Is fieldwork experience required for the SLPA?
Yes, clinical fieldwork and direct client experience is a major component of the licensure requirements. The assistant must demonstrate completion of at least 25 hours of clinical observation and 75 hours of clinical assistance experience obtained within an educational institution or in one of its cooperating programs. If the SLPA has not obtained the 25 observation hours and the 75 hours of clinical assistance as part of the educational fieldwork experience, he/she must apply for a temporary license to practice as a SLPA. Under the temporary licensure, the SLPA must file a written request for an alternative method to obtain the hours with the Board. The request must include a plan for obtaining the clinical observation hours and/or the assisting experience hours. Additionally, it must signed by the supervising speech-language pathologist. This plan must be completed within 60 days.
