How Long Does It Take To Become A Speech Pathologist In California

Last Updated on July 28, 2023

If you want to work as a Speech pathologist in California, you will need to fulfill some requirements. The basic requirement is a master’s degree from an accredited college, institution or professional school. This may sound easy enough to determine, but what does accredited mean, and how do you know if a school is accredited?

You may find it hard to access the right information on the internet, so we are here to help you in the following article, providing the best and updated information on how much does a speech pathologist make in california, how to become a speech therapist in california. Read on to learn more.We at infolearners .com have all the information that you need about speech language pathologist salary. Read on to learn more.

How to Become a Speech Therapist: Step By Step Instructions - University of  St. Augustine for Health Sciences

How Long Does It Take To Become A Speech Pathologist In California

The Clear Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential is issued initially for five years.

Option 1 – Verification of Examination Scores and Clinical Experience/Supervised Practicum

  • Passing score on the Praxis II Speech-Language Pathology Test; and
  • Completion of a 36-week, full-time mentored clinical experience or equivalent supervised practicum (Clinical Fellowship Year). Verification of completion may be provided on one of the following forms:
    • Required Professional Experience Form from the California Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board
    • Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Fellowship and Rating Report Form from ASHA
  • Application and processing fee
How Long Does It Take to Become a Speech Therapist?

how much does a speech pathologist make in california

Annual SalaryMonthly PayWeekly PayHourly Wage
Top Earners$155,330$12,944$2,987$75
75th Percentile$122,396$10,199$2,353$59
Average$93,931$7,827$1,806$45
25th Percentile$67,342$5,611$1,295$32

How much does a Speech Pathologist make in California?

As of Jan 13, 2022, the average annual pay for a Speech Pathologist in California is $93,931 an year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $45.16 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,806/week or $7,828/month.

While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $163,688 and as low as $33,917, the majority of Speech Pathologist salaries currently range between $67,342 (25th percentile) to $122,396 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $155,330 annually in California.

The average pay range for a Speech Pathologist varies greatly (as much as $55,054), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.

Based on recent job posting activity on ZipRecruiter, the Speech Pathologist job market in California is not very active as few companies are currently hiring.

how to become a speech therapist in california

Earn a Master’s Degree in Speech Therapy (Speech-Language Pathology)
Gain 36 Weeks of Post-Graduate Experience Through a Clinical Fellowship Program
Pass the Praxis Speech-Language Pathology Examination
Apply for Licensing and Begin Your Career as a Speech-Language Pathologist in California
Keep your License Current and Complete Continuing Education Requirements

Step 1. Earn a Master’s Degree in Speech Therapy (Speech-Language Pathology)

To meet California Board requirements, your master’s program in Speech-Language Pathology must be through a Board-approved school and consist of no less than 60 semester units and a practicum involving 300 hours of supervised clinical practice.

ASHA-accredited online programs offer a convenient and flexible alternative to campus-based study for working students. These programs are highly respected by employers and licensing authorities nationwide, offering the same level of rigor as campus-based programs, while including the ability to complete practicum hours in approved clinics and hospitals located near you.

As of 2016, there are sixteen accredited SLP graduate programs available at campus locations in California.

Prerequisites and Admissions Requirements

If the bachelor’s degree you hold is in communicative sciences and disorders, you’ll be able to start your graduate coursework directly. However, if you have an unrelated bachelor’s degree, you’ll need to complete prerequisite courses that are fundamental to SLP graduate coursework.

Standard prerequisite courses include:

  • Neuroanatomy and Physiology of Communication
  • Phonetics and Phonemics of American English
  • Introduction to Audiology
  • Speech and Language Development in Children
  • Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing Mechanism
  • Audiology: Intervention Strategies across the Lifespan
  • Science of Language

Admissions departments may ask you to submit a resume, GRE scores, and two letters of academic reference when applying. SLP graduate programs can be competitive, and admissions departments look for undergraduate GPAs of 3.5 or higher. If you don’t have a background in speech-language pathology, admissions departments also like to see experience in an SLP clinic or volunteer hours with SLP patients.

The 5 Best States to Work in as a Speech-Language Pathologist

Coursework and Practicum

A master’s degree in communicative sciences and disorders will involve studying linguistics, psychology, physiology, and physical science.

Core Courses typically include:

  • Speech-Language Screening of Children
  • Clinical Processes
  • Clinical Issues in Aural Rehabilitation
  • Dysphagia
  • Research Methods in Communication Sciences and Disorders
  • Voice, Resonance, and Fluency Disorders
  • Phonology and Phonological Disorders
  • Acquired Neuromotor Speech Disorders
  • Language Disorders: Infancy through Preschool
  • Diagnostic Methods in SLP
  • Augmentative Communication
  • Phonological Acquisition
  • Language, Cognition and the Brain

Electives can include:

  • Augmentative and Alternative Communication
  • Therapeutic Procedures in Speech Pathology: Voice Disorders
  • Craniofacial Anomalies
  • Neurogenic Speech Disorders in Children
  • Language and Communication in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
  • Voices and Listeners
  • Interdisciplinary Case-Based Dysphagia Management
  • Approaches to Natural Language
  • Communicative Science and Disorders Research Colloquium

To be eligible for ASHA’s CCC-SLP certification, you’ll need to complete 12 units of coursework in social/behavioral science, biological science, physical science and statistics, which is covered in the core curriculum listed above.

Your master’s program would also involve supervised clinical experiences through a practicum. The practicum must be completed during your graduate studies and will allow you to gain experience in assessing and treating patients. In California, you’ll need to complete a 300-hours supervised clinical practicum in three different clinical settings to qualify for licensure.

Step 2. Gain 36 Weeks of Post-Graduate Experience Through a Clinical Fellowship Program

In California, you’ll need to complete 36 weeks of full-time (or 72 weeks of part-time) supervised professional experience under a temporary license issued by the Board.

To apply for a temporary license, you’ll have to fill out the Temporary License Application. With the license application, you’ll need to include:

  • A $60 fee
  • Fingerprints from Livescan
  • Transcripts from your graduate program
  • Proof of completion of clinical practicum hours during your graduate program
  • National exam score
  • Professional experience verification detailing who you will work for

To find an employer through which you can complete the required professional experience, browse opportunities here.

Step 3. Pass the Praxis Speech-Language Pathology Examination

Next, you’ll register online through Praxis for the Speech-Language Pathology Exam, a requirement for licensure in California

You’ll need to score a 162 to pass the national exam.

For preparation, you may review practice questions in the Speech-Language Pathology Study Companion.

The computer-based test consists of 132 questions that are to be completed over 150 minutes. The questions fall into the following categories:

  • Foundation and professional practice—44 questions
  • Screening, assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis—44 questions
  • Planning, implementation, and evaluation of treatment—44 questions

The questions test knowledge in the areas of:

  • Speech and production
  • Fluency
  • Voice
  • Resonance
  • Motor speech
  • Receptive and expressive language
  • Social aspects of communication, including pragmatics
  • Cognitive aspects of communication
  • Augmentative and alternative communication
  • Hearing
  • Feeding and swallowing

In California, there are several Praxis test centers to choose from, located in these cities:

  • Alameda
  • Anaheim
  • Arcata
  • Bakersfield
  • Camarillo
  • Chico
  • Culver City
  • Diamond Bar
  • Fair Oaks
  • Fresno
  • Gardena
  • Glendale
  • Lake Forest
  • Ranchero Cucamonga
  • Redlands
  • San Bruno
  • San Diego
  • San Francisco
  • San Jose
  • San Luis Obispo
  • Santa Maria
  • Santa Rosa

Voluntary CCC-SLP Credentialing Through ASHA

Once you’ve passed the national exam, you are eligible to apply for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) credential through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The credential is NOT a requirement for state licensure, but the state of California does recognize those that hold the credential as meeting all state licensing requirements.

It usually takes about six weeks for the application to be processed and to receive your credential. Upon receiving the credential, you can move forward in the licensing process.

Step 4. Apply for Licensing and Begin Your Career as a Speech-Language Pathologist in California

Once you’ve received your results from the national exam, you’ll be eligible to apply for licensure through the California Board.

You’ll need to fill out the application and include:

  • A $60 fee
  • Fingerprint cards from Livescan

You’ll mail the application to the board at:

Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology & Hearing Aid Dispensers
2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 2100
Sacramento, CA 95815

As a licensed SLP in California, you would begin your career in one of three ways:

Join the Clinic that Provided Your Supervised Professional Experience

As a newly-licensed SLP, you may choose to continue working for the clinic that provided your required professional experience.

You’ll need to contact the supervisor of your clinical fellowship to inquire about job openings. Clinics may choose to hire SLPs who have worked under them through a clinical fellowship because they’ve likely already established relationships with patients, families of patients, and staff members.

Start an Independent Practice or Partnership

In California, you may begin an independent practice once you’re licensed as an SLP. Independent practitioners enjoy a high degree of flexibility and the ability to work with specific patient population groups like children or the elderly.

Pursue Job Openings

Joining the clinic that facilitated your supervised professional experience or starting your own practice aren’t your only options—you may also pursue jobs through hundreds of other employers throughout the state. A few examples include:

  • Thrive and Shine Speech Therapy
  • Innovative Therapy Services
  • Silicon Valley Speech
  • Learning Tree Therapy
  • Connected Speech Therapy
  • Sutter Health
  • Rehab Visions
  • Child Success Center
  • Accredited Home Health Services
  • Redlands Community Hospital
  • Comprehensive Therapy Associates
  • UC Irvine Health
  • Share Speech and Language
  • Oceanside Therapy Group

If you plan on working in the educational system as an SLP in California, you’ll need to earn your Speech Language Pathology Services Credential.

Step 5. Keep Your License Current and Complete Continuing Education Requirements

You must renew your California SLP license every two years by completing a renewal form and submitting it to the Board.

To renew, you must submit proof of 24 hours of continuing education completed through approved providers, with the exception of your first renewal, during which you will only have to complete 12 hours of CE.

The following restrictions apply to CE hours:

  • Minimum of 20 hours must be directly relevant to the scope of practice of speech-language pathology or audiology.
  • Maximum of 6 hours may be in self-study courses.
  • Maximum of 4 hours may be taken from related courses and/or indirect client care courses.
  • No more than 8 hours may be combined between self-study and related/client care courses

The California Board has approved the following CE providers:

  • American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
  • American Academy of Audiology (AAA)
  • California Medical Association – Institute for Medical Quality (CMA)
  • Accredited Universities
  • Board approved Professional Development Providers

California is home to some of the nation’s most innovative clinics and practitioners, many of which are members of the California Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Through the Association, SLPs enjoy networking opportunities and the ability to share research and strategies for the assessment and treatment of patients with communicative disorders.

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