Whether their efforts are aimed at voice therapy, articulation therapy, or language intervention therapy, Montana’s speech-language pathologists are improving the lives of countless people across the state in schools, residential healthcare facilities, private practice, and beyond.
- 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.
For example, in Lewistown, SLPs at Central Montana Medical Center provide care for children of all ages who are experiencing delays in speech, language, and development. The SLP team here treats children with autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and beyond. They also provide evaluations and speech therapy service for adults with degenerative and acquired neurological disorders such as ALS, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and traumatic brain injuries.
And at the Billings Clinic, SLPs work closely with doctors and other healthcare professionals to treat patients with speech disorders that develop in childhood or are a result of injury or illness. The SLPs at the Billings Clinic provide swallowing evaluations and treatment, speech and language disorders therapy, cognition assessments, and more.
It’s an exciting time to become a speech-language pathologist in Montana. But to practice here, you must earn licensure through the Montana Board of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists.
You can start your journey to becoming a speech therapist in Montana by following these steps:
Step 1. Earn an ASHA-accredited Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology
Earning a master’s degree in speech-language pathology is the first step to becoming a licensed SLP in Montana. To qualify for licensure, you must earn a master’s degree that’s accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA), part of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
Montana only offers one CAA-accredited master’s degree in speech-language pathology, but you might also consider ASHA-accredited online options, which offer flexible curricula and a greater variety of program options.
You’ll need to have proof of an excellent academic performance in order to be accepted to an SLP program. You’ll need to have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0, high GRE scores, and excellent academic references.
If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree in communicative sciences and disorders, you will need to complete basic requisites. These include:
- Basics of Communication Disorders
- Articulation and Phonological Disorders
- Science of Language
- Aphasia and Neurocognitive Disorders
- Clinical and Diagnostic Procedures
Core courses usually include:
- Voice and Motor Speech Disorders
- Language Learning Disorders
- Advanced Clinical Procedures
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication
- Swallowing and Fluency Disorders
- Professional Issues in SLP
Electives may include the following topics:
- Social Psychology in SLP
- Current Topics in SLP
- Treatment of Autistic Speech Patients
- Pediatric Dysphasia
- Public School SLP
- Voice Disorders in Medical Settings
The Montana SLP board will require you to complete at least 25 hours of observation and a practicum that includes at least 375 clock hours.
Step 2. Pass the National SLP Exam
Upon graduation from your SLP master’s degree, you must take the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) National Examination in Speech Language Pathology through Praxis (exam 5331).
You’ll register online for this exam. You’ll need a 162 on a 100-200 scale to pass the test.
The test covers:
- Typical development and performance across the lifespan
- Factors that influence communication
- Epidemiology
- Common communication/swallowing disorders
- Wellness and prevention
- Ethics
- Legislation and client advocacy
- Selecting appropriate assessment instruments
- Assessing factors
- Assessment of anatomy and physiology
- Genetic and developmental factors
- Diseases processes and auditory problems
You can review the study companion or take a practice exam if you’d like extra preparation.
Praxis test centers are located throughout the state in:
- Billings
- Bozeman
- Great Falls
- Havre
- Helena
- Missoula
- Pablo
Step 3. Complete a Supervised Postgraduate Clinical Experience and Consider the Value of CCC-SLP Certification
You’ll need to complete 36 weeks of a clinical experience (fellowship) in order to become licensed in Montana. The clinical experience is a transitional period between the graduate program and your career as a speech-language pathologist.
In order to begin a clinical fellowship, you must apply for a Limited Speech-Language Pathologist license through the Department of Labor and Industry Citizen Portal.
You may also complete a paper application, if desired. Your limited license application must include a completed Supervised Professional Experience Plan, which details your supervision under a licensed Montana SLP. The form must be completed and signed by both you and your qualified supervisor.
The clinical fellowship must be a minimum of 36 weeks and 1,260 hours. Most of the clinical fellowship will be spent shadowing and learning clinical procedures and interacting with patients.
A minimum of 1,008 hours of your fellowship must be in direct client contact, which includes activities such as:
- Assessment
- Diagnosis
- Evaluation
- Screening
- Treatment
- Report writing
- Family/client consultation
Your limited license is good only for two years and is not renewable.
Once you’ve satisfied the required hours for your fellowship, you and your supervisor will complete and sign the Supervised Professional Experience Completion Report, which will be sent to the Board.
Once you’ve completed your fellowship, you’ll have the option of applying for the Certification of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). You won’t need the CCC-SLP certification to become licensed in Montana, but it may help you in your employment endeavors. You must apply for the certification through ASHA.
Step 4. Apply for Licensing and Begin Practicing as a Speech-Language Pathologist
Once you’ve successfully passed the national exam and completed your clinical fellowship, you are eligible to apply for licensing in Montana. Like your limited license, you’ll apply for a Speech-Language Pathologist License through the Department of Labor and Industry Citizen Portal. You also have the option of applying using a paper application.
You must also complete a jurisprudence exam. This exam, included with the application, includes reading the sections of statutes and rules covering the practice of speech-language pathology and signing the declaration statement attesting that you’ve completed this task.
Now that you’re licensed, it’s time to start your career as a speech-language pathologist. There are several ways to begin your career:
Join the Clinic That Provided Postgraduate Clinical Experience
The clinic that provided your required professional experience may be interested in hiring you for a full-time position. Often, clinics advertise clinical fellowship-to-full-time positions in the interest of keeping clinical fellows on staff.
You may contact your clinical fellowship provider to inquire about opportunities.
Consider Starting an Independent Practice
You might wish to open an independent practice or a partnership if you’d like to manage your own schedule or pursue care of a specific patient population.
In Montana, you’re qualified to start a private practice and begin taking on clients.
Pursue Job Openings in Montana
There are many SLP employers in Montana, including:
- Cabinet Peaks Medical Center
- EDU Healthcare
- Centra Healthcare Solutions
- Vincent Healthcare
- Peter’s Hospital
- Kalispell Regional Medical Center
- Innovative Rehabilitation
- John’s Lutheran Hospital
- Big Sky Special Needs Cooperative
- Livingston Health Care
- Central Montana Medical Center
- Aureus Medical Group
Step 5. Keep your License Current and Complete Continuing Education Requirements
In Montana, you’ll need to complete 10 hours of continuing education hours annually. Learn more about continuing education requirements here.
The Board does not preapprove any courses or sponsors. You’ll be responsible for taking courses that relate to your scope of practice.
You can pursue continuing education through ASHA or the MSHA.
Speech-Language Pathology Salary in Montana
The average salary for SLPs in Montana is $81,970, or $39.41 an hour.
The highest earning SLPs in the state earn about $107,640, or $51.75 an hour.
The number of SLP jobs in Montana is projected to increase by 28% in the decade leading up to 2030 – that’s far above the national projected increase of 19% for this profession during this time. This translates to about 40 annual SLP job openings in Montana during this period due to a blend of new job growth, retirements, and natural job turnover.
Salaries for Speech-Language Pathologists in Montana’s Major Metro and Non-Metro Areas
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics provides a detailed analysis of the salaries for speech-language pathologists throughout Montana. You can compare the following areas listed below. They’re sorted by highest average salary and include a salary range from the low to high end (10th to 90th percentile):
Billings:
- Average: $90,260 annually, $43.39 hourly
- Low to high range: $66,510 – $112,520 annually, $29.08 – $51.75 hourly
Rural Southwest Montana:
- Average: $81,050 annually, $38.96 hourly
- $60,490 – $107,640 annually, $29.08 – $51.75 hourly
Rural East-Central Montana:
- Average: $80,820 annually, $38.85 hourly
- $62,080 – $109,960 annually, $29.85 – $52.87 hourly
Missoula:
- Average: $79,090 annually, $38.02 hourly
- $55,630 – $102,400 annually, $26.74 – $49.23 hourly
Rural West Montana:
- Average: $77,290 annually, $37.16 hourly
- $58,640 – $106,800 annually, $28.19 – $51.34 hourly
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.