How to Become a Speech Therapist in Oregon

Oregon is abundant with exciting career opportunities for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in private clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and beyond. In recent years, school-based SLPs have garnered particular attention due to the shortage of these qualified professionals, largely in rural school districts throughout the state. Because of this shortage, many children with communication and language disorders are diagnosed late or not at all and never receive the structured help that they need.

To combat this shortage of SLPs in the school system and encourage more students to pursue this career path, the Oregon Department of Education offers a Speech-Language Pathology Scholarship Program. Through the scholarship program, graduate SLP students receive a $10,000 scholarship in exchange for the agreement to work in a rural Oregon school district for at least two years after they graduate.

You’ll be able to take advantage of this scholarship program by choosing from three in-state schools that are accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA), or any number of accredited online programs available to students in the state.

As you explore this exciting scholarship program (and many other scholarships available to aspiring SLPs), you’ll want to begin familiarizing yourself with how to earn an SLP license through the Oregon Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

Follow the steps in the guide below to begin your journey to becoming a speech therapist in Oregon:

	Earn a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from an ASHA-Accredited Program
	Apply for a Conditional License and Begin a 36-week Supervised Clinical Fellowship
	Pass the National SLP Exam and Consider Earning the CCC-SLP Credential
	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

The first step to becoming an SLP in Oregon 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).

There are three CAA-accredited SLP programs in Oregon, but many more are available to Oregon students thanks to their online delivery.

Whether online or on-campus, SLP graduate programs only accept highly-qualified students. Admission departments generally require:

• A GPA of at least 3.0
• GRE scores in the 30^th percentile
• An undergraduate degree in SLP or volunteer hours in an SLP clinic

If you don’t have a background in SLP, you’ll need to complete prerequisite courses, such as:

• Speech Science
• Anatomy and Physiology of Speech
• Audiology Fundamentals
• Language Development
• Neuroanatomy of Speech, Hearing, and Swallowing
• Introduction to Clinical Methods and Observation

After completing prerequisites, you’ll move into core coursework, which usually includes:

• Language Disorders in Children
• Speech Sound Disorders
• Seminar on Diversity
• Fluency Disorders
• Clinical Methods and Observation
• Communication and Aging
• Counseling Across the Lifespan
• Aphasia
• Dysphasia
• School Age Language & Literacy Disorders

You’ll also be required to complete a variety of electives, which usually focus on specializations within SLP. They might include:

• Advanced Issues in Speech Sound Disorders
• Special Topics in Communication Disorders
• Motor Speech Disorders
• Research & Evidence Based Practice
• Acquired Brain Injury
• AAC and Severe Disabilities
• Progressive Neurological Communication Disorders

You’ll also need to complete a clinical practicum of at least 400 clock hours before graduating. Usually completed during your last year of study, the practicum will help you gain hands-on experience under the supervision of a licensed SLP. The first 25 hours of your practicum will be observational as you shadow your supervisor. The next 375 will be made up of direct clinical interaction with patients.

You’ll also be required to complete a thesis or capstone project through your graduate program. The capstone usually focuses on an area of research within SLP.

Step 2. Apply for a Conditional License and Begin a 36-week Supervised Clinical Fellowship

Next, you’ll need to complete a clinical fellowship. The Oregon SLP board refers to this period as Supervised Clinical Experience. But first you’ll need to apply for a Conditional License through the Board’s Applicant Portal. In addition to your application, you’ll need to provide the Board with the following:

• Official master’s degree transcript (the Board’s prefers e-transcripts to [email protected]​)
• Background Check (you’ll need your fingerprints taken through Fieldprint Oregon)

The supervised clinical experience will build off the skills you learned during your practicum. You’ll perform clinical and diagnostic procedures, including screening, evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment. You’ll develop case histories and treatment plans with your supervisor and work with a variety of patient populations in order to gain experience with a diverse group of patients.

The Oregon SLP board requires that your supervisor hold a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP).

You’ll compete 1,260 hours for a minimum of 36 weeks of practice. You might also choose to work part-time (15 or more hours per week), but you’ll still need to complete 1,260 hours in total.

At least 80% of the hours must be in direct client contact, while the other 20% may be made up of administrative duties, consulting with your supervisor or families of patients, and developing treatment plans.

Your conditional license will expire after a year. You’ll need to apply for a one-time renewal if you haven’t completed your clinical fellowship within this time frame.

Step 3. Pass the National SLP Exam and Consider Earning the CCC-SLP Credential

Next, you’ll need to register for the National Examination in Speech Language Pathology, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s qualifying exam. The exam is administered by Praxis. You’ll need to register with Praxis to take the SLP exam (Praxis exam 5331).

Upon registering for the exam, you’ll choose the date, time, and location of the exam. There are Praxis testing centers located throughout the country; in Oregon, you may take the exam at one of the following testing sites:

• Beaverton
• Bend
• Eugene
• Forest Grove
• La Grande
• Medford
• Portland

This exam consists of 132 questions, and you’ll need to score 162 out of 200 possible points to pass.

The test is designed to test your knowledge of the foundational topics that you covered in your graduate courses as well as clinical, diagnostic, and screening procedures. These topics will include:

• Etiology of speech, including psychogenic and developmental factors
• Evaluating factors that can affect treatment
• Initiating and prioritizing treatment and developing goals
• Determining appropriate treatment details
• Generating a prognosis
• Communicating recommendations
• Establishing methods for monitoring treatment
• Typical development and performance across the lifespan
• Factors that influence communication, feeding, and swallowing

You may prepare for the exam by browsing the Praxis test preparation materials.

CCC-SLP

Once you’ve passed the Praxis and completed your clinical fellowship, you’ll have the opportunity to pursue the Certification of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP), offered through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association,

The CCC-SLP is not required for licensure in Oregon but is a highly respected, industry standard credential. You must apply for this credential directly through ASHA.

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

After receiving your passing Praxis exam score, you’ll be able to apply for licensing through the Oregon SLP board. You’ll upgrade your Conditional License to a Regular License by completing the Renewal/Upgrade application. Do not apply through the Applicant Portal to upgrade your license.

Contact the Board office to make the license fee payment of $250 through the portal ([email protected]).

After receiving your license from the board, you may launch your career in one of three ways:

Join the Clinic that Provided Supervised Clinical Experience

You may contact your clinical fellowship supervisor to inquire about opportunities if you’re interested in working full-time for the clinic that provided your supervised clinical experience.

Consider Opening an Independent Clinic

You might also consider opening an independent clinic or starting a partnership with another licensed SLP. This is a good way to reach specific patient populations, set a flexible schedule, or travel to clients who may not have access to transportation.

Pursue Job Opportunities in Oregon

You may also consider working in one of the many clinics, hospitals, or schools through Oregon that hire qualified SLPs. A few of these employers include:

• PPR Education Services
• Kaiser Permanente
• Oregon Health & Science University
• Salem Hospital
• Sensible Speech-Language Pathology
• Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center
• Infinity Rehab
• Forest Grove School District
• Life Care Centers
• Southern Oregon ESD
• Cumberland Therapy
• Halcyon Rehabilitation

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

You’ll need to renew your license every two years (January 30 of even-numbered years) upon the completion of 20 continuing education hours.

You’ll receive a renewal notice and application in the mail at least 30 days before your license expires. With the application, you’ll also be required to certify that you’ve completed thirty continuing education credits.

The board accepts continuing education credits through universities with CAA-accredited programs and the following organizations:

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
• Oregon Speech-Language-Hearing Association
• Oregon Health Licensing Office
• The American Red Cross
• The American Heart Association

Speech-Language Pathology Salary in Oregon

Oregon ranks ninth in the nation for its average salary for SLPs. As of 2023, SLPs in the state earn an average salary of $98,900, or $47.55 an hour. The top earning SLPs in Oregon (90^th percentile) earn about $128,700, or $61.88 an hour.

Within the state, Portland is the only place to offer an average SLP salary that breaks the six-figure mark. Just behind Portland, you’ll find Salem, Bend, Medford, and Corvallis. These five cities are also the places with the highest potential for salary advancement.

You can compare the following areas throughout Oregon, sorted here according to highest average salary. The range between the entry-level (10^th percentile) and high-end (90^th percentile) salaries is also provided:

Portland:

• Average: $103,310 annually, $49.67 hourly
• Entry-level to high-end range: $74,340 – $130,340 annually, $35.74 – $62.66 hourly

Salem:

• Average: $98,360 annually, $47.29 hourly
• $61,500 – $127,770 annually, $29.57 – $61.43 hourly

Bend:

• Average: $96,910 annually, $46.59 hourly
• $65,210 – $115,960 annually, $31.35 – $55.75 hourly

Medford:

• Average: $94,690 annually, $45.52 hourly
• $67,790 – $119,160 annually, $32.59 – $57.29 hourly

Corvallis:

• Average: $92,820 annually, $44.63 hourly
• $65,080 – $118,210 annually, $31.29 – $56.83 hourly

Rural Oregon Coast:

• Average: $90,660 annually, $43.59 hourly
• $59,630 – $115,250 annually, $28.67 – $55.41 hourly

Rural Eastern Oregon:

• Average: $86,240 annually, $41.46 hourly
• $62,050 – $108,810 annually, $29.83 – $52.31 hourly

Albany:

• Average: $84,550 annually, $40.65 hourly
• $54,410 – $110,860 annually, $26.16 – $53.30 hourly

Eugene:

• Average: $83,880 annually, $40.33 hourly
• $60,170 – $106,980 annually, $28.93 – $51.43 hourly

Rural Central Oregon:

• Average: $80,880 annually, $38.88 hourly
• $39,470 – $103,180 annually, $18.97 – $49.61 hourly

Exceptionally High Levels of SLP Job Growth in Portland

The field of speech-language pathology is growing as the population ages and experiences strokes and other disorders that call for SLP interventions. In addition, the large numbers of autistic and English Language Learner students routinely rely on SLP services.

The number of SLP jobs in Oregon is projected to increase by an impressive 28% over the decade leading up to 2030, significantly higher than the 19% national average growth rate for this profession during this time.

Currently, Portland leads the way for job growth in Oregon’s cities. Between 2019 and 2023 alone, SLP jobs here grew by 10.3%.

Oregon is home to 1,620 SLP jobs:

• 1,070 work in Portland
• 200 work in Salem
• 130 work in Eugene
• 80 work in Bend
• 60 work in Medford

One source of jobs for speech-language pathologists is in private outpatient speech therapy clinics like these:

• Bend: Bend Speech & Language Clinic
• Medford: The Speech Center Plus
• Portland: Parkwood Clinic SW | Speech & Language Therapy
• Portland: Portland Speech Clinic
• Portland: The Hello Clinic
• West Linn: Parkwood Clinic | West Linn

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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