How to Become a Speech Therapist in New Jersey

New Jersey is rich in opportunities for speech-language pathologists. Through hospitals, private clinics, at-home services, schools, nonresidential healthcare facilities, and more, SLPs provide evidence-based practices to improve the quality of life of children and adults with speech fluency, articulation, social communication, swallowing, feeding, and literacy skills difficulties and disorders.

Careers in speech-language pathology are plentiful in the Garden State, and salaries are impressive. In fact, as of 2023, New Jersey’s SLPs earned among the highest salaries in the nation.

A major provider of SLP services in New Jersey is RWJ Barnabas Health, which offers speech-language services at the Community Medical Center in Toms River, the Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, the Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, the Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, and RWJ Speech & Audiology at New Brunswick, among many others.

The SLP services provided by RJW Barnabas Health are numerous and growing. Just some of their specialized services include rehabilitation/habilitation for pediatric cochlear implant recipients; videofluoroscopy; FEES (Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing); and MBSS (modified barium swallow studies). They also have a Stroke Group that provide services for those with aphasia, dysarthria, and apraxia; an ALS Clinic; a Pediatric Feeding program; and a Lee Silverman Voice Treatment for those with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders.

With exciting career opportunities like these at your disposal, now is a great time to consider becoming a speech-language pathologist.

Follow the step-by-step guide below to learn how to become a licensed speech therapist through the New Jersey Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Advisory Committee:

	Earn a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from an Accredited Program
	Pass the National SLP Exam
	Apply for a Temporary License and Complete a Clinical Internship
	Apply for Licensing and Begin Practicing as a Speech-Language Pathologist
	Renew Your License Every Two Years and Complete Continuing Education Requirements

Step 1. Earn a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from an ASHA-Accredited Program

You’ll need to earn a master’s degree in speech-language pathology 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).

New Jersey is home to eight CAA-accredited institutions. While there are benefits to staying in-state, such as reduced tuition for state residents, you might also consider accredited online options if none of the in-state programs are right for you.

Online programs offer flexibility and the ability to complete your curriculum around a professional schedule. Both online and traditional programs will require you to gain hands-on experience with speech patients in a clinical setting, and you can complete the hours in a clinic near you.

Most SLP graduate programs are highly selective, so you’ll need to be prepared to apply with:

• A bachelor’s degree
• An undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0
• High GRE scores
• A statement of purpose explaining why you want to pursue the speech-language pathology field
• At least two letters of reference from academic sources
• A resume of your past experience in the SLP field (this may include volunteer hours in speech clinics or employment in a related field)

If your bachelor’s degree is not in communication sciences and disorders, you’ll need to complete prerequisites before beginning graduate coursework. The prerequisite courses will lay the groundwork for your core study, introducing you to the biological, physiological, and linguistic components of communication disorders. They usually include:

• Introduction to Language Development
• Introduction to Phonetics
• Introduction to Communication Disorders
• Neurological Bases of Communication
• Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing Science
• Science of Language

Core courses will move into more advanced topics within speech-language pathology:

• Clinical Methods in SLP
• Disorders of Phonology and Articulation
• Aphasia and Other Neurological Disorders of Speech and Language
• Language Disorders in Children
• Speech-Language Pathology in the School Setting
• Contemporary Issues in Speech-Language Pathology
• Disorders of Fluency
• Disorders of Voice
• Augmentative/Alternative Communication
• Assessment Procedures
• Advanced Diagnostics in SLP

Electives will often focus on serving a specific population or a more specific topic within the field, such as:

• Accent Modification
• Speech-Language Pathology in a Healthcare Setting
• Communication in Infancy
• Craniofacial Disorders and Syndromes
• Cognitive-Linguistic Impairments
• Motor Speech Disorders
• Assessment and Rehabilitation for Hearing Loss Patients
• Counseling in SLP
• Laryngectomy Rehabilitation
• Auditory Processing Dysfunctions
• Pediatric Dysphagia
• Communication in Aging

You’ll also complete a clinical practicum near the end of your degree program. You’ll begin by shadowing a licensed SLP in a clinical setting, learning clinical and diagnostic procedures, and assessing and evaluating patients. Next, you’ll begin to complete activities on your own, under supervision. Over the course of your practicum, you’ll be expected to learn how to properly assess, evaluate, diagnose, and develop treatment plans for patients.

Step 2. Pass the National SLP Exam

Once you’ve graduated from your SLP master’s program, you’ll be able to take the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s National Examination in Speech-Language Pathology (Praxis exam 5331).

You can take the Praxis exam any time after graduation, before or during your clinical internship period. Once you register with Praxis, you can begin preparing for the test by studying the Praxis study companion and taking the interactive practice test through Praxis.

You’ll need to score at least 162 to pass, on a 100-200 scale.

You’ll need to have a thorough understanding of the foundations of professional practice, how to screen, assess, evaluate and diagnose patients with different communication handicaps, and how to plan and implement treatment and evaluate its effectiveness. You’ll also need to be familiar with:

• Typical development and performance across the lifespan
• Communication, feeding and swallowing processes
• Epidemiology
• Etiology
• Wellness and prevention
• Early intervention
• Culturally/linguistically appropriate treatment
• Documentation and recordkeeping
• Developing case histories
• Assessment factors
• Speech sound production
• Fluency
• Voice, resonance, and motor speech
• Augmentative/alternative communication

You can take the exam at any of the Praxis testing centers located throughout the country. In New Jersey, there are Praxis testing centers located in:

• Absecon
• Clark
• Ewing
• Fair Lawn
• Hamilton Township
• Laurel Springs
• Lawrenceville
• Lincroft
• Lyndhurst
• Mount Laurel
• Newton
• Pemberton
• Scotch Plains
• Union City

Step 3. Apply for a Temporary License and Complete a Clinical Internship

Once you’ve graduated and earned your master’s degree, you’ll move into a transitional time known as a clinical internship. The clinical internship is required before you become fully licensed to ensure that you’ve completed all the activities you’ll need to conduct as a speech-language pathologist.

You’ll need a temporary license to practice during your clinical internship. The application is completed online through the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs.

In addition to your online application, you’ll also need:

• $125 application fee
• Passport photo of yourself
• Official graduate transcript
• Certification for a criminal background check (included in the application)
• Supervision plan completed by your clinical internship supervision
• Completion of the Jurisprudence Orientation

You can begin your clinical internship upon approval of your application.

Your clinical internship will include consultations with patients and patient families, diagnosis of communication disorders, the development of treatment plans, and carrying out therapeutic measures with patients. It may also involve recordkeeping or administrative tasks.

You’ll have several options for how to choose to work your clinical internship. You may:

• Work full-time: 30 hours a week for nine months
• Work 15-19 hours a week for 18 months
• Work 20-24 hours a week for 15 months
• Work 25-29 hours a week for 12 months

Your temporary license will expire when your clinical internship is completed.

Consider Earning the CCC-SLP Credential

Once you’ve passed the Praxis exam and completed your clinical internship, you’ll be eligible to apply for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). You won’t need to receive the credential to become licensed in New Jersey, but for many, it allows them to remain competitive in their field.

You’ll apply for the CCC-SLP through ASHA. You’ll need to provide them with proof of your passing Praxis exam score, proof of completion of a clinical fellowship, and your official graduate transcripts.

Step 4. Apply for Licensing and Begin Practicing as a Speech-Language Pathologist

Once you’ve completed your clinical internship and passed the Praxis exam, you’ll be eligible to apply for licensure as a speech-language pathologist. You’ll complete the Speech-Language Pathology License Application online through the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs. The registration fee is $75, and the application fee is $170.

Allow one-two weeks to hear back from the board and be issued your license. Once licensed, you’ll have opportunities to:

Join the Clinic Where You Completed Your Clinical Internship

Your clinical fellowship supervisor may be interested in hiring you for a full-time position. There are benefits to working for a clinic you’ve already had experience with, and clinics often prefer to hire SLPs who have completed clinical experience with them. You may contact your clinical fellowship supervisor if you’re interested in taking this route.

Open an Independent Speech-Language Therapy Practice

Once licensed, you may also open your open practice or start a partnership. You’ll be able to set your own hours, build a flexible schedule, or pursue a specific patient population.

Pursue Job Openings in New Jersey

You’ll also be able to pursue many opportunities in different clinics and hospitals throughout the state. From school systems to home health to rehabilitation centers, SLPs are needed in a variety of healthcare locations. Some of these include:

• Fox Rehabilitation
• Innovative Therapy Group
• Visiting Nurse Association of Northern New Jersey
• Children’s Specialized Hospital
• Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation
• Institute for Behavioral Health
• Therapeutic Outreach
• Atlantic Health System
• Hackensack UMC Mountainside
• Stern Rehab
• Brookdale
• Sunny Days Childhood Developmental Services
• Good Talking People
• Pediatric Therapy Office
• Progressive Steps
• Meridian Health
• Nyman Associates, Inc.

Step 5. Renew Your License Every Two Years and Complete Continuing Education Requirements

You must maintain your license by renewing it every two years (October in odd-numbered years). All renewals are completed online and require a renewal fee of $170.

You must complete at least 20 credits of continuing education during this period, 10 of which may be completed through self-study.

You can pursue continuing education through the New Jersey Speech-Language-Hearing Association or the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

The New Jersey Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NJSHA) provides professional continuing education opportunities such as an annual convention, conferences, webinars, and courses, as well as keeping members updated on the legislative issues in New Jersey that will influence SLP practice. Through continuing education offerings, you might learn about HIPPA and FERPA compliance in a clinical setting, incorporating technology into your therapeutic routine, and the process of treating autistic patients

Speech-Language Pathology Salary in New Jersey

New Jersey SLPs earn an average salary of $102,820, or $49.43 per hour, making them the fourth highest paid in the nation.

New Jersey’s SLPs at the top end of the salary scale (90^th percentile) earn about $166,400, or $81.57 an hour.

Salaries for Speech-Language Pathologists in New Jersey’s Most Populated Counties

Where you work influences how much you earn as an SLP. You can compare the following areas in New Jersey, ranked here by average salary along with the range between entry-level (10^th percentile) and high-end (90^th percentile) salaries:

Metro Manhattan:

• Average: $104,190 annually, $50.09 hourly
• Entry-level to high-end range: $46,480 – $159,400 annually, $22.34 – $76.64 hourly

Metro Philadelphia:

• Average: $94,170 annually, $45.27 hourly
• $63,590 – $122,700 annually, $30.57 – $58.99 hourly

Trenton:

• Average: $93,790 annually, $45.09 hourly
• $63,100 – $128,090 annually, $30.34 – $61.58 hourly

Metro Allentown:

• Average: $91,760 annually, $44.11 hourly
• $65,950 – $122,900 annually, $31.71 – $59.09 hourly

Atlantic City:

• Average: $87,830 annually, $42.23 hourly
• $62,060 – $119,310 annually, $29.84 – $57.36 hourly

Vineland-Bridgeton:

• Average: $86,930 annually, $41.80 hourly
• $65,040 – $114,470 annually, $31.27 – $55.03 hourly

Ocean City:

• Average: $83,760 annually, $40.27 hourly
• $60,080 – $110,330 hourly, $28.89 – $53.04 hourly

A High Concentration of Jobs in a Growing Field

New Jersey straddles two metro areas that host some of the most SLP jobs in the nation. In fact, metro NYC takes the number-one spot in this category, with a cool 16,780 SLP jobs.

And nearby metro Philadelphia is home to 3,540 SLPs, the sixth-highest number of all cities in the nation.

New Jersey is home to the eighth-largest number of SLPs in the nation. The high number of SLPs here demonstrates the value placed on this profession and the demand for their services statewide and locally.

Jobs for SLPs in New Jersey are expected to continue to climb. In the decade leading up to 2030, the number of SLP jobs in the state is expected to grow by 27% —that’s much higher than the national projected growth rate of 19% during this time. During this period, the state should see about 520 annual job openings for SLPs due to new job growth, retirements, and natural job turnover.

As you might expect in a state with an exceptionally high number of SLPs, New Jersey offers tons of outpatient clinics that provide therapy by speech-language pathologists:

• Bordentown: Speech Academy, LLC
• Camden: Cooper Speech & Hearing
• Cedar Grove: Holsman Physical Therapy & Rehab
• Chatham: Chatham Speech & Language
• Cherry Hill: MJ KIDZ
• Cliffside Park: Speech & Hearing Associates
• Clifton: Kid Clan
• Denville: Speech Therapy Center, LLC
• East Brunswick: NJ Pediatric Feeding
• Freehold: Amy Bernstein, MA
• Hoboken: Kids Communicate
• Hoboken: Shine Bright Speech
• Jersey City: Logos Speech Therapy
• Lakewood: Brainbuilders, LLC
• Lakewood: Jacob Leitman, MA
• Manalapan: MidState Therapy Associates
• Manasquan: Jersey Shore Speech Therapy, LLC
• Marlton: Speak To Me Kids
• Martinsville: Kidtherapy, LLC
• Metuchen: Ratiner Speech and Language Therapy
• Montclair: Montclair Speech Therapy: Lori Caplan
• Morganville: The Speech Tree
• Morristown: Morris Speech Therapy Associates, LLC
• Morristown: Talk Time | Speech-Language Therapy
• Nutley: All Star Speech Therapy
• Pompton Lakes: Insight Speech Pathology
• Princeton: Princeton Speech-Language & Learning Center
• Princeton Junction: JoAnn G. Ficca, Med
• Ramsey: Scanlon Speech Therapy, LLC
• Ramsey: Treehouse Pediatric Therapy
• Sea Girt: Cornerstore Speech & Language LLC
• Secaucus: Speech & Hearing Associates
• Short Hills: Suburban Speech Center
• Shrewsbury: Abilities in Action
• Somerset: Smart Speech Therapy, LLC
• Somerville: Speech Partners
• Sparta Township: Mc Givney Randi
• Summit: Communikids
• Teaneck: Horizon Speech Therapy Services
• Wayne: Talk Moore Speech Services
• West Creek: Speech Pathology Solutions, LLC
• Westfield: Speech & Hearing Associates
• Westwood: Paul Korik, MS CCC-SLP

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.

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