How to become a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)
Speech-Language Pathologists evaluate, diagnose, and treat communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan, from pediatric language delay to post-stroke aphasia to swallowing dysfunction in neuro-degenerative disease. About 175,000 SLPs practice nationally per BLS. About 55% work in schools and 25% in healthcare settings.
Undergraduate
A bachelor's in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD) is the most direct path, but applicants from other majors can complete post-baccalaureate prereq coursework (typically 1 year) to qualify for master's programs. Prereqs include statistics, biological + physical sciences, social/behavioral sciences, and CSD-specific courses (phonetics, anatomy of speech + hearing, language development).
Master's program
Master's in Speech-Language Pathology (MA/MS) is the standard entry-level degree, accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA). Programs run 2 years full-time, with the second year heavily clinical, students complete 400+ clock hours of supervised clinical experience across diverse settings (pediatric + adult, medical + educational).
Clinical Fellowship + CCC
After graduation, the new SLP completes a Clinical Fellowship (CF), a 36-week paid practicum under the supervision of a CCC-credentialed SLP. After CF completion + passing the Praxis Exam in Speech-Language Pathology, ASHA awards the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). This is the standard credential employers + most state licensing boards require.
Licensing
All 50 states + DC require state licensure. Many states accept CCC-SLP directly; some require separate state exams. School-based SLPs may need an additional teaching credential depending on the state, some states require the educational SLP credential, others accept the clinical CCC-SLP for school employment.
Specialization
ASHA offers Board Certification in Specialty Areas (BCS), child language, swallowing, fluency, intraoperative monitoring. Common practice specialties: pediatric (early-intervention + school-age + autism), adult neurogenic (post-stroke + TBI + dementia), dysphagia (swallowing), AAC (augmentative + alternative communication), voice + speech motor, fluency.
Compensation
BLS reports median annual SLP salary around $89k-$95k. Healthcare-setting SLPs typically earn meaningfully more than school-based, with travel SLPs at the top of the range. Sign-on bonuses are common in dysphagia + hospital-based adult-neurogenic roles where supply is tight.