How to Become a Speech Therapist in Pennsylvania

From the quiet rural areas of Central Pennsylvania to the major metro areas of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, speech-language pathologists in the Keystone State are changing the lives of people with speech, language, and swallowing disorders.

SLPs are the heartbeat of some of the most progressive speech-language clinics throughout the state like the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, which is recognized as one of the most outstanding pediatric facilities in the nation. They provide SLP services in five clinics throughout the city and offer a wide range of services that include both inpatient and outpatient evaluations and treatment alongside specialty assessment services and clinics. They work closely with other departments, including audiology, otolaryngology, the Cleft-Craniofacial Center, and the Cerebral Palsy and Related Disorders Program.

And on the other side of the state, the Department of Speech-Language Pathology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) provides care for children with speech and language disorders and difficulties through the Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care and through several CHOP Specialty Care Centers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. SLPs of CHOP provide assessments and services while also focusing on advocacy and education throughout the Philadelphia region.

Wherever a career in speech-language pathology make take you, you can feel good knowing there’s outstanding opportunities awaiting you. But first you’ll need to earn licensure as an SLP through the Pennsylvania State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

Start your journey towards SLP licensure by following the steps in the guide below:

	Earn a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from an ASHA-Accredited Program
	Complete a Year of Supervised Professional Experience (YSPE)
	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 Pennsylvania requires 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), part of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

There are 15 Pennsylvania master’s degrees in SLP accredited by the CAA, and you may also choose to complete an accredited online master’s degree if you’re looking for maximum convenience and flexibility.

To be accepted into a master’s program, you’ll need to be prepared with:

• An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher
• GRE scores in the 30^th percentile
• Academic references

You won’t need a background in speech-language pathology to apply—you’ll just need to complete fundamental prerequisites before beginning core coursework if you haven’t earned a bachelor’s degree in SLP.

Prerequisites usually include:

• Phonetics
• Speech Science
• Anatomy & Physiology of Speech, Hearing, and Swallowing
• Language Development
• Intro to Communication Disorders
• Intro to Audiology and Hearing Science
• Neuroanatomy of Speech, Hearing, and Swallowing

After completing prerequisites, you’ll move into core coursework. Core coursework will cover the following topics:

• Aphasia
• Language Disorders in Preschool Children
• Fluency Disorders
• Disorders of Phonology and Articulation
• Professional Issues in Speech-Language Pathology
• Voice Disorders
• Language Disorders in School-aged Children

You’ll also be required to complete a number of electives. If you want to specialize in a certain patient population or disorder, electives will help you narrow your focus. Topics might include:

• Craniofacial Disorders
• Motor Speech Disorders
• Cognitive Based Language Disorders
• Augmentative Communication
• Clinical Instrumentation in Speech Pathology
• Swallowing: Anatomy, Physiology, and Disorders
• Research in Speech and Language Pathology

You’ll also need to complete a clinical practicum before graduating. The practicum must be at least 375 hours. You’ll also need a minimum of 50 clock hours in at least two distinctly different clinical environments.

You’ll begin by shadowing a supervisor and move into performing activities on your own. At least half of your diagnostic evaluations will be supervised, and at least 25% of treatment, instruction, and counseling will be performed under supervision.

You’ll need to gain approval for diagnostic conclusions, initiating treatment, and recommending the use of treatment methods.

To ensure that you treat a variety of patient populations and gain experience treating different disorders, you’ll be required to gain experience in the following areas:

• Working with children
• Working with adults
• Patients with disorders of articulation, voice, and fluency
• Audiology

Step 2. Complete a Year of Supervised Professional Experience (YSPE)

Next, you’ll complete a year of supervised professional experience (YSPE), which will include 1,260 hours of clinical experience. You must complete your YSPE within two years.

Your university program should be able to help you find a clinic where you can complete the YSPE, but if you’d like to seek out clinical fellowships in your area, you may browse online.

You’ll work under supervision during the YSPE. At least 80% of each week must be spent in direct client contact, which includes assessment, diagnosis, evaluation, rehabilitation, and habilitation activities.

You will conduct screening of clients, but it must be no more than 50% of your time. You’ll also meet with your supervisor at least once a month to discuss the activities you’ve completed.

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

Once you’ve completed your clinical fellowship, you’ll need to begin preparing for the American Speech-Language-Pathology Association’s National Speech Language Pathology Examination. You’ll need to pass the exam with a score of 162 or higher in order to become licensed. You’ll register for the exam (Praxis exam 5331) directly through Praxis.

When registering for the exam, you’ll choose an exam testing site that’s located near you. In Pennsylvania, there are testing centers located in:

• Allentown
• Bethlehem
• Bloomsburg
• Clarks Summit
• Conshohocken
• East Stroudsburg
• Erie
• Harrisburg
• Hawley
• Hazleton
• Immaculata
• Indiana
• Lancaster
• Lock Haven
• Meadville
• Media
• Millersville
• Monroeville
• Oil City
• Philadelphia
• Pittsburgh
• Slippery Rock
• West Chester
• York

The SLP exam covers the following topics:

• Foundations and professional practice
• Development and performance across the lifespan
• Factors that influence communication, feeding, and swallowing
• Wellness and prevention
• Documentation, legislation and client advocacy
• Developing case histories
• Assessing factors that influence communication and swallowing disorders
• Assessment of anatomy and physiology
• Speech sound production
• Fluency
• Voice, resonance, and motor speech
• Receptive and expressive language
• Social aspects of communication, including pragmatics
• Etiology, including genetic, developmental, and neurological factors

It’s a good idea to use Praxis test preparation materials to prepare. The study companion offers practice questions and a breakdown of the test’s topics, and you may also choose to take an interactive practice exam.

After successfully completing the exam and your clinical fellowship, you may choose to apply for the 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 Pennsylvania but is a strong credential to show prospective employers and clients. You must apply directly through ASHA for this certification.

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

You’ll be able to apply for licensing through the Pennsylvania State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology once you’ve received a passing score on the national exam. You’ll will apply for your license online through the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS).

You will need to provide the Board with the following:

• An official graduate transcript
• Proof of completion of a clinical practicum
• Passing Praxis score

Now that you’re licensed, you may start your career. There are several ways to get started:

Join the Clinic that Provided your Year of Supervised Professional Experience (YSPE)

The clinic that provided your YSPE may be interested in hiring you to fill a full-time position. You may contact your YSPE supervisor to inquire about opportunities. Often, clinics prefer to hire SLPs who already have experience in their clinic and have developed good relationships with their staff and patients.

Start an Independent Practice

You may also practice independently. Some SLPs choose to practice independently and open their own clinic because of the benefits of setting your own schedule and working with specific populations or types of patients.

Pursue Job Opportunities in Pennsylvania

The options for SLP employment in Pennsylvania are numerous. They span positions at hospitals, clinics, schools, home health care services, and rehabilitation centers. A few of Pennsylvania’s SLP employers include:

• Progress Therapy, LLC
• Fox Rehabilitation
• HCR ManorCare
• Evergreen Rehabilitation
• Cancer Treatment Centers of America
• Temple University Health System
• Tender Touch Rehab Services
• Accomplish Therapy
• Thomas Jefferson University and Hospitals
• TALK Institute and School
• CCI Rehab Services
• Invo Healthcare Associates
• Dynamicare Therapy

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

Your license will expire on July 31^st of every other year upon the completion of 20 hours of continuing education. You’ll receive a notice reminding you to renew through PALS.

The continuing education credits must be completed through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or an ASHA-approved entity, including CAA-accredited universities in Pennsylvania.

You’ll need to be sure to keep documentation of your continuing education credits, which might include flyers, brochures, or a letter or certificate of completion signed by the program’s instructor. You won’t need to send these to the board each renewal period, but the board will periodically audit licensed SLPs to ensure completion of continuing education credits.

Speech-Language Pathology Salary in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s speech-language pathologists earn an average salary of $88,790, or $42.69 an hour. Between 2019 and 2023 alone, the average SLP salary in Pennsylvania increased by 10%.

The highest paid SLPs in Pennsylvania (90^th percentile) earn about $121,950, or $58.63 an hour.

Rapid Job Growth for Speech-Language Pathologist in Pennsylvania

In the decade leading up to 2030, the number of SLP jobs in Pennsylvania are expected to increase by 27%. During this time, the state should see about 580 SLP job openings annually due to a blend of new job growth, retirements, and natural job turnover.

Some of the top private clinic SLP employers throughout Pennsylvania include:

• Bala Cynwyd: Kutest Kids Early Intervention
• Beaver Falls: Talktime Speech Therapy
• Carlisle: Draavery Physical Therapy Institute: Nichole J Reynolds
• Cranberry Township: Talktime Speech Therapy
• East stroudsburg: Speech & Hearing Clinic
• Philadelphia: Jill Fedlbaum, SLP
• Pittsburgh: Bethany Anke, SLP
• Pittsburgh: Crossroads Speech & Hearing
• Pittsburgh: Nathan Speech Services
• West Chester: EBS Healthcare

Speech-Language Pathology Salaries in Pennsylvania

Philadelphia is tied with Lebanon for offering the highest average SLP salary in the state, followed by Williamsport, Allentown, and Harrisburg.

The cities offering the highest top-end SLP salaries (90^th percentile) include Gettysburg, Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, Williamsport, Harrisburg, and Lebanon.

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

Lebanon:

• Average: $94,170 annually, $45.27 hourly
• Entry-level to high-end range: $63,440 – $123,760 annually, $30.50 – $59.05 hourly

Philadelphia:

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

Williamsport:

• Average: $91,920 annually, $44.19 hourly
• $53,100 – $125,400 annually, $25.53 – $60.29 hourly

Allentown:

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

Harrisburg:

• Average: $91,430 annually, $43.96 hourly
• $60,220 – $125,240 annually, $28.95 – $60.21 hourly

Bloomsburg:

• Average: $90,110 annually, $43.32 hourly
• $70,060 – $114,840 annually, $33.68 – $55.21 hourly

Scranton–Wilkes-Barre:

• Average: $87,780 annually, $42.20 hourly
• $57,960 – $127,140 annually, $27.87 – $61.13 hourly

Gettysburg:

• Average: $87,310 annually, $41.98 hourly
• $58,320 – $134,520 annually, $28.04 – $64.67 hourly

Erie:

• Average: $86,950 annually, $41.80 hourly
• $65,940 – $106,230 annually, $31.70 – $51.07 hourly

State College:

• Average: $86,230 annually, $41.46 hourly
• $54,150 – $122,030 annually, $26.03 – $58.67 hourly

Chambersburg:

• Average: $85,550 annually, $41.13 hourly
• $58,300 – $118,980 annually, $28.03 – $57.20 hourly

Lancaster:

• Average: $84,800 annually, $40.77 hourly
• $59,050 – $119,640 annually, $28.39 – $57.52 hourly

Reading:

• Average: $83,840 annually, $40.31 hourly
• $55,350 – $105,130 annually, $26.61 – $50.54 hourly

Altoona:

• Average: $83,640 annually, $40.21 hourly
• $57,560 – $108,330 annually, $27.67 – $52.08 hourly

York:

• Average: $82,690 annually, $39.76 hourly
• $46,710 – $118,230 annually, $22.46 – $56.84 hourly

East Stroudsburg:

• Average: $82,280 annually, $39.56 hourly
• $47,320 – $123,570 annually, $22.75 – $59.41 hourly

Pittsburgh:

• Average: $80,130 annually, $38.52 hourly
• $50,480 – $105,030 annually, $24.27 – $50.50 hourly

Johnstown:

• Average: $73,880 annually, $35.52 hourly
• $43,500 – $99,510 annually, $20.91 – $47.84 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.

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