# Law No. 6965 of December 9, 1981

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105649941](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105649941)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-6965-of-december-9-1981

## Summary
Law No. 6965, enacted on December 9, 1981, under President João Figueiredo, is a Brazilian federal statute that regulates the profession of speech-language pathology (fonoaudiologia). It establishes the legal framework for the creation, authorization, and practice of this healthcare profession in Brazil.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 6965, de 9 de dezembro de 1981
- **Enactment Date:** December 9, 1981
- **Approving Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil, via promulgation by President João Figueiredo
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese
- **Legal Form:** Statute (formal written document that creates law)
- **Primary Subject:** Regulation of the profession of fonoaudiólogo (speech-language pathologist)
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1981-12-09;6965`
- **Official URLs:** Available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l6965.htm` and via LexML
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 6965/1981
- **Law Digest:** "DISPÕE SOBRE A REGULAMENTAÇÃO DA PROFISSÃO DE FONOAUDIOLOGO, E DETERMINA OUTRAS PROVIDENCIAS."
- **Main Subject Components:** Regulation (Regulamentação), Composition (Composição), Creation (Criação), Authorization (Autorização), Connection (Vinculação), Definition (Definição), Decision (Fixação), Operation (Funcionamento), Legal Norms (Normas), Competency (Competencia), Higher Education (Curso Superior)
- **Wikimedia Recognition:** On the focus list of WikiProject Brazilian Laws

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 6965/1981?**
The law's core purpose is to regulate the profession of speech-language pathology (fonoaudiologia) in Brazil. It establishes the legal requirements for practice, defines the profession's scope, and sets standards for education and professional authorization.

**Who was the head of state when this law was enacted?**
The law was promulgated by President João Figueiredo, who was the head of state of the Federative Republic of Brazil on December 9, 1981. This occurred during the final years of Brazil's military government.

**When and where was this federal statute officially published?**
It was published on December 9, 1981, in Brasília, the capital of Brazil. The official publication is recorded in the country's legislative archives with the unique LexML identifier.

**Which specific healthcare profession does this statute govern?**
Law No. 6965 specifically governs the profession of *fonoaudiólogo*, the Brazilian term for a speech-language pathologist or audiologist. It defines the qualifications, duties, and regulatory framework for these professionals.

**Where can the complete, authoritative text of this law be accessed?**
The full text is available on the official website of the Brazilian federal government's legislative portal (`planalto.gov.br`) and is indexed in the national LexML system under the identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1981-12-09;6965`.

**How is this Brazilian law formally cited in legal contexts?**
The standard legal citation for this statute is "Lei nº 6965/1981," which combines its sequential number with the year of enactment. This format is used in official documents, legal proceedings, and academic references within Brazil.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 6965 is a foundational piece of professional regulation in Brazil's healthcare system. It matters because it formally recognized speech-language pathology as a distinct, essential healthcare profession, moving it from informal practice to a legally defined field with protected scope and standards. By mandating specific educational requirements (higher education courses) and establishing a framework for professional authorization and competency, the law protects the public by ensuring only qualified individuals can diagnose and treat communication, swallowing, and hearing disorders. It created the legal "normas" (norms) that govern the profession's "funcionamento" (operation), directly impacting the quality of care in hospitals, schools, and clinics across Brazil. This statute is a critical component of Brazil's broader health regulatory architecture, ensuring standardized training and practice for a profession vital to rehabilitation, education, and public health.

## Notable For
- **Specific Professional Regulation:** It is the singular, dedicated federal statute that established the legal framework for the speech-language pathology profession in Brazil.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted in 1981 during the presidency of João Figueiredo, towards the end of Brazil's military regime, as part of the era's professionalization of health fields.
- **Comprehensive Scope:** The law's main subjects explicitly cover the full lifecycle of a regulated profession: from its "Criação" (creation as a legal entity) and "Definição" (definition of roles) to "Autorização" (licensing), "Competencia" (competency standards), and "Funcionamento" (operational rules).
- **Digital Legacy:** It is one of the early Brazilian laws systematically digitized and assigned a persistent LexML identifier, ensuring long-term, machine-readable access in the national legal information infrastructure.
- **WikiProject Recognition:** Its inclusion on the focus list of WikiProject Brazilian Laws highlights its importance as a key piece of legislation for documentation and knowledge aggregation on Wikimedia platforms.

## Body

### Legislative History and Enactment
Law No. 6965 is a federal statute of Brazil, formally titled "Lei nº 6965, de 9 de dezembro de 1981." It was enacted on December 9, 1981. The law was approved and promulgated by the executive branch, specifically by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under President João Figueiredo. The determination method for its enactment was "promulgation." The official place of publication for this and all Brazilian federal laws is the capital city, Brasília. The law's unique identifier in the national LexML system is `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1981-12-09;6965`, which provides a persistent, structured reference.

### Content and Regulatory Scope
The law's digest explicitly states its dual purpose: "DISPÕE SOBRE A REGULAMENTAÇÃO DA PROFISSÃO DE FONOAUDIOLOGO, E DETERMINA OUTRAS PROVIDENCIAS" (Provides for the regulation of the profession of speech-language pathologist, and determines other provisions). An analysis of its structured main subjects reveals a comprehensive regulatory approach. The law addresses:
*   **Regulamentação (Regulation):** The act of establishing the profession's legal status.
*   **Composição (Composition):** Likely defining the structure of the profession's regulatory body or council.
*   **Criação (Creation):** The formal establishment of the profession within the legal system.
*   **Autorização (Authorization):** The process and requirements for granting professional licenses.
*   **Vinculação (Connection):** The relationship between the professional and their regulatory council.
*   **Definição (Definition):** The precise legal definition of the profession's activities and title.
*   **Fixação (Decision):** The setting of specific rules, fees, or standards.
*   **Funcionamento (Operation):** The operational procedures for the profession and its governing body.
*   **Normas (Legal Norms):** The specific rules and standards professionals must follow.
*   **Competencia (Competency):** The required skills, knowledge, and educational background.
*   **Curso Superior (Higher Education):** The mandate that entry into the profession requires a specific university degree.

This structure indicates the law does not merely acknowledge the profession but builds its entire legal and administrative architecture from definition through to daily practice.

### Legal Classification and Context
As an "instance of" a **statute**, Law No. 6965 is a formal written document that creates law. It is a manifestation of statutory law within the Brazilian legal system. It "applies to jurisdiction" exclusively within Brazil and is written in the Brazilian Portuguese language. Its legal citation is "Lei nº 6965/1981." The law functions as a "legal norm" itself and is composed of other legal norms. It is a "part of" the broader concepts of Brazilian law and legal acts. Its creation was preceded by "draft laws" and was caused by the legislative process ("legislation").

### Digital Accessibility and Documentation
The law is part of Brazil's official digital legislative corpus. Its full text is "work available at" the URL `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l6965.htm`, which is the primary repository for federal laws on the Presidency's official website. Its structured metadata is preserved in the LexML Brazil system under the provided URN. This ensures machine-readable access for legal informatics, research, and public transparency. The law is also recognized by the **WikiProject Brazilian Laws** on Wikimedia, indicating its importance for collaborative documentation and knowledge dissemination.

### Relationship to the Profession of Fonoaudiologia
The law's sole, focused "main_subject" is the profession of *fonoaudiólogo*. By regulating this profession, Law No. 6965 directly shapes the healthcare and education landscapes in Brazil. It determines who may legally use the title, what activities they are permitted to perform (e.g., diagnosing and treating communication disorders, hearing impairments, and dysphagia), and the educational pathway (a "Curso Superior" or higher education degree) required. The law's provisions on "Autorização" and "Competencia" are critical for consumer protection, ensuring the public receives services from qualified professionals. The "Vinculação" subject likely establishes the mandatory membership in a professional council (Conselho Regional de Fonoaudiologia), which is responsible for enforcing the law's "Normas" and overseeing professional "Funcionamento."

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1981-12-09;6965)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=6965&ano=1981&data=09/12/1981&ato=b3cITUE50MrRVTfc0)
3. LexML Brasil