Speech-Language Pathology Assistant - UC

About This Certificate

Speech-language pathology assistants (SLPA) are in strong demand across the U.S.

USU’s program lets you study online and work with experts in the field to earn your certification in just 8 courses (24 credits).

The SLPA certificate offers students a pathway to a rewarding career supporting the communicative and educational success of preK-12 children with speech-language impairments and other learning difficulties. With the USU SLPA certificate, students are eligible to apply for national SLPA certification. The USU certificate also satisfies the SLPA licensure requirements of many State Boards of Education.

What You Will Learn

SLPAs are typically employed in schools or early intervention programs under the supervision of a master's degree speech-language pathologist. SLPAs will gain knowledge and skills for working with children who have diverse difficulties with speech sounds, spoken language, reading and writing, stuttering, and other communication conditions.

Students complete 7 academic courses (21 credits) that build foundational knowledge of communication sciences, disorders and intervention. The certificate culminates in a 3-credit course involving a supervised clinical experience. The experience is obtained as part of an SLPA employment position, working under the supervision of an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist. Students learn to carry out supervised clinical services consistent with SLPA-level service delivery practices and work-place practices.

Students can complete the USU SLPA certificate as part of their 1st or 2nd Bachelor's degree in communicative disorders online or on campus. They can also be admitted directly to the certificate program after completing at least an associate’s degree. Students can apply the SLPA coursework toward completing the USU bachelor's degree in communicative disorders which provides the education required for admission to SLP graduate programs across the U.S.