If you’re ready to join the growing number of speech-language pathologists improving the lives of children and adults in Kansas, you’ve come to the right place. Here you’ll find everything you need to know about becoming a licensed speech-language pathologist through the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services.
- Emerson College - Master's in Speech-Language Pathology online - Prepare to become an SLP in as few as 20 months. No GRE required. Scholarships available.
- Arizona State University - Online - Online Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science - Designed to prepare graduates to work in behavioral health settings or transition to graduate programs in speech-language pathology and audiology.
- NYU Steinhardt - NYU Steinhardt's Master of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders online - ASHA-accredited. Bachelor's degree required. Graduate prepared to pursue licensure.
- Pepperdine University - Embark on a transformative professional and personal journey in the online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program from Pepperdine University. Our program brings together rigorous academics, research-driven faculty teaching, and robust clinical experiences, all wrapped within our Christian mission to serve our communities and improve the lives of others.
SLPs deal with the kind of issues all of us hope we’ll never face, but that many do – problems of the mouth, vocal tract, or nervous system that keep us from communicating, or even eating normally.
Many local clinics, rehabilitation centers, and hospitals provide early intervention and monitoring for patients and clients with speech and language challenges of that sort. Whether you are interested in working with kids at the earliest stages of dealing with a stutter or tongue-tie, or older adults who are dealing with health difficulties like post-stroke aphasia in their later years, Kansas has a range of different positions and opportunities for you.
But in order to get any of those jobs, first you’re going to need a license to practice as a speech-language pathologist in the state.
To get licensed in Kansas, you’ll need to earn a master’s degree in speech-language pathology or its equivalent from an accredited university, complete a clinical fellowship program, and pass the national SLP exam. These are all big steps to take, in a process that will last for years, but we can walk you right through them.
Step 1. Complete a Qualifying Master’s Degree Program in Speech-Language Pathology or Its Equivalent
The State of Kansas requires a master’s degree or equivalent education in speech-language pathology to grant licensure. It has to be from a program that has received accreditation through ASHA’s (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA).
Accredited graduate programs in communication sciences and disorders offered online provide an unmatched level of flexibility, allowing you to set your own pace and access course materials whenever and wherever you would like. But you’ll also find excellent colleges across Kansas that offer fully-accredited degrees in SLP. Whether you choose traditional on-campus education or new online options, though, you’ll need the same preparation and face the same tough coursework requirements.
That begins at the undergraduate level, with foundational classes in the essentials of physiology and biology, language acquisition, and phonetics. You’ll find those in bachelor’s programs in speech pathology, but most master’s degrees will let you play catch-up with a short preliminary module if you are coming in from another major.
Graduate Program Requirements
With the foundational studies out of the way, you can expect to study the following topics in-depth at the graduate level:
- Applied Phonology
- Fluency Disorders
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Motor Speech Disorders
- Voice Disorders
- Anatomy and Physiology of Speech Mechanisms
- Early Language Development
As a part of your program, you will also complete a 400-hour clinical practicum under the guidance of a licensed speech-language pathologist in a variety of settings. For online students, practicum advisors are available to help find placement with a local supervising SLP who will facilitate clinical experience rotations in clinics and other settings in the area.
Step 2. Gain At Least 9-Months of Supervised Professional Experience Through a Clinical Fellowship Program
The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services requires 9 months of postgraduate professional experience supervised by a licensed speech-language pathologist that you can complete on a full-time or part-time basis. That can stretch for up to 18 months, but you can’t expect to work less than 15 hours a week for your experience to count.
Kansas regulations require you to spend 80% of the work week in direct contact with clients if you are working full-time, or 100% of the workweek if following a part-time schedule.
You are responsible for lining up your fellowship placement, but many schools, or the contacts you make during practicum experience, will help you out.
A temporary license is required during your fellowship. Temporary licenses are issued for a period of 12-months and can be renewed once for those following a part-time schedule. To get the temporary license, you will have to fork over $65 and submit two forms:
- License application form (temporary license)
- Supervised Postgraduate Professional Experience Plan
Much of what you’ll be doing during your fellowship will be very similar to the work you’ll do after becoming licensed:
- Administering treatments to patients
- Helping develop treatment plans
- Learning about research methods and opportunities
- Growing familiar with legislative and advocacy issues
The same clinical experience that will go toward your Kansas licensure can also count toward earning a CCC-SLP (Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology) certification through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). A CCC-SLP isn’t required, but it is often looked on favorably by employers, so many SLPs pursue the credential on top if licensure.
Step 3. Pass the National Praxis Examination
You can register for the national Speech-Language Pathology Exam through the Praxis registration page. You’ll find testing locations across the state, often located at universities or other educational institutions. A new online testing option is available, allowing you to complete the exam at home if you’re willing and able to be remotely monitored by a proctor.
The exam has a time limit of 150 minutes and has 132 multiple choice questions. The exam is broken up into three categories, which you can study at length using the study materials Praxis provides.
- Foundations and Professional Practice – 1/3 of the exam
- Screening, Assessment, Evaluation, and Diagnosis – 1/3 of the exam
- Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation of Treatment – 1/3 of the exam
To pass the exam, you need to score a 162 on a scale of 100-200. That is the magic number for both Kansas licensure and the CCC-SLP credential.
Consider Applying for the CCC-SLP Credential
After you pass the exam, you can apply for your CCC-SLP.
You’ll need to submit your application together with official transcripts of your graduate program and the Clinical Fellowship Report form. After reviewing your application and confirming your test score, ASHA will award you your CCC-SLP.
After earning your CCC-SLP, you can also pursue specialty certifications through ASHA, such as in apraxia of speech. These are completely voluntary, and they indicate exceptional skill in the respective specialty areas:
- Child language and language disorders
- Fluency and fluency disorders
- Swallowing and swallowing disorders
- Intraoperative monitoring
They provide a path to more specialized jobs and higher salaries, however. Learn more about your options at ASHA’s specialty certification page.
Step 4. Become Licensed and Begin Your Career as a Speech-Language Pathologist in Kansas
The process for getting your Kansas SLP license is similar to the CCC-SLP:
- Fill out the application form for the state Department of Aging and Disability Services
- Attach your Supervised Postgraduate Professional Experience Documentation form
- Have an official transcript from your graduate program sent
- Have your Praxis exam scores sent in
- Pay the $135 license fee
After reviewing your application, a process likely to take a few weeks, the State will issue your license. Then you’ll be on the hunt for your first job as an SLP.
After becoming licensed, many SLPs return to the clinic or hospital where they completed their fellowship. Since you know them and they know you, this is one of the easiest options. But there are plenty of other healthcare, rehab, and educational employers across the state, too.
To find them, you can explore the Kansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association Career Center website. There are typically a wide variety of positions available, ranging from school SLPs to instructors in communication sciences and disorders programs.
If you feel that you have something unique to offer the speech-language pathology community and the necessary capital, starting a private clinic is something worth considering. This allows you to create a practice that aligns with your personal vision. If assembling a team of specialized SLPs and audiologists to serve your clients while juggling marketing and management tasks sounds like your cup of tea, this is an option that comes with a lot of freedom and flexibility.
Step 5. Maintain SLP Licensure and Complete Continuing Education Requirements
Kansas SLP licenses need to be renewed every two years. You need to complete 20 hours of continuing education during each two year period in order to keep your license up to date. KDADS has several requirements for appropriate venues for earning that CE, including prior-approved workshops, lectures, or self-study courses.
You can work toward meeting those requirements by attending the annual conference hosted by the Kansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association (KSHA). KSHA is also a venue for finding other approved CE providers, as well as keeping your professional network up and getting the latest information on any billing or regulatory changes that may be heading your way.
Speech-Language Pathology Salary in Kansas
While on-the-job satisfaction for SLPs is high considering the important work they do, it’s not the only draw to the job. All around Kansas, SLPs pull in much better than the average salary rate for the state. The average SLP salary in Kansas is $82,790 annually, or $39.80 hourly. More advanced professionals in this field earn an annual salary starting at $119,280, or $57.35 hourly.
The highest average Kansas SLP salaries are in:
- Topeka: $83,260 annually, $40.03 hourly
- Metro St. Joseph: $83,200 annually, $40.00 hourly
- Rural Kansas: $82,880 annually, $39.85 hourly
- Metro Kansas City: $81,340 annually, $39.11 hourly
- Wichita: $80,680 annually, $38.79 hourly
- Lawrence: $80,680 annually, $38.79 hourly
- Manhattan: $79,640 annually, $38.29 hourly
The number of jobs for speech-language pathologists in Kansas is projected to increase by 22% between 2020 and 2030, too. This rate of growth should generate an average of 140 SLP positions a year during the 10-year period of these projections.
That means a wealth of well-paying positions opening up for qualified individuals.
Salaries for Speech-Language Pathologists in the Most Populated Counties in Kansas
Salaries can vary based on location, however. Whether it’s local demand or differences in cost-of-living, your base pay will also bounce around depending on where you place to live. Take a look through the range of Kansas SLP salaries below to get some ideas. Figures represent the range between the 10th and 90th percentiles:
Manhattan:
- Annual: $62,380 – $103,850
- Hourly: $29.99 – $49.93
Metro St. Joseph:
- Annual: $55,690 – $113,800
- Hourly: $26.78 – $54.71
Topeka:
- Annual: $54,800 – $119,470
- Hourly: $26.35 – $57.44
Lawrence:
- Annual: $53,110 – $140,470
- Hourly: $25.54 – $67.54
Metro Kansas City:
- Annual: $52,920 – $118,040
- Hourly: $25.44 – $56.75
Rural Kansas:
- Annual: 52,740 – $131,330
- Hourly: $25.36 – $63.14
Wichita:
- Annual: $52,140 – $114,400
- Hourly: $25.07 – $55.00
2023 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures shown here for Speech-Language Pathologists. Job growth projections are from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, CareerOneStop. Figures are based on state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed March 2025.