ASHA SLPA CERTIFICATION EXAM: STUDY GUIDE PART 2|
2025/2026
The Scope of Practice for the SLPA provides information regarding the training, use, and supervision of
assistants in speech-language pathology - a designation that ASHA
established to be applicable in a variety of work settings.
The Scope of Practice document does NOT supersede federal legislation and regulation requirements or any
existing state credentialing laws, nor does it affect the interpretation or
implementation of such laws.
The Scope of Practice document may serve as a guide for the development of new laws or, at the appropriate
time, for revising existing licensure laws.
An SLPA must complete an approved course of academic study, complete a supervised
clinical experience, successfully pass the ASHA Assistants
Certification Exam, meet credentialing requirements of the state in
which they practice, and receive orientation as well as on-the-job
training of SLPA responsibilities specific to the setting.
, Three Educational Options 1. Completion of an SLPA program from a regionally accredited
institution (e.g., an associate degree, a technical training program, a
certificate program).
OR
2. Receipt of a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and
disorders from a regionally accredited institution AND completion of
ASHA education modules. OR
3.Receipt of a bachelor's degree in a field other than communication
sciences and disorders AND completion of ASHA education modules
AND successful completion of coursework from a regionally or
nationally accredited institution in all of the following areas:
- introductory or overview course in communication disorders
- phonetics
- speech sound disorders
- language development
- language disorders
- anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing mechanisms
IN ADDITION to having satisfied one of the three 1. Completion of supervised clinical experience that consists of a
education options, the SLPA must also meet all minimum of one hundred (100) hours under the direct supervision of
the following three requirements: an ASHA certified SLP. The supervising SLP must meet all ASHA
certification and supervising requirements and state credentialing
requirements.
2. Achieve a passing score on the ASHA Assistants Certification Exam
3.Meet all state credentialing requirements
The following list details of the roles and - Adhere to all applicable state laws and rules regulating the practice
performance expectations of an ASHA-certified of speech- language pathology.
SLPA: - Adhere to the responsibilities for SLPAs specified in this scope
of practice document and in state requirements.
- Avoid performing tasks or activities that are the exclusive
responsibility of the SLP.
- Perform only those tasks approved by the supervising SLP.
- Work only in settings for which the SLPA has been trained and in
which state regulations allow for SLPA employment.
- Deliver services only with an ASHA-certified and state licensed
SLP providing direct and indirect supervision on a regular and
systematic basis. Frequency and type of supervision should be
based on the SLPA's competencies, and the caseload need, both of
which are determined by the supervising SLP.
- Conduct oneself ethically within the ASHA Assistant's Code of
Conduct and state ethical codes.
- Self-advocate for needed supervision while communicating and
collaborating with students, patients, clients, the supervising SLP,
colleagues, families, caregivers, and other stakeholders.
- Actively pursue continuing education and professional development
activities.
- Obtain information regarding availability and need for liability
insurance.
The supervising SLP retains full legal and ethical responsibility for students, patients, and clients
served but may delegate specific tasks to the SLPA.
Services performed by the SLPA are only those within the scope of practice and are tasks that the SLPA has
the training and skill to perform as verified by the supervising SLP.
Under NO circumstances should the use of an (a)violate the ASHA Code of Ethics or the ASHA Assistants Code of
SLPA's services Conduct or
(b)negatively impact the quality of services.
2025/2026
The Scope of Practice for the SLPA provides information regarding the training, use, and supervision of
assistants in speech-language pathology - a designation that ASHA
established to be applicable in a variety of work settings.
The Scope of Practice document does NOT supersede federal legislation and regulation requirements or any
existing state credentialing laws, nor does it affect the interpretation or
implementation of such laws.
The Scope of Practice document may serve as a guide for the development of new laws or, at the appropriate
time, for revising existing licensure laws.
An SLPA must complete an approved course of academic study, complete a supervised
clinical experience, successfully pass the ASHA Assistants
Certification Exam, meet credentialing requirements of the state in
which they practice, and receive orientation as well as on-the-job
training of SLPA responsibilities specific to the setting.
, Three Educational Options 1. Completion of an SLPA program from a regionally accredited
institution (e.g., an associate degree, a technical training program, a
certificate program).
OR
2. Receipt of a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and
disorders from a regionally accredited institution AND completion of
ASHA education modules. OR
3.Receipt of a bachelor's degree in a field other than communication
sciences and disorders AND completion of ASHA education modules
AND successful completion of coursework from a regionally or
nationally accredited institution in all of the following areas:
- introductory or overview course in communication disorders
- phonetics
- speech sound disorders
- language development
- language disorders
- anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing mechanisms
IN ADDITION to having satisfied one of the three 1. Completion of supervised clinical experience that consists of a
education options, the SLPA must also meet all minimum of one hundred (100) hours under the direct supervision of
the following three requirements: an ASHA certified SLP. The supervising SLP must meet all ASHA
certification and supervising requirements and state credentialing
requirements.
2. Achieve a passing score on the ASHA Assistants Certification Exam
3.Meet all state credentialing requirements
The following list details of the roles and - Adhere to all applicable state laws and rules regulating the practice
performance expectations of an ASHA-certified of speech- language pathology.
SLPA: - Adhere to the responsibilities for SLPAs specified in this scope
of practice document and in state requirements.
- Avoid performing tasks or activities that are the exclusive
responsibility of the SLP.
- Perform only those tasks approved by the supervising SLP.
- Work only in settings for which the SLPA has been trained and in
which state regulations allow for SLPA employment.
- Deliver services only with an ASHA-certified and state licensed
SLP providing direct and indirect supervision on a regular and
systematic basis. Frequency and type of supervision should be
based on the SLPA's competencies, and the caseload need, both of
which are determined by the supervising SLP.
- Conduct oneself ethically within the ASHA Assistant's Code of
Conduct and state ethical codes.
- Self-advocate for needed supervision while communicating and
collaborating with students, patients, clients, the supervising SLP,
colleagues, families, caregivers, and other stakeholders.
- Actively pursue continuing education and professional development
activities.
- Obtain information regarding availability and need for liability
insurance.
The supervising SLP retains full legal and ethical responsibility for students, patients, and clients
served but may delegate specific tasks to the SLPA.
Services performed by the SLPA are only those within the scope of practice and are tasks that the SLPA has
the training and skill to perform as verified by the supervising SLP.
Under NO circumstances should the use of an (a)violate the ASHA Code of Ethics or the ASHA Assistants Code of
SLPA's services Conduct or
(b)negatively impact the quality of services.
