Certificate: Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
Fort Hays State University offers a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) program! You will have the option to choose learning on campus or online!
Speech Language Pathology Assistants (SLPA) work under a licensed Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) and are actively involved in providing treatment for patients with various communication disorders. SLPAs play a support role and can be used to increase the availability, frequency, and efficiency of services. To learn more about SLPAs and their scope of practice, feel free to follow this link to ASHA’s website for more information.
The SLPA certificate at FHSU is designed to prepare a student to obtain ASHA certification. Students interested in obtaining certification without a CSD degree may do so. For information on the coursework with various degree options see the program webpage. You must have at least an associate's degree from an accredited institution, and likely will need to complete additional pre-requisite courses.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| SLP 465 | Developmental Speech and Language Disorders | 3 |
| SLP 428 | Clinical Observations and Applications | 3 |
| SLP 429 | Seminar/Special Topics for the SLPA | 3 |
| SLP 490 | Clinical Experience Practicum | 3 |
| Additional Clinical course registrations needed to reach 100 Clinical Hours | ||
Pre-requisite courses to meet ASHA requirements for SLPA certifications include: SLP 160 Introduction to Communication Disorders, SLP 305 Anatomy and Physiology: Speech-Hearing Mechanism, SLP 370 Early Speech and Language Development, and SLP 402 Clinical Phonetics.
This is an FHSU advisory certificate. Advisory certificates are typically 9-15 hours of coursework. The certificates are designed by FHSU faculty to provide students a guide to choosing courses that introduce and develop a subject knowledge and/or skills. These certificates may be used to select a focus within a major, to develop additional knowledge and skills to complement a major, or to pursuing a topic of interest with open elective hours.
Courses taken as part of an advisory certificate are listed on the student's transcript, however the advisory certificate is not listed on the transcript. Many FHSU departments provide a completion certificate that students may use to show they completed the advised coursework, and talk about what it added to their degree. Non-degree students may complete the classes outlined in an advisory certificate and receive a completion certificate if offered by the department, however they are not enrolled in a degree plan or eligible for student aid.