To become a speech-language pathologist in Ohio, you’ll need a master’s degree from a CAA-accredited program, pass the Praxis exam (score 162+), and complete a 9-month clinical fellowship. The process takes 6-7 years total. Ohio SLPs earn a median salary of $88,340, with the top 10% earning over $119,230 annually.
- 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.
Speech-language pathology continues to be a highly rewarding field, rich with opportunities to make a difference in the lives of people with speech, language, and swallowing challenges and disorders.
In Ohio, providers of speech-language pathology services are growing by size and scope nearly every day. Whether your plans include working with infants, school-aged children, or adults, the opportunities to make your mark are plentiful in the Buckeye State.
For example, the Baldwin Wallace Speech Clinic, located on the campus of Baldwin Wallace University in Berea, provides SLP services free of charge to Ohio residents. This clinic, operating for nearly 50 years, is one of the only free clinics of its kind in Northeast Ohio. The Clinic sees about 200 patients each week, along with 900 more patients in community locations. Along with nine full-time faculty members, the Clinic is staffed by 70 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the university’s undergraduate and graduate speech-language pathology programs. Licensed SLPs serve as supervisors here, treating patients with articulation disorders, stuttering, vocal nodules, language disorders, ADD/ADHD, Parkinson’s, and more.
Becoming an SLP in Ohio means preparing for a rewarding career that changes lives. But before you can begin making your mark in speech-language pathology, you’ll need to earn state licensure through the Ohio Board of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology.
Follow the steps in this guide to learn how:
Step 1: Earn a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from a CAA-Accredited Program
Your first step towards becoming licensed as an SLP in Ohio involves earning a master’s degree in speech-language pathology that’s accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA), which is part of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
CAA accredits many SLP master’s programs nationwide, including 14 in Ohio. Online programs are often a smart choice for students who value the convenience and flexibility of studying from home.
Because of the rigorous nature of these programs, you’ll need to present excellent credentials to be accepted. These usually include an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0, GRE scores in the 30th percentile, and strong academic references.
If you don’t have an undergraduate degree in speech-language pathology, you’ll still be eligible to apply to most programs. However, you’ll need to complete prerequisites before beginning graduate coursework. These may include:
- Science of Language
- Audiology
- Anatomy and Physiology of Speech
- Early Intervention for Young Patients
- Clinical and Diagnostic Procedures in SLP
Core coursework includes topics such as:
- Language Assessment and Intervention in Early Childhood
- Disorders of Articulation and Phonology
- Fluency Disorders
- Normal Language Processes
- Aphasia
- Language Assessment and Intervention with School-Age Populations
- Maxillofacial Anomalies
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Research Methods in SLP
Elective topics might cover:
- Aural Rehabilitation
- Motor Speech Disorders in Children and Adults
- Voice Disorders
- Advanced Speech and Voice Science
- Acquired Cognitive Communicative Impairments
- Communication Modalities and Assistive Technology
You’ll also need to complete a practicum before graduating. The Board requires graduate practicums to be at least 375 hours long, and you’ll complete a 25-hour period of shadowing before you perform any procedures independently. Your practicum is designed to help you learn the clinical and diagnostic procedures of speech-language pathology and give you hands-on experience with speech patients.
Step 2: Pass the National SLP Examination
Upon graduation from an SLP master’s degree, you’ll be eligible to register for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) National Examination in Speech Language Pathology.
The exam is administered by Praxis (Praxis exam 5331). You must register with Praxis for this exam. You’ll be able to choose an exam date, time, and location when registering. There are Praxis testing centers located throughout the U.S. In Ohio, you may choose to take the exam at one of the following testing locations:
- Athens
- Beavercreek
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dayton
- Fairborn
- Fairfield
- Mansfield
- Maumee
- Mentor
- Middleburg Heights
- Niles
- Portsmouth
- Stow
- Strongsville
- Toledo
- Wooster
- Worthington
- Youngstown
The SLP Praxis exam covers knowledge you learned in your graduate program, as well as the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment procedures you learned during your practicum.
Exam topics include:
- Development and performance across the lifespan
- Factors that influence communication, feeding, and swallowing
- Epidemiology and characteristics of common communication disorders
- Counseling, collaboration, and teaming
- Documentation
- Ethics
- Legislation and client advocacy
The test will also assess your knowledge on the assessment and diagnosis of:
- 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
You’ll need to score a 162 out of 200 possible points to pass the exam. The Praxis study companion is designed to help you prepare for the exam.
Step 3: Complete a Clinical Fellowship Program
Upon graduation from your SLP master’s degree, you’ll need to complete at least nine months of clinical experience.
But first you’ll need to apply for a Conditional Speech-Language Pathologist license. You will apply for this license online through the eLicense Ohio online portal. In addition to your application, you will also need to provide the Board with the following:
- $210 application and license fee
- Headshot photograph
- Background check (instructions will be sent to you by the Board upon review of your application)
- Praxis score (sent directly to the Board using code 7938)
- Supervised Professional Experience form
- University transcripts (must be submitted within 90 days of receiving your conditional license)
Your university program’s director may be able to connect you to a clinic offering clinical fellowship opportunities, or you may look for opportunities here.
You may choose to work full-time (at least 30 hours per week for 36 weeks) or part-time (at least 15 hours per week for 72 weeks). During this time, you’ll be expected to work with a variety of patient populations.
Within 30 days of the completion of your clinical experience, you’ll need to upload the Supervised Professional Experience Report and Supervision Contacts Log form into the eLicense Ohio system.
CCC-SLP Certification
Once you’ve completed your clinical experience, you may also choose to earn your Certification of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) credential. Offered through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the CCC-SLP is not required for licensure in Ohio, but may help add credibility to your resume. You must apply directly through ASHA for the CCC-SLP.
Step 4: Apply for Your Ohio SLP License and Begin Practicing
Once you’ve completed your clinical fellowship and passed the Praxis exam, it’s time to apply for your SLP license. You’ll apply through the eLicense Ohio online portal and pay the $200 application and license fee.
Once you’ve earned your Ohio SLP license, it’s time to start your career. You may consider:
Joining the Clinic that Provided Your Clinical Fellowship
Your clinical fellowship supervisor may be interested in hiring you to fill a full-time SLP position. Often, pursuing a career at the clinic that provided your clinical fellowship experience is a good option because you’ve already built relationships with the staff and clients at the clinic.
Opening an Independent Practice or Partnership
You might consider opening your own independent practice or starting a partnership with another SLP. You might open an independent practice to address a shortage of SLPs in your area, reach rural clients who may not be able to travel to SLP clinics, or pursue a specific patient population.
Pursuing Job Openings
You’ll also be able to pursue SLP positions within hospitals, clinics, or the school system. A few examples of Ohio’s many SLP employers include:
- Kettering Health Network
- Children’s Hospital Rehab
- Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County
- Encouraging Words, LLC
- Kingston Healthcare
- Tri Health Rehabilitation Hospital
- Encore Rehabilitation Services
- Akron Children’s Hospital
- Mount Carmel Health
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital
- Select Specialty Hospital
- The Childhood League Center
- Absolute Rehabilitation, Inc.
- Avita Health System
Step 5: Maintain Your License Through Continuing Education
To maintain your SLP license, you’ll need to renew your license every two years (by December 31) upon the completion of 20 hours of continuing education. Although you won’t be required to submit proof of your continuing education credits, you’ll need to sign a form certifying that you completed the required number of hours.
You’ll renew your license through the eLicense Ohio online portal and track your continuing education through CE Broker.
Learn more about continuing education requirements here.
CE credits can take the form of academic coursework, conferences, conventions, seminars, or webinars that are approved by a state licensing board or the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Learn more about ASHA’s continuing education opportunities here.
Speech-Language Pathology Salary in Ohio
Speech-language pathologists in Ohio earn competitive salaries that reflect the advanced education and expertise required for this career. According to 2024 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Ohio has 7,660 SLP positions.
Statewide Salary Overview
Ohio SLPs earn a mean annual salary of $89,740 and a median salary of $88,340. The salary range is $60,100 (10th percentile) to $119,230 (90th percentile), with mid-career professionals (75th percentile) earning around $103,500.
Speech-Language Pathology Salaries in Ohio’s Major Cities
Salary levels vary by location throughout Ohio, with larger metropolitan areas generally offering higher compensation. The table below shows salary ranges for Ohio’s major cities, from entry-level (10th percentile) to experienced practitioners (90th percentile).
| City/Metro Area | Annual Mean | Hourly Mean | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | $93,750 | $45.07 | $59,520 | $141,650 |
| Dayton | $93,580 | $44.99 | $68,560 | $124,800 |
| Cincinnati | $92,630 | $44.53 | $60,650 | $126,110 |
| Akron | $92,260 | $44.36 | $60,750 | $133,140 |
| Columbus | $91,890 | $44.18 | $60,780 | $122,230 |
| Lima | $89,800 | $43.17 | $62,020 | $116,420 |
| Canton | $89,030 | $42.80 | $60,470 | $123,010 |
| Toledo | $87,470 | $42.05 | $60,490 | $121,820 |
| Springfield | $84,090 | $40.43 | $58,880 | $118,190 |
| Youngstown | $82,250 | $39.55 | $49,170 | $114,090 |
Job Outlook and Growth
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has identified speech-language pathology as an “in-demand occupation” based on the profession’s competitive pay and promising future.
Between 2020 and 2030, the number of SLP jobs in Ohio is forecasted to increase by 24%, a rate that’s higher than the national average. Over this period, Ohio should see an average of 580 SLP job openings per year, driven by new job growth, retirements, and natural turnover.
While avenues for employment range from schools to skilled nursing-care facilities to private clinics, hospitals are also a major source of jobs. The U.S. Department of Labor lists a number of large hospitals in Ohio that employ speech-language pathologists:
- Akron: Summa St. Thomas Hospital
- Bryan: Community Hospitals and Wellness
- Cambridge: Southeastern Ohio Regional Center
- Cincinnati: Health Alliance
- Cleveland: MetroHealth Hospital
- Cleveland: University Hospitals Bedford Medical Center
- Cleveland: University Hospitals Conneaut
- Columbus: Mt. Carmel East Hospital
- Columbus: Ohio State University Medical Center
- Dayton: Health Centers—Greater Dayton
- Dayton: Kettering Medical Center
- Dayton: Miami Valley Hospital
- Greenville: Wayne Hospital
- Mansfield: Mansfield Hospital
- Middletown: Atrium Medical Center
- Steubenville: Trinity Medical Center West
- Toledo: Mercy Health-St. Vincent Medical
- Twinsburg: Hattie Larlham
- Westerville: Mt. Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital
- Youngstown: St. Elizabeth Hospital
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become an SLP in Ohio?
The complete path to becoming a licensed SLP in Ohio typically takes 6-7 years. This includes 4 years for a bachelor’s degree (any major, though communication sciences is common), 2-3 years for a master’s degree in speech-language pathology, and 9 months for the clinical fellowship year. You can complete the Praxis exam during or shortly after graduate school.
What GPA do I need for SLP graduate programs in Ohio?
Most graduate programs in Ohio require a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0, though competitive programs often look for GPAs of 3.5 or higher. Your GPA in prerequisite courses (if applicable) is particularly important. Strong GRE scores, relevant experience, and compelling letters of recommendation can help offset a lower GPA.
How much does the Praxis exam cost?
The Praxis Speech-Language Pathology exam (5331) costs $165 as of 2025. This fee covers one test attempt. If you need to retake the exam, you’ll pay the full fee again. Many students also invest in study materials, which can range from $50 to $200 depending on the resources chosen.
Can I work as an SLP during my clinical fellowship?
Yes, you can work and earn a salary during your clinical fellowship in Ohio. You’ll hold a Conditional Speech-Language Pathologist license during this period. Most clinical fellowship positions are paid, though the salary may be lower than a fully licensed SLP. You must work under the supervision of a licensed SLP with at least 2 years of experience.
What’s the job outlook for speech-language pathologists in Ohio?
The job outlook for SLPs in Ohio is excellent. The state projects a 24% increase in SLP positions between 2020 and 2030, higher than the national average. Ohio expects about 580 annual job openings due to growth and turnover. Demand is particularly strong in schools and healthcare facilities, and among the aging population requiring swallowing and communication therapy.
How often do I need to renew my Ohio SLP license?
Ohio SLP licenses must be renewed every two years by December 31. The renewal requires completing 20 hours of continuing education during the two-year period. You’ll renew online through the eLicense Ohio portal and pay the renewal fee. While you don’t submit proof of CE with your renewal, you must maintain documentation in case of an audit.
What continuing education is required for Ohio SLPs?
Ohio requires 20 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain your SLP license. These hours can come from ASHA-approved courses, state licensing board-approved activities, academic coursework, conferences, webinars, or workshops. The CE must be relevant to speech-language pathology practice. You’ll track your hours through CE Broker, Ohio’s official continuing education tracking system.
- 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.
Key Takeaways
- You’ll need a master’s degree from a CAA-accredited program, which takes 2-3 years to complete after your bachelor’s degree
- Pass the Praxis exam with a score of 162 or higher out of 200 possible points
- Complete a 9-month clinical fellowship (full-time) or 18-month (part-time) under the supervision of an experienced SLP
- Ohio SLPs earn a median salary of $88,340, with experienced practitioners earning over $119,230 annually
- The profession is growing 24% through 2030 in Ohio, creating approximately 580 new positions annually
- Maintain your license with 20 continuing education hours every two years
Ready to Start Your Journey as an Ohio SLP?
Explore accredited speech-language pathology graduate programs in Ohio and take the first step toward this rewarding career. Compare program options and admission requirements to find the right fit for your educational goals.
2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market figures for Speech-Language Pathologists reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed November 2025.