Speech-Language Pathology Assistant

Before enrolling in Mitchell Tech’s online Speech-Language Pathology Assistant program, it is your responsibility to determine whether this program will meet your state’s requirements (if any) for SLPA certification or licensure. More information can be found below.

All students applying to the online Speech-Language Pathology Assistant program must submit to a criminal background check at the student’s expense. Mitchell Technical College has partnered with CastleBranch to complete your background check. Details are available from the Admissions office.

Students are required to have good reading, writing, hearing and communication (verbal, written and articulation) skills to competently perform the job of a speech-language pathology assistant and to gain successful employment.  Students must possess the motor skills necessary to manage clients and manipulate therapy materials in clinic, home, and education settings.  Applicants must have minimum scores on the English and Reading portions of the ACT or ACCUPLACER.

Additional requirements (e.g., immunizations) may be required for clinical observations and fieldwork.  Contact the instructor for details.

Requirements for Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs) vary across states. The MTC SLPA program meets the education and experience requirements for SLPA licensure from the South Dakota Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology.

Speech-language pathology assistants are not licensed or certified in the following states: Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin. We are currently accepting students from these states into the program.

Mitchell Technical College has determined that our program’s curriculum meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the following states: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio (SLP Aide), Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming. We are currently accepting students from these states into the program.

Mitchell Technical College has determined that our program’s curriculum in combination with additional coursework or degrees meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the following states: Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky. We are currently accepting students from these states when we have verified that MTC’s program, together with the student’s previously earned academic coursework, meets the requirements for licensure/certification in the student’s state. We are not accepting students from these states who do not have the required previously earned academic coursework unless they sign a letter attesting to their intention to work in a state where MTC’s SLPA curriculum does meet that state’s educational requirements for licensure or certification. Please contact Jennifer Schultz, program coordinator, to discuss your state’s requirements.

Mitchell Technical college has determined that our program’s curriculum does not meet the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the following states: Alabama, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, America Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands. We are not accepting students from these states unless they sign a letter attesting to their intention to work in a state where MTC’s SLPA curriculum does meet that state’s educational requirements for licensure or certification.

Mitchell Technical College strongly encourages prospective students to verify that MTC’s coursework will meet their state’s requirements. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website has information regarding state requirements on their website at ASHA website.

Hands-on skill practice, observation, and fieldwork requirements for the program cannot be completed online. Students will work with their course instructors to meet these requirements.

• Lab Activities: Each semester, students will meet with an SLP to practice hands-on speech-language pathology assistant technical skills. Three lab meetings are required per semester. SD students meet in regional lab groups. Out-of-state students meet in an online lab group.
• Observations: Students observe a total of 25 hours of speech-language pathology services in SLPA 101 Clinical Observation I and SLPA 202 Clinical Observation II courses. These observations are completed with SLPs in their geographic area.
• Fieldwork: An 8-week, full-time fieldwork placement is required for successful completion of the program requirements. A total of 240 hours of clock time and 100 hours of supervised clinical experience is required. Fieldwork placement is completed in the last half of the student’s final spring semester. The fieldwork placement is completed with an SLP in their geographic area.

Students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or higher in all technical courses including SLPA 240 Clinical Fieldwork, to graduate.

Learn more by downloading the SLPA Online Student Guide.

Computer, iPad, and internet access are required. Your computer and iPad will have to meet our specifications to assure your operating system and software are current and compatible.

Computer/Laptop Minimum Specifications:
Processor – Intel Core i Series (i3, i5, i7) or AMD Ryzen
Operating System – Windows 10
Webcam Recommended
Memory – 4 GB or more
Internal Storage – 64 GB or more
Microsoft Office is available at no charge as long as enrolled at MTI
NO APPLE/MAC COMPUTERS

 iPad Minimum Specifications:
4th Gen or newer
Internal Storage – 16 GB or more (32 recommended)
No iPad Minis
No Tablets