What Degree Is Needed for Speech Pathology?

A speech-language pathologist needs an advanced degree in her field.

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the nationally accepted certification body for speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Candidates seeking ASHA certification must meet rigorous academic and experience requirements.

History

There have been varying educational requirements for SLPs over the years, but effective Jan. 1, 2005, all candidates must have completed specific graduate studies.

Types

To be certified as an SLP by ASHA, candidates need a master's, doctoral or other recognized post-baccalaureate degree.

Features

All coursework and clinical practicum experiences in these graduate programs must be completed at a school accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of ASHA.

Considerations

The candidate must complete a graduate program that's accredited in the area for which she seeks certification. To earn a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP), for example, the graduate student needs to choose a program accredited for SLP and not audiology.

Tip

Candidates for CCC-SLP certification should apply within three years of earning their advanced degree. If it's been longer than three years, the individual will need to complete additional paperwork, including a Knowledge and Skills Acquisition (KASA) form.

References

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association: About Certification

Resources

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Speech-Language Pathologists