(a) To be eligible to receive repayment assistance, a speech-language pathologist or an audiologist must:
(1) apply to the board; and
(2) at the time the speech-language pathologist or audiologist applies for the assistance:
(A) have been employed as a speech-language pathologist or as an audiologist, as applicable, for at least one year by, and be currently employed in that capacity by, a public school; or
(B) have been employed as a faculty member of a communicative disorders program at an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education for at least one year, and be currently employed in that capacity at such an institution.
(b) The board by rule may provide for repayment assistance on a pro rata basis for speech-language pathologists and audiologists employed part-time by a public school or institution of higher education.