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Speech Language Pathology Degree Online: How to Choose One

An online speech language pathologist degree grad helps children communicateSpeech-language pathology, or SLP, is a growing field with excellent salaries. To join this promising field of work, you must have proper licensing. This means you first need an accredited speech language pathology degree online from a quality school.

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Speech Language Pathology Degree Online: The Different Levels

Certificate

If you are working in healthcare or want to start your career, consider a certificate. These online speech-language pathology programs provide an efficient path to job placement. Most of these programs will train you to work as a speech-language pathologist assistant. This position allows you to see the career firsthand while earning a strong income in a stable job setting.

Certificates usually take one academic year to complete. The online Certificate in Speech-Language Pathology Assistant from Alexandria Technical & Community College, for example, takes 16 credit hours. Students will complete three courses each in the fall and spring semesters. After completing the program, graduates are qualified to work as SLP assistants.

Associate

While a certificate can provide a foundation of skills, students may want to consider an associate’s degree. An online associate degree provides a more in-depth education. Credits can also often transfer into a bachelor’s or even master’s degree program. These programs require two to three years of academic study, with a more intense course load than a certificate.

Alexandria Technical & Community College provides a good example. The certificate requires two semesters, with nine credit hours a semester at most. Meanwhile, the associate’s degree requires four semesters with 14 to 16 credit hours each.

Some of these programs are designed to transfer into a bachelor’s degree. The Associate of Arts in Speech Pathology from East Mississippi Community College, as an example, is made for transferring to a four-year college.

Graduates of an associate speech language pathology degree online can enter jobs that include assistants for speech-language pathologists. They can also enter into a bachelor’s program.

Bachelor

If you want to become a credentialed and licensed speech-language pathologist, you first need to complete a bachelor’s program. While this speech language pathology degree online can help with job placement, its primary purpose is to build your knowledge of speech-language pathology. It creates the foundation for a master’s degree, which is the base-level education for licensed SLPs.

A bachelor’s degree requires four years of study, assuming a full-time course load. Classes can be completed online and will require roughly 120 credit hours of study. Upon graduation, students will be qualified to work in support roles at a speech-language pathologist’s office.

Bachelor Completion

If you have an associate’s degree or started a bachelor’s but never graduated, these programs can help you. A bachelor completion speech language pathology degree online takes previous college credits into account so that you finish your studies in less time.

The Post-Baccalaureate Bridge in Communications & Disorders from UW-Eau Claire prepares students with non-SLP degrees to enter a master’s program in this field. Some online programs, such as this one, have limited in-person requirements. Meanwhile, others, like the Speech Language Pathology Assistant degree from Elms College, are fully online.

These programs are for people who want to become a speech-language pathologist and have an associate’s degree. To be a licensed SLP, you need a master’s. To get a master’s, you first need a bachelor’s in a related field. These programs can help expedite your bachelor’s education, allowing you to complete this requirement in less time.

Graduate Certificate

These graduate certificates fill a unique need in education. Students with degrees outside SLP can use this type of speech language pathology degree online to build toward a master’s degree without starting from scratch. In other words, if you have a bachelor’s degree in another discipline, you can complete a certificate instead of a full bachelor’s degree in SLP.

An online speech-language pathology program can help build on your expertise in the industry. These degrees study language disorders, audiology, and the assessment of communication issues. Programs typically consist of 18 to 24 credit hours.

Master’s

If you want to be a speech-language pathologist, you’ll need to complete a master’s degree. This is the minimum required education for the career. Many master’s programs can be completed entirely online. Some programs, however, have in-person requirements. The master’s degrees from New York University, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, and the University of Northern Colorado, as examples, all have some in-person requirements.

Students can consider pursuing bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the same institution. Undergrads are more likely to gain admission to a graduate program from the same school. For example, if you complete a BS in Communicative Sciences & Disorders from the University of Montana, the easiest path is to apply to the school’s master's speech language pathology degree online.

Once complete, you will be eligible for testing as a licensed speech-language pathologist in your state. You can also complete a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP), which is administered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Post-Graduate Certificate

A post-graduate certificate is for students who have graduated with a master’s. The programs help students who want to explore advanced aspects of speech-language pathology.

These certificates can help in professions where knowledge of speech-language pathology is useful. For example, a certificate from the University of Arkansas is designed for K-12 teachers who want to better understand students with communication issues. This certificate requires 15 credit hours and takes roughly 1.5 years to complete.

Speech Language Pathology Degree Online Accreditation

Accreditation is essential for verifying the quality of your education. It is also vital for licensing and credentialing tests, such as the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP).

Regional accrediting bodies accredit entire institutions. Programmatic accreditation, on the other hand, focuses on a specific topic, such as speech-language pathology.

The main accrediting body for in-person and online speech-language pathology degrees is the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA). This group accredits master’s programs in speech-language pathology and doctorate programs in audiology. This is a part of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, referred to as “ASHA.” CAA is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, as well as the Council for Higher Learning Accreditation, or CHEA.

The CAA does not accredit bachelor’s programs. For an undergrad speech language pathology degree online, look for regional institutional accreditation. It also helps to enroll in bachelor programs at an institution with master’s degrees accredited by CAA.

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Can a Speech Language Pathology Degree Online Meet Licensing Requirements?

Yes, a speech language pathology degree online can meet the requirements for licensing. A master’s from an accredited institution, whether online or in-person, qualifies you for testing for state-mandated licensing. It also qualifies you for voluntary credentialing through groups like the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

For example, the MS in Communications Disorders / Speech-Language Pathology from Western Kentucky University is 100% online. This speech language pathology degree online is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. Upon graduation, students are able to take the test for state licensing.

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Licensing for Speech-Language Pathologists

If you graduate from an accredited SLP master’s program, you have one more step before working as a speech-language pathologist. While graduation from a speech language pathology degree online shows a high level of knowledge, you need to obtain state licensing. Every state in the country requires licensure for speech-language pathologists. Requirements vary, so you’ll need to contact your state’s health licensing board for specific information.

To highlight the typical process, let’s look at the licensing procedures in Texas:

  1. Graduate with a master’s degree.
  2. Complete 25 hours of supervised observation and then 400 hours of clinical experience.
  3. Complete internship experience that includes assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of people with communication disabilities.
  4. Apply for a Texas speech-language pathologist license. Fill out an online application, pay the application fee of $150, and submit the required documents. The application fee covers licensing for two years.
  5. Complete a written test and the Texas Speech-Language Pathologist and Audiologist Jurisprudence Exam, which covers state and federal laws regulating the industry.

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Careers with a Speech Language Pathology Degree Online

The SLP profession, which encompasses almost 160,000 jobs, is growing rapidly. While the expected job growth between 2021 and 2031 for all professions is 5%, jobs for graduates with a speech language pathology degree online is expected to grow by 21%. By 2031, there will be an estimated 34,000 new jobs, bringing the total to 193,900 speech-language pathologists.

This increase will be driven by an aging population that will need help with communication problems caused by health issues. It will also increase because of an increasing awareness of speech issues and a push to treat these issues.

Certain areas have more job options for speech-language pathologists. New York has the highest concentration, with 1.45 SLPs per 1,000 jobs. Colorado (1.36), New Jersey (1.35), Illinois (1.31), and Vermont (1.29) round out the top five. Greenville, North Carolina is also the metro area with the highest concentration; there are 2.62 SLPs for every 1,000 jobs.

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Expected Salary with a Speech Language Pathology Degree Online

Although you need to complete a master’s speech language pathology degree online before starting your career, your education will pay off with strong earnings. The median salary for SLPs in May 2021 was $79,060. The top 10% brought in more than $125,000.

While cost of living needs to be considered, California has the highest salaries for speech-language pathologists. In this state, the annual mean salary for the profession is $102,650. Second is Hawaii with a mean of $100,120. New York is third with $98,850, while New Jersey is fourth at $98,270. The BLS also lists the District of Columbia, with a mean annual wage of $98,240, as fifth highest.

You can find high-paying jobs in areas all across the country, but eight of the top ten highest-paying metro areas are in California. The New York City metro area comes in at #6, while Honolulu is #9; these are the only two outside of California.

Audiologists, which is a similar career but requires a doctorate of audiology (Au.D.), have median salaries of $78,950.

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Find a Speech Language Pathology Degree Online with GetEducated.com

If you are ready to become a licensed speech-language pathologist, start your path with an online education. Whether you want SLP licensure or plan to start with an assistant job, a speech language pathology degree online will make it possible. Submit your information, and let’s find the right speech language pathology degree online for your future.

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