Speech Language Pathology Assistant Program
What will I learn?
The Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Program prepares you to work under the direction of a certified speech-language pathologist with children or adults who are experiencing communication delays and disorders. This may mean that a person has difficulty with speech, communication, language or some combination of these.
The SLPA program is designed to be completed online with a clinical internship near the student’s residence during the last semester of the program. After graduation, students are ready to immediately enter the workforce wherever they live.
Associate of Applied Science
The Associated of Applied Sciences (AAS) in Speech-Language Pathology Assistant program prepares students to work with individuals with communication disorders, under the direction of a licensed speech-language pathologist.
Our program offers coursework in a combination of online only and synchronous online course delivery. Synchronous teaching means instruction occurs in real-time but not in the same place. This program delivery allows students to prepare for the job market from wherever they live.
Available online.
Transfer Agreement
What can I do with this degree?
Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPA) are skilled support personnel who perform speech and language therapy, and related clinical tasks, under the direction of a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). Certified SLPAs are employed in private or public school settings and healthcare.
Visit LCCC's Career Resources to find tools for selecting the right program for you and marketing yourself to future employers.
Post-Baccalaureate – Credit Diploma
This credit diploma program is designed for students who hold a bachelor's degree in communication disorders from a regionally accredited institution and are seeking to become a certified Speech-language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) through the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) or the Wyoming State Board of Examiners of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.
This credit diploma can be completed in two semesters and is based upon the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) and Wyoming State Board educational and fieldwork experience requirements by providing 270 hours of clinical field work. The program will assist students in providing placement to ensure that each student receives the required direct/indirect treatment experience under the supervision of an ASHA-certified Speech Language Pathologist. Prospective students interested in the program may contact the program director for details about the program admission process and timeline.
Available online.
What can I do with this degree?
Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPA) are skilled support personnel who perform speech and language therapy, and related clinical tasks, under the direction of a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). Certified SLPAs are employed in private or public school settings and healthcare.
Visit LCCC's Career Resources to find tools for selecting the right program for you and marketing yourself to future employers.
The primary mission of the Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA Program) at Laramie County Community College is to produce professional, ethical, competent and certified SLPAs by providing a program of instruction that is based on student learning competencies that support the demonstration of the skills, knowledge, and training necessary to work under the direction of a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) in a variety of settings.
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Apply principles and methods required for effective practice as an entry-level speech-language pathology assistant.
- Implement therapeutic and evidence-based practices under the direction of a licensed speech-language pathologist.
- Evaluate professional standards and engage in ethical practices.
- Demonstrate professional discourse (oral and written) to effectively communicate and collaborate
Graduates of this program, as entry-level SLP Assistants, will be able to work under the direct supervision of licensed or certified speech language pathologists to provide clerical support, administer speech, language and hearing screenings, assist in communication assessments, provide articulation and language therapy services, and assist with documentation of speech language pathology services in educational or medical settings. On occasion, the job may also require the ability to tolerate physically and mentally taxing workloads. The ability to adapt to changing environments, display flexibility and function effectively under stress and in uncertain conditions are also important job requirements.
To satisfy the requirements of the position and those of the program, certain essential functions must be performed in a satisfactory manner. These are outlined below.
The student must have the ability to:
- Accurately administers screening instruments, calculates and reports the results of screening procedures to supervising SLP
- Provides instructions that are clear, concise, and appropriate to the client's developmental age, level of understanding, language use, and communication style
- Accurately model articulation and treatment targets to industry standards
- Follows treatment protocol as developed and prescribed by supervising SLP
- Provides appropriate feedback to patients/clients as to the accuracy of their responses
- Accurately model articulation and treatment targets to industry standards
- Identifies and describes relevant patient/client responses to supervising SLP
- Identifies and describes relevant patient/client, family, and caregiver behaviors to supervising SLP
- Uses appropriate stimuli, cues/prompts with the patient/client to elicit target behaviors as defined in the treatment protocol
- Maintains on-task or redirects off-task behavior of patients/clients in individual or group treatment, consistent with the patient/client's developmental age, communication style and disorder
- Provides culturally appropriate behavioral reinforcement consistent with the patient/client's developmental age and communication disorder
- Accurately reviews and summarizes patient/client performance
- Uses treatment materials that are appropriate to the developmental age and communication disorder of the patient/client and the culture of the patient/client/family.
- Starts and ends the treatment session on time
- Obtains co-signature of supervising SLP on documentation
- Accurately records target behaviors as prescribed by supervising SLP
- Accurately calculates chronological age of the patient/client
- Correctly calculates and determines percentages, frequencies, averages and standard scores
- Uses professional terminology correctly in communication with supervising SLP
Cost of Attendance
For general college expenses, students should view LCCC’s cost of attendance. There are additional fees for certain SLPA courses.