRO.

The Secretary General of the Senate,

PEDRO PUMAREJO VEGA.

The President of the honourable House,

GIOVANNI LAMBOGLIA MAZZILLI.

The Secretary General of the honorable House of Representatives,

DIEGO VIVAS TAFUR.

COLOMBIA-NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

Publish and execute.

Dada en Santa Fe de Bogotá, D. C., 4 July 1997.

ERNESTO SAMPER PIZANO

The Minister of Health,

MARIA TERESA FORERO DE SAADE.

The Minister of National Education,

JAIME CHILD TEN.