How to Become a Speech-Language Pathologist

As a speech-language pathologist, you will be part of a growing number of professionals that focus on the prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders. It’s a chance to offer life-changing therapy that can open up a whole new world for diverse patient populations– from young children with speech challenges to elderly stroke victims.

Speech-language pathology is a foundational area of study within the field of communication sciences and disorders (CSD).

Speech-language pathologists are master’s-educated, state licensed, and often nationally certified through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Although licensing requirements vary slightly from one state to the next, all licensing boards require SLP professional candidates to hold a master’s degree in speech-language pathology and complete an extensive period of pre-licensure professional experience.

Because the steps laid out by most state licensing boards essentially mirror the requirements for ASHA’s CCC-SLP (Certificate of Clinical Competence – Speech-Language Pathology), that certification is the universal standard and pretty much a given for practicing SLPs in the country.

Even in states where the CCC-SLP isn’t explicitly required by the licensing board, employers still expect it and insurers often require it as a condition for reimbursing SLP services.

Steps to Becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist

Here’s what’s involved in meeting the education, experience and examination requirements to become a speech-language pathologist:

	Complete an Undergraduate Program in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD)
	Complete a CAA-Accredited Graduate Degree in Speech-Language Pathology/Communicative Sciences and Disorders
	Complete a Post-Graduate Fellowship
	Take a National Exam in Speech-Language Pathology
	Apply for State Licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist
	Consider Professional Certification

Step 1. Complete an Undergraduate Program in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD)

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), there are more than 200 institutions offering undergraduate degrees (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science) in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD).

A bachelor’s degree in CSD ensures a seamless transition to a CSD master’s program. Although an undergraduate degree in CSD is not mandatory for entering a CSD graduate program, it may eliminate the need to take certain prerequisites before beginning graduate studies.

CSD undergraduate degree programs include foundational courses in statistics and the social/behavioral, physical and biological sciences, as well as courses related to:

• Normal language development
• Language disorders and phonology
• Linguistics
• Anatomy of hearing and speech mechanisms

Many undergraduate programs in CSD offer research experiences and many require students to participate in research activities designed to provide students with the skills required for future research and clinical practice.

Step 2. Complete a CAA-Accredited Graduate Degree Program in Speech-Language Pathology/Communicative Sciences and Disorders

To become a speech-language pathologist, you must complete a minimum of an entry-level graduate degree (MA, MS, MEd) from a program accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA).

There are more than 320 fully accredited master’s-level programs on the CAA list, and by far the most common are the Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology. However, you can also find programs with titles such as:

• Master of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders
• Master of Arts Speech-Language Pathology
• Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, specialization in speech-language pathology

Many CAA graduate programs offer:

• Part-time/evening programs
• Partially or fully online delivery
• Combined degree programs (bachelors/masters)

Speech pathology graduate programs consist of anywhere from 48 to 60 credits and are located in colleges/departments of education, audiology, healthcare sciences, public health, behavioral and communication sciences, and rehabilitation, to name a few.

They include both academic and clinical coursework, and many students also supplement their program with research-related activities. A number of CAA-accredited programs offer study abroad opportunities.

Clinical Practicum Requirements

All CAA-accredited speech-language programs include supervised clinical experiences, designed to provide students with opportunities to become acquainted with the speech-language pathology profession and apply their newly acquired knowledge.

Clinical practicum requirements for licensure vary slightly depending on the state. For example, Illinois and Pennsylvania require a clinical practicum of at least 375 hours, while in Texas the clinical practicum requirement is 400 hours, and in Florida it is just 300. Some states, like Arizona and Washington State, have no specific clinical practicum requirements, instead deferring to ASHA requirements, which stipulate 400 hours.

Clinical placement advisors typically work with students to arrange clinical experiences in various settings and with a number of populations.

Before commencing their clinical practicum, students of online SLP master’s degree programs would attend a number of on-campus clinical immersion experiences where they would get to engage in practicum seminars with faculty and fellow students.

Prerequisites and Admission Requirements

Admission requirements and processes may differ slightly from one graduate program to the next, but all require incoming students to complete foundational undergraduate coursework that supports studying speech-language pathology at the graduate level.

Some programs allow new students who hold an undergraduate degree in an area other than communicative science and disorders to enter the program and then complete outstanding prerequisites prior to moving on to graduate-level courses. Other programs only admit students after they have successfully completed all prerequisite coursework. Some colleges and universities even offer prerequisite courses online, allowing students to complete all necessary courses before starting their graduate program.

Earning an undergraduate degree in communicative sciences and disorders will usually satisfy all undergraduate requirements.

Prerequisite undergraduate courses generally include:

• Biological science
• Physical science
• Statistics
• Behavioral and social science (2 courses)

Other admission requirements may include qualifications such as:

• Minimum 3.0 GPA
• GRE scores
• Admissions essay
• Letters of recommendation

Step 3. Complete a Post-Graduate Fellowship

You begin your required post-graduate fellowship after the successful completion of your CAA-accredited graduate program.

Per ASHA standards, this must consist of at least 36 weeks of full-time experience, or the equivalent in part-time hours. States may have higher requirements.

Before beginning your clinical fellowship in speech language pathology, you may need to apply for a temporary license (also called an intern or limited license) through your state’s board of speech-language pathology and audiology.

To qualify for a temporary license, you must possess a master’s or doctoral degree from a CAA-accredited program and submit a plan for your clinical fellowship, signed by a licensed supervisor.

Temporary licenses are usually valid for a year, just long enough to complete your clinical fellowship.

Practical training through a speech-language pathology clinical fellowship is necessary for state licensure. Speech-language pathology clinical fellowships consist of a period of training completed under the guidance and supervision of a licensed speech-language professional.

Many states mirror the clinical fellowship requirements that must be met to earn the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) credential through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, which requires a clinical fellowship to:

• Be at least 36 weeks, at 35 hours per week, for a total of 1,260 hours
• Be mentored by an ASHA-certified speech-language pathology professional
• Have at least 80 percent direct clinical contact, such as through activities related to assessment, diagnosis, evaluation, screening, counseling, etc.

With telepractice becoming more common in SLP, it’s permissible to build up to a quarter of your direct client contact hours remotely, as well.

Step 4. Take a National Exam in Speech-Language Pathology

You must take and pass the Educational Testing Service’s (ETS) Praxis Test: Subject Assessment in Speech-Language Pathology to earn state licensure. Generally, you may take this examination at any time following the successful completion of your CAA-accredited graduate program. Most students take the Praxis at some point during their clinical fellowship.

You must register directly with ETS for the Praxis: Subject Assessment in Speech-Language Pathology. The registration process allows you to choose the exam location and date that best meets your needs. There are test centers located throughout the country.

States may have their own passing score requirements for the Praxis exam, although most follow the CCC-SLP certification minimum requirements for a score of 162.

The exam consists of the following topics:

• Foundations and Professional Practice
  • Foundations
    • Typical development and performance across the lifespan
    • Factors that influence communication, feeding, and swallowing
    • Epidemiology and characteristics of common communication and swallowing disorders
  • Professional Practice
    • Wellness and prevention
    • Culturally and linguistically appropriate service delivery
    • Counseling, collaboration, and teaming
    • Documentation
    • Ethics
    • Legislation and client advocacy
    • Research methodology and evidence-based practice
  • Screening, Assessment, Evaluation, and Diagnosis
    • Screening
      • Communication disorders
      • Feeding and swallowing disorders
    • Approaches to Assessment and Evaluation
      • Developing case histories
      • Selecting appropriate assessment instruments, procedures, and materials
      • Assessing factors that influence communication and swallowing disorders
      • Assessment of anatomy and physiology
      • Referrals
    • Assessment Procedures and Assessment
      • Speech sound production
      • Fluency
      • Voice, resonance, and motor speech
      • Receptive and expressive language
      • Social aspects of communication, including pragmatics
      • Cognitive aspects of communication
      • Augmentative and alternative communication
      • Hearing
      • Feeding and swallowing
    • Etiology
      • Genetic
      • Developmental
      • Disease processes
      • Auditory problems
      • Neurological
      • Structural and functional
      • Psychogenic
    • Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation of Treatment
      • Treatment Planning
        • Evaluating factors that can affect treatment
        • Initiating and prioritizing treatment and developing goals
        • Determining appropriate treatment details
        • Generating a prognosis
        • Communicating recommendations
        • General treatment principles and procedures
      • Treatment Evaluation
        • Establishing methods for monitoring treatment progress and outcomes to evaluate assessment and/or treatment plans
        • Follow-up on post-treatment referrals and recommendations
      • Treatment
        • Speech sound production
        • Fluency
        • Voice, resonance, and motor speech
        • Receptive and expressive language
        • Social aspects of communication, including pragmatics
        • Communication impairments related to cognition
        • Treatment involving augmentative and alternative communication
        • Hearing and aural rehabilitation
        • Swallowing and feeding

You can learn more about the Praxis exam by checking out various materials and other guidance on the ETS website.

Step 5. Apply for State Licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist

To apply for state licensure, you must complete an application and submit it to the licensing authority, along with:

• Application fee
• Graduate degree transcripts (sent directly from the CAA-accredited institution)
• Praxis exam scores (sent directly from ETS)
• Results from a criminal background check
• Proof of completion of your clinical fellowship experience

Depending on the state, you may also be required to complete a course on HIV/AIDS and take and pass a state jurisprudence examination.

Continuing Education Requirements

To maintain state licensure as a speech-language pathologist, you may also need to complete the necessary number of continuing education requirements during your renewal period. Continuing education requirements vary.

For example, in Tennessee, speech-language pathologists must complete at least 10 hours of continuing education per calendar year, while in California, speech-language pathologists must complete at least 24 clock hours of continuing education during every two-year renewal period. Alaska has no requirement for CE at all.

However, as with most other states, the fact that you have to hold a CCC-SLP means you will still need to meet those standards for continuing education. You’ll need to ensure that you hit both standards in states that also have their own requirements.

Step 6. Consider Professional Certification

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (AHSA) Speech-Language Pathology Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) is a nationally recognized, voluntary designation that increases opportunities for:

• Salary supplements
• Career advancement
• Employment
• Job mobility
• Professional credibility

To qualify for CCC-SLP certification, you must:

• Complete a master’s or doctoral degree from a CAA-accredited institution
• Complete a clinical fellowship of at least 36 weeks that is mentored by an ASHA-certified speech-language pathology professional
• Pass the Praxis Exam: Subject Assessment in Speech-Language Pathology

You may submit an application for CCC-SLP after you have completed your graduate degree from a CAA-accredited academic program. You must complete and submit your application with ASHA, along with the $490 fee for membership and certification.

To complete the application for certification, you must also submit:

• Your passing exam score (sent directly to ASHA from ETS)
• Official transcripts, sent directly from your CAA-accredited program
• A Clinical Fellowship Report through your ASHA account; your mentor must also verify your clinical hours and verify your skillset through the Clinical Fellowship Skills Inventory

To maintain your CCC-SLP credential, you must complete 30 professional development hours during every three-year certification period, which begins January 1 of the year following your initial certification. At least 1 hour of ethics training must be included in your continuing education.

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