SLPA Information
SLPA Programs in California
Here is some information regarding what a SLPA does. The following is from ASHA’s website and can be found at:
Additional Resource:
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
A speech-language pathology assistant is defined as a person who:
Assists or facilitates while the speech-language pathologist is evaluating the speech and/or language of individuals or is treating individuals with a speech-language and/or language disorder, and
Is registered by the supervisor with the Board and the registration is approved by the Board.
A speech-language pathology or audiology assistants must complete a training program established by the supervisor.
The number of assistants supervised shall not exceed three. However, the Board may authorize more than 3 supervisees if, in its discretion, the supervisor demonstrates that the public health and safety would not be jeopardized and that he or she can adequately supervise more than 3 assistants.
There are some very helpful answers to your questions that can also be found at http://www.asha.org/associates/, but here are some of the key points for your convenience
What may speech-language pathology assistants do?
According to ASHA's Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Scope of Practice, which applies across all practice settings, a speech-language pathology assistant may conduct the following tasks under the supervision of a speech-language pathologist. The supervising SLP retains full legal and ethical responsibility for the students, patients, and clients he or she serves, but may delegate specific tasks to the SLPA. The SLPA may execute specific components of a speech and language program as specified in treatment plans developed by the SLP. Goals and objectives listed on the treatment plan and implemented by the SLPA are only those within their scope of responsibilities and are tasks the SLP has determined the SLPA has the training and skill to perform. The SLP must provide at least the minimum specified level of supervision to ensure quality of care to all persons served. The amount of supervision may vary and must depend on the complexity of the case and the experience of the assistant. Under no circumstances should use of the ASHA Code of Ethics or the quality of services provided be diluted or circumvented by the use of an SLPA. Again, the use of an SLPA is optional, and an SLPA should be used only when appropriate.
Provided that the training, supervision, and planning are appropriate, the SLPA may perform certain tasks under the circumstances described below:
Service Delivery
Self-identify as SLPAs to families, students, patients, clients, staff, and others. This may be done verbally, in writing, and/or with titles on name badges.
Exhibit compliance with The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations, reimbursement requirements, and SLPAs' responsibilities.
Assist the SLP with speech, language, and hearing screenings without clinical interpretation.
Assist the SLP during assessment of students, patients, and clients exclusive of administration and/or interpretation.
Assist the SLP with bilingual translation during screening and assessment activities exclusive of interpretation; refer to Knowledge and Skills Needed by Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists to Provide Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (ASHA 2004).
Follow documented treatment plans or protocols developed by the supervising SLP.
Provide guidance and treatment via telepractice to students, patients, and clients who are selected by the supervising SLP as appropriate for this service delivery model.
Document student, patient, and client performance (e.g., tallying data for the SLP to use; preparing charts, records, and graphs) and report this information to the supervising SLP.
Program and provide instruction in the use of augmentative and alternative communication devices.
Demonstrate or share information with patients, families, and staff regarding feeding strategies developed and directed by the SLP.
Serve as interpreter for patients/clients/students and families who do not speak English.
Provide services under SLP supervision in another language for individuals who do not speak English and English-language learners.
Administrative Support
Assist with clerical duties, such as preparing materials and scheduling activities, as directed by the SLP.
Perform checks and maintenance of equipment.
Assist with departmental operations (scheduling, recordkeeping, safety/maintenance of supplies and equipment).
Prevention and Advocacy
Present primary prevention information to individuals and groups known to be at risk for communication disorders and other appropriate groups; promote early identification and early intervention activities.
Advocate for individuals and families through community awareness, health literacy, education, and training programs to promote and facilitate access to full participation in communication, including the elimination of societal, cultural, and linguistic barriers.
Provide information to emergency response agencies for individuals who have communication and/or swallowing disorders.
Advocate at the local, state, and national levels for improved public policies affecting access to services and research funding.
Support the supervising SLP in research projects, in-service training, public relations programs, and marketing programs.
Participate actively in professional organizations.
State laws vary and may differ from ASHA’s guidelines and requirements. Check specific state regulations to determine which tasks are outside the scope of responsibilities for assistants in a particular state.
What is outside of speech-language pathology assistants' scope of responsibilities?
According to ASHA's Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Scope of Practice, which applies across all practice settings, a speech-language pathology assistant should NOT engage in the following:
represent himself or herself as an SLP;
perform standardized or non-standardized diagnostic tests, formal or informal evaluations, or swallowing screenings/checklists;
perform procedures that require a high level of clinical acumen and technical skill (e.g., vocal tract prosthesis shaping or fitting, vocal tract imaging, and oral pharyngeal swallow therapy with bolus material);
tabulate or interpret results and observations of feeding and swallowing evaluations performed by SLPs;
participate in formal parent conferences, case conferences, or any interdisciplinary team without the presence of the supervising SLP or other designated SLP;
provide interpretative information to the student/patient/client, family, or others regarding the patient/client status or service;
write, develop, or modify a student's, patient's, or client's treatment plan in any way;
assist with students, patients, or clients without following the individualized treatment plan prepared by the certified SLP and/or without access to supervision;
sign any formal documents (e.g., treatment plans, reimbursement forms, or reports; the SLPA should sign or initial informal treatment notes for review and co-sign with the supervising SLP as requested);
select students, patients, or clients for service;
discharge a student, patient, or client from services;
make referrals for additional service;
disclose clinical or confidential information either orally or in writing to anyone other than the supervising SLP (the SLPA must comply with current HIPPA and FERPA guidelines) unless mandated by law;
develop or determine the swallowing strategies or precautions for patients, family, or staff;
treat medically fragile students/patients/clients independently;
design or select augmentative and alternative communication systems or devices.
What is the average salary for speech-language pathology assistants?
At this time, ASHA collects salary data only on ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Occupational and physical therapy data show that assistants in those fields make about 60% to 75% of professional-level salaries.
Recently, Buzzle.com published salary data for audiology assistants and SLPAs. Although the data are not exhaustive (data consisted of a small sampling of salaries from a few select states), the information can still provide a sense of the overall trends of salaries in the states that utilize support personnel.
Who is responsible for services provided by a speech-language pathology assistant?
The fully qualified, ASHA-certified supervising speech-language pathologist is responsible for the services provided by assistants. In states that regulate speech-language pathology assistants, speech-language pathologists who hold full, unrestricted licenses assume these responsibilities for persons working under their direction.
Will caseloads expand when assistants are used?
As has always been the case, caseload size of ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists may or may not increase depending on client needs and the nature of the services provided. If speech-language pathology assistants are used appropriately, and if they are adequately supervised, ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists' caseloads may decrease to permit sufficient time to supervise staff working under their direction; however, workload may increase as the speech-language pathologist assumes responsibilities for training and supervising assistants. Speech-language pathology assistants do not carry their own caseloads. Assistants help to provide services as directed for the caseloads of speech-language pathologists.
Universities with SLPA Programs
Below is a list of schools that provide SLPA programs. We have a current list of contact information available on the NSSLHA page for you to find out the most recent information regarding the program from, so this is just some basic information for you to utilize in your journey:
Website: https://communications.fullerton.edu/comd/faculty/comd_495.php
COMD 495 INTERNSHIP IN COMMUNICATION SCIENCES AND DISORDERS
We are offering the COMD 495 Internship Course to current CSUF students who plan to apply for an SLPA license when they complete their B.A. in Communication Sciences and Disorders at CSUF. This course is offered in Spring and Summer only. Students must complete COMD 495 Internship course and the required fieldwork experience through COMD 495 to apply for an SLPA license. If you are interested in applying to take the course in Spring 2023, please submit all relevant documents via email comdassistant@fullerton.edu by October 14, 2022 by 5pm. Please note that this course is available to both former and current CSUF undergraduate students in Communication Sciences and Disorders, and former students can enroll via Open University as a non-CSUF student.
If you have any questions, contact Dr. Minjung Kim at minjungk@fullerton.edu
Website: http://cms.cerritos.edu/slpa/
The Cerritos SLPA program is an open enrollment program, meaning that there is no application process. Students should do the following if they are interested in beginning the program:
Attend an information session the semester prior to beginning (held in Fall and Spring semesters)
Review the SLPA Curriculum and Sequence
Enroll in Cerritos as a current student (this is free and online)
Transfer any academic records to Admissions and Records
Make an appointment to meet with a Health Occupations Counselor to plan out your degree completion
Begin taking classes in accordance with the Course Sequence and recommendations of the Health Occupations Counselor and/or Department Chair.
As Undergraduate and Post-Bac students in the field of Communication Disorders, we need to consider the following with our classes:
students with a recent BA degree in Communication Disorders (less than 5 years) must undergo a transcript review by the Department Chair. Eligible students must successfully complete SLP 125 (Child Disorders and Treatment) and SLP 235 (Adult Disorders and Treatment) prior to participating in SLP 240 (Field Placement I) and SLP 245 (Field Placement II). Completion of these courses can take 1.5-2 ½ years depending on course availability and openings.
Due to continual developments in research and evidence-based practice, students who obtained their BA degree in Communication Disorders 5 or more years from the time of inquiry will need to complete the entire SLPA program and obtain an AA degree in SLPA.
SLPA classes can fill up early; enrollment in courses is not guaranteed at any stage of the program.
BA students should consult the SLPAB licensing office for more information at www.speechandhearing.ca.gov for application and accreditation information.
Fees effective Fall 2013
1. *Enrollment Fee: $46 per unit.
2. Students who are non-residents of California or International Students, with or without F-1 visas, will be assessed $206 per unit ($184 per unit non-resident tuition and a $22 per unit capital outlay fee) in addition to the $46 per unit enrollment fee above. Active military personnel and their dependents are exempt for one year from this out-of-state tuition charge. Non-resident students who have been admitted to a class or classes without payment of the fee because of falsification of information submitted by or for them, shall be subject to dismissal from college.
3. Student Activity Fee: $10 per semester. ($4 Summer Term)
4. Student Health Fee: $19 per semester. Students who rely on prayer for healing and can supply the college with documentation from their spiritual leader are exempt.
5. Parking: $40 per semester for automobiles. ($25 Summer Term) Students must present their original receipt when picking up the parking permit. Mopeds and motorcycles may use designated areas at no charge.
6. Materials Fees: as listed with courses in this class schedule.
*Subject to Legislative Change
Mary Ellen Hood, MS, CCC-SLP, Adjunct Faculty and Program Manager Office of Extended Education
One University Drive Orange, CA 92866
Phone: 714-997-6610
Fax: 714-997-9567
E-mail: hood@chapman.edumailto:hood@chapman.edu
Did not have a page about this program, but they have a very detailed one about their master’s program that we already have listed on our site.
Anne McClanahan, SLPA Program Coordinator
2701 Fairview Road, P.O. Box 5005 Costa Mesa, CA 92628-5005
Phone: 714-432-5883
E-mail: amcclanahan@occ.cccd.edumailto:amcclanahan@occ.cccd.edu
This page explains all of the courses for their SLPA program and provides some information on employment as well:
Also, OCC has provided a helpful net cost calculator for you to figure out not only an estimation of tuition, but the expected cost of living as well:
The expected cost of tuition and other school related materials breaks down to these figures:
Rosemary Scott, MA, CCC, SLPA Coordinator, Performing and Communication Arts Division
1570 East Colorado Boulevard, C-121 Pasadena, CA 91106-2003
Phone: 626-585-7021
Fax : 626-585-7399
E-mail: rxscott@pasadena.edumailto:rxscott@pasadena.edu
Some helpful information about cost and duration:
Susan M. Kidwell, Director, SLPA Program
5151 Pacific Avenue Stockton, CA 95207
Phone: 209-954-5572
Fax: 209-464-9798
E-mail: skidwell@deltacollege.edumailto:skidwell@deltacollege.edu
Their website has a department page on their SLPA program, and several of their courses are offered online as well:
Some questions answered:
I have a Bachelor's degree in Speech- Language Pathology or Communication Disorders. What do I need to do if I want to get a SLPA license?
Bachelor's degree students may complete the clinical practicum requirement for licensure space permitting. Priority will be given to Delta College SLPA Associate Degree students. The courses needed are: Comm Dis 005, Therapy Materials and Procedures, Comm Dis 007, Service Delivery Issues and Comm Dis 009, Assessment and Remediation. Students must pass all three courses with a “C” or better and also must meet the minimum levels of clinical competence during clinical practicum in order for the director to sign off on the Fieldwork Experience Verification Form which must be submitted to the State for Licensure. Both Comm Dis 005 and Comm Dis 007 are available fully online. Comm Dis 009 is currently offered online as a hybrid with some sessions meeting face to face and some course work completed online. . The fieldwork is set up for you through Comm Dis 009. We have contracts with agencies in the greater Delta College region, including west to the bay area, east to the foothills, north to Sacramento and south to Madera. We do not intend to expand supervision into other areas.
To sign up for the three required classes, you must first apply for admission as a Delta College student. See Admissions and Records for Information. Then you must complete the supplemental Delta College SLPA program application available once each semester. Next, submit copies of your official transcripts showing your Bachelor’s degree or else you will be denied access when registering for classes for not having completed the prerequisite courses. These transcripts may be sent to Delta College, 5151 Pacific Ave, Stockton, CA, 95207 Attn: SLPA Program Director. Obtain a registration time for the upcoming semester. Go online and sign up for the classes. We will not be adding beyond the class limit.
What is the overall cost of the program? Is financial aid available?
Regular college fees apply to this program. Additional costs might include fees for background clearance, drug test, student malpractice insurance, and updated immunizations. TB skin tests are needed and can be obtained for low cost through the Public Health department or your regular health care provider. Financial aid is available to qualified candidates. Candidates should contact the financial aid department at the college for more information.
Monica Porter, SLPA Coordinator
1530 West 17th Street Santa Ana, CA 92706
Phone: 714-564-6668
Fax: 714-667-3914
E-mail: Porter.monica@sac.edumailto:Porter.monica@sac.edu
Their website is very well organized and should answer all of your questions, but you can attend any orientation meetings to get more information:
Websites for other programs we have listed:
Cal State Sacramento:
http://www.csus.edu/HHS/SPA/Current Students/SLPA Summer 2014.html