'30-Hour Practicum Requirement Added for Cyber University Graduates to Qualify for Language Rehabilitation Therapist Exam'

Ministry of Health and Welfare to Pre-Announce Amendment to Enforcement Rules of the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act
Additional Practicum Hours Required for Remote University Graduates to Qualify for Language Rehabilitation Therapist Exam
Details Set for Supervising Professors and Practicum Standards
Public Opinions Accepted Until September 15

From now on, graduates of remote universities such as cyber universities will be required to complete an additional 30 hours or more of relevant practicum courses in order to qualify for the language rehabilitation therapist examination.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that, following the amendment of the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act in April, which specified the eligibility of remote university graduates for the language rehabilitation therapist examination, it will be pre-announcing a partial revision of the Enforcement Rules of the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities Act containing detailed standards from August 4 until September 15.

A language rehabilitation therapist is a specialist responsible for the intervention and rehabilitation of individuals with communication difficulties. Those who complete language rehabilitation-related courses at graduate schools, universities, or junior colleges and obtain a degree in a relevant field are eligible to take the exam. Graduates of relevant departments at cyber universities have also been acquiring language rehabilitation therapist qualifications and working in the field. However, the Language Rehabilitation Therapist Association and others raised concerns that proper practicum cannot be conducted at cyber universities, leading to controversy.

After a legal battle, the opportunity for cyber university graduates to take the exam was revoked last year, which led to strong protests from those affected. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea also recommended corrective action for discrimination, which resulted in the amendment of the law.

This revision of the enforcement rules stipulates detailed standards such as the qualifications required for supervising professors, the ratio of supervising professors to practicum students, and the practicum environment for those who have completed language rehabilitation-related courses and obtained a degree in a relevant field at remote universities and wish to qualify for the Level 2 National Language Rehabilitation Therapist Examination. In addition, existing graduates of remote universities will be required to complete at least 30 additional hours in the relevant practicum subjects, specifically 'Language Rehabilitation Observation,' 'Language Diagnosis Practicum,' and 'Language Rehabilitation Practicum,' as separately determined by the Minister of Health and Welfare.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to finalize the revision after broadly gathering public opinion during the pre-announcement period. Relevant opinions can be submitted to the Disability Health Division of the Ministry of Health and Welfare or the National Participation Legislation Center by September 15.