Between 6 million and 8 million people in the United States have some form of language impairment, according to the National Institute of Deafness and…
Speech-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 education from a quality school. Online speech pathology programs will prepare you for a career spent diagnosing and treating verbal and auditory issues.
Speech-language pathologists—also called speech therapists—evaluate, diagnose and treat patients with disorders related to speaking, swallowing and language fluency. Speech disorders occur for many different reasons. When a person has trouble communicating their thoughts through language, either because of a physical impediment of a mental issue, it’s the job of a speech-language pathologist to correct and mitigate the issue.
To work in this career field, you need a degree in speech-language pathology. This career is often associated with audiologists, who treat patients with hearing, balance and ear problems. As an expert in this field, you could work with people of all ages, ranging from toddlers to retirees. Some speech pathology programs may offer specializations, as well. Do note that this program is generally offered at the master’s level, as licensed speech-language pathologists must have this advanced degree for licensing.
DO ONLINE SLP DEGREES MEET LICENSING REQUIREMENTS?
Yes, online speech-language pathology degrees 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. It is accredited by CAA-ASHA. Upon graduation, students are able to take the test for state licensing.
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR?
Because of high demand, several accredited colleges offer online speech pathology programs. Be forewarned though: these programs are typically highly selective. You may also consider a hybrid degree, which is partly online and partly on-campus. Having a related bachelor’s degree and a high GPA will help you snag a spot in your school of choice.
You do not need an undergraduate degree in speech pathology to pursue this career. If you’re passionate about the field, consider studying communication, speech science or speech and hearing sciences. You could also consider a related online major, such as early childhood development, that offers coursework in developmental phonetics and linguistics.
To practice speech pathology as a professional, you will need to seek licensing. A master’s degree in speech pathology, as well as clinical experience, are requirements. Contact your state licensing board for specifics, but a program accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA), part of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association will serve you well. You may also need a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP), which is offered by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Think you have what it takes to be an excellent speech pathologist? Then you need to find the right degree for your field, and that starts with searching the programs for specific classes that help you achieve your goals. You should also verify whether or not the program is offered 100% online or if there are in-person requirements, as this will impact how you attend the program.
You also need to make sure the program is accredited. Accreditation will ensure that your education meets a standard of consistency and excellence, so avoid any programs that are not properly accredited through the right institutions. All programs in this database hold regional accreditation (the gold standard).
COST
Compare your online speech language pathology degree options carefully. Click on a program below to find more information on accreditation, admissions, and tuition.
Found 5 Accredited Online
Healthcare Bachelor Degree Programs
Earn a Bachelor of Arts in Communicative Sciences and Disorders online through the University of Montana. This program provides the opportunity to build your professional…
Take the first step in a communications career with this speech pathology degree online program. While it can be used to begin a career immediately…
The online Bachelor of Science in Communicative Disorders is designed for students interested in training to become speech-language pathologists. The curriculum prepares students to help…
With online speech language pathology programs students learn to treat patients of all ages with an acquired or developmental communication disorder. This is considered a…