How to Become a Speech Therapist in Kentucky

A growing community of speech-language pathologists across the state of Kentucky ensure that both children and adults in the Bluegrass State have access to the highest quality speech and language therapeutic services available.

Career projections for SLPs reflect this flourishing community. Over the decade leading up to 2030 the number of Kentucky SLP jobs is forecast to increase by 25%, well above the national rate for this field of 19%. That amounts to an average of 210 SLP job openings per year across the state.

Featured Programs:

The Kentucky Children’s Hospital is just one example of the robust speech-language pathology services available to children in Kentucky. The Children’s Hospital team includes a number of speech-language pathologists who provide a wide array of services, as well as specialized treatments including social communicative disorder treatments, traumatic brain injury treatments, and much more.

To join this rapidly growing profession you’ll need to be licensed by the state. This is where the standards start for that high quality of care. It’s not an easy path, but it’s one with a lot of rewards for both you and your community.

You’ll need to follow these steps to become a licensed speech therapist in Kentucky by earning your SLP license through the state’s Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology:

 

Complete a Qualifying Master’s Degree Program in Speech Therapy (Speech-Language Pathology)
Gain Required Professional Experience (RPE) Through a Clinical Fellowship Program
Pass the Speech-Language Pathologist Praxis Examination
Become Licensed and Begin Your Career as a Speech-Language Pathologist
Maintain SLP Licensure and Complete Continuing Education Requirements

 

 

Step 1. Complete a Qualifying Master’s Degree Program in Speech-Language Pathology

To qualify for SLP licensure in Kentucky, you must earn a master’s or higher degree in speech-language pathology that has been accredited by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA).

At least six universities in Kentucky have programs that meet that standard. But not everyone is able to relocate or otherwise shift their lives around to complete a traditional master’s degree. Institutions across the country, including some of those in Kentucky, offer accredited online programs, however. This can be an excellent option for working professionals with busy schedules.

Foundational Courses for SLP Graduate Degrees

Completing an undergraduate program in the field of communication sciences and disorders provides the most direct route to earning a master’s degree in the same field.

However, you can still pursue a master’s degree in SLP if you possess an undergraduate degree in another field.

You’ll just need to complete several prerequisite courses or a pre-professional program before commencing your graduate studies. Most institutions that offer SLP graduate programs gladly accommodate incoming students from a variety of undergraduate backgrounds by offering foundational courses online to facilitate an easy transition to graduate-level coursework.

Graduate Courses and Clinical Practicum

With the basics out of the way, you can get into the more advanced subjects that SLPs have to master. Graduate degree programs in the field include coursework in subjects such as:

  • Diagnosis of Communicative Disorders
  • Advanced Language Disorders
  • Advanced Fluency Disorders
  • Motor Speech Disorders
  • Professional Issues in Communicative Disorders

Your graduate program will also include a clinical practicum of at least 375 hours, which you must complete to graduate and meet state requirements for licensure. ASHA has slightly different standards for their national certification, the CCC-SLP (discussed in more detail below), requiring 400 hours, so you’ll want to make sure you hit the right numbers depending on your goals.

There are six CAA-accredited master’s degree programs in speech-language pathology available through campus-based programs in Kentucky that provide an alternative to distance learning options:

  • Master of Arts in Education in Communicative Disorders at Eastern Kentucky University
  • Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at Murray State University
  • Master of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders at University of Kentucky
  • Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at University of Louisville
  • Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at Western Kentucky University
  • Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at Brescia University

 

 

Step 2. Gain Required Professional Experience (RPE) Through a Clinical Fellowship Program

You must complete at least 9 months of full-time professional experience, including at least 1,260 practice hours, through a clinical fellowship before you can become licensed in Kentucky. You can also complete your fellowship on a part-time basis, although it must be finished within a 24-month timeframe.

You’ll be working under the supervision of a state-licensed speech-language pathologist during this time. Even so, you aren’t allowed to perform hands-on work as an SLP, even under supervision, without some legal authority. So you must complete an Application for Interim Licensure within 30 days of starting your Required Professional Experience (RPE) and submit it to the Board, along with:

  • Your SLP master’s degree transcripts
  • A written plan detailing your supervisor’s qualifications and job setting
  • A $50 license fee payment

Your interim license is good for 24 months while you complete your clinical fellowship.

During your RPE, you’ll gain firsthand experience as a professional speech-language pathologist. Many SLPs work in different environments, so their skills are flexible depending on the needs of the patient. You’ll develop these with feedback from your mentor, mastering the hands-on concepts that you first learned about in class.

ASHA has drafted a Scope of Practice for SLPs that helps provide clarity and a framework that can be applied to all scenarios. Your fellowship will be spent working on leadership and research skills, assessment and diagnosis procedures, and legislative and advocacy issues.

 

 

Step 3. Pass the Speech-Language Pathologist Praxis Examination

The final step to licensure is the national SLP exam, administered by Praxis and developed by ASHA. Passing this exam will qualify you for your Kentucky SLP license.

You must register for the exam by following the instructions on the registration page. You can choose from any Praxis test location in Kentucky, or even a nearby state if that’s more convenient. Online testing is an option as well, provided you can be remotely monitored by a proctor as you test at home.

The exam consists of 132 questions that must be completed in 150 minutes. The test is divided up into three different categories. You can view those categories and study for the exam using study materials from Praxis:

  • Foundations and Professional Practice – 1/3 of the exam
    • Characteristics of common communication and swallowing disorders
    • Culturally and linguistically appropriate service delivery
    • Documentation
    • Professional Ethics
  • Screening, Assessment, Evaluation, and Diagnosis – 1/3 of the exam
    • Communication Disorders
    • Feeding and Swallowing Disorders
    • Developing Case Histories
    • Assessing factors that influence communication and swallowing disorders
    • Assessment of anatomy and physiology
  • Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation of Treatment – 1/3 of the exam
    • Evaluating factors that can affect treatment
    • Initiating and prioritizing treatment and development goals
    • Determining appropriate treatment details
    • Communicating recommendations
    • Following up on referrals and treatment recommendations

The passing score on the exam is 162 on a scale of 100-200.

Optional CCC-SLP Certification

After passing the Praxis SLP exam, you may also be eligible to apply for the CCC-SLP designation. The CCC-SLP is not required to become a licensed SLP in Kentucky, but many SLPs find it beneficial when applying for SLP jobs and advancing in the profession because it displays an advanced commitment to the profession.

You’ll have to submit all the same information to ASHA as you do to the Kentucky Board, including exam scores, clinical fellowship experience, and graduate degree transcripts.

Many SLPs also earn specialty certifications through ASHA that reflect their specific skillsets. These include:

These can be a big help if you are angling for positions in specific kinds of clinics or with certain populations. You can read more about the available options on the ASHA Clinical Specialty Certification page.

 

 

Step 4. Become Licensed and Begin Your Career as a Speech-Language Pathologist

With all your training and assessment steps concluded, you’re ready to push the button on your Kentucky SLP license application.

You will need to fill out the Application for License as a speech-language pathologist and submit it to the Board with your exam scores and an official transcript from your graduate program. The Board will also need a signature from your fellowship supervisor, signifying that you completed your approved plan of post-graduate professional experience.

The application fee for a Kentucky SLP license is $50, which has to be included along with the initial $100 license fee.

It’s also possible to become licensed via reciprocity if you hold a license in good standing in another state as an SLP. You will have to otherwise meet the same standards, but if you happen to have a CCC-SLP, that may be accepted as proof that you have met all the necessary requirements.

Finding a Job as an SLP in Kentucky

After earning their license, many SLPs find employment at the same clinic or hospital where they completed their RPE.

The Kentucky Speech-Language-Hearing Association (KSHA) is another resource for finding local openings. Employers post new listings from local hospitals, therapy clinics, and rehabilitation centers. KSHA is also a great networking resource where you can make personal contacts that can lead to opportunities down the road.

Many SLPs also work in the public school system, offering educational assistance to students with communicative disabilities. Working in the public school system requires additional licensure, which has been summarized by ASHA. Contact local school districts for job openings.

If you choose to become an independent practitioner, you’ll be able to develop your own treatment programs, hire specialized speech-language pathologists and audiologists, and offer peace of mind to caregivers and patients alike. It’s a challenging option, requiring you to manage a business in addition to providing therapy, but often worth rewards in terms of freedom and flexibility in your personal life.

 

 

Step 5. Maintain SLP Licensure and Complete Continuing Education Requirements

Your SLP license must be renewed every two years, and you must complete 30 hours of continuing education during each renewal period. That training must come from an approved provider; the Board provides lists of those approved organizations annually.

Your actual license renewal must be completed online through a Kentucky Department of Professional Licensing eServices account. Licenses must be renewed by the end of January

On top of career advantages, KSHA also provides continuing education opportunities. The organization sponsors a number of both online and in-person events that can count toward continuing ed requirements. The annual convention offers another golden opportunity to get your training out of the way as well as keep up with current events in Kentucky SLP therapy.

 

 

Speech-Language Pathology Salary in Kentucky

The average SLP salary in Kentucky is $83,310 annually, or $40.05 hourly. As you gain experience and expertise in the field, though, you’ll find yourself moving up the ladder. Towards the top-end of the salary spectrum that figure jumps up to at least $110,650 annually, or $54.24 per hour.

SLP Salaries in Kentucky by Region

Naturally, what SLPs make is subject to the same market forces as any other position. It can vary according to local demand and cost-of-living. So you’ll want to check out the ranges in different areas before you decide where to begin your career. The average salary for speech-language pathologists in Kentucky is shown below:

  • Louisville: $94,500 annually, $45.43 hourly
  • Metro Cincinnati: $92,630 annually, $44.53 hourly
  • Owensboro: $84,709 annually, $40.76 hourly
  • Metro Evansville: $83,520 annually, $40.16 hourly
  • Lexington: $82,460 annually, $39.64 hourly
  • Metro Ashland: $82,190 annually, $39.52 hourly
  • Bowling Green: $80,800 annually, $38.85 hourly
  • Metro Clarksville: $80,730 annually, $38.85 hourly
  • Elizabethtown-Ft. Knox: $77,620 annually, $37.32 hourly

You can also compare the following salary figures that range from the 10th to 90th percentiles:

Metro Ashland

  • Annual: $50,470 – $127,570
  • Hourly: $24.27 – $61.33

Bowling Green:

  • Annual: $58,200 – $102,140
  • Hourly: $27.98 – $49.11

Metro Cincinnati:

  • Annual: $60,650 – $126,110
  • Hourly: $29.16 – $60.63

Metro Clarksville:

  • Annual: $62,320 – $104,900
  • Hourly: $29.96 – $50.43

Elizabethtown-Ft. Knox:

  • Annual: $62,100 – $103,690
  • Hourly: $29.86 – $49.85

Metro Evansville:

  • Annual: $57,970 – $106,690
  • Hourly: $27.87 – $51.29

Lexington:

  • Annual: $62,580 – $103,930
  • Hourly: $30.09 – $49.97

Louisville:

  • Annual: $64,180 – $136,110
  • Hourly: $30.85 – $65.44

Owensboro:

  • Annual: $69,640 – $114,580
  • Hourly: $33.48 – $55.09

Job Growth in Speech-Language Pathology Outpaces the State Average Job Growth Rate

Between 2019 and 2023 the number of SLP jobs in Kentucky increased by more than 21% to a total of 2,580 professionals.

Rural Central Kentucky has the 5th highest number of jobs for SLPs of any nonmetropolitan area in the country. More than 12% of Kentucky’s speech-language pathologists practice in this area.

Private clinics provide opportunities for SLPs to practice in specialized areas of treatment. Many small and specialized clinics or even individual practices operate across the state to offer services directly to clients with speech and swallowing difficulties.

There are also a steady stream of opportunities at larger healthcare providers, such as hospitals, rehab facilities, or retirement communities. Schools are also a big employer for SLPs, with demand in nearly every community for screening and early-childhood treatment. No matter where you end up, it’s a job that comes with high levels of personal satisfaction as well as a healthy paycheck.

  • Crestwood: Chatter Box
  • Florence: NKY Speech Therapy.com
  • Louisville: Associates in Pediatric Therapy
  • Louisville: Shamrock Speech Therapy, LLC
  • Owensboro: Medical Speech Pathology, Inc.
  • Owensboro: Simply Therapy
  • Shepherdsville: Associates in Pediatric Therapy

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.

Back to Top