Speech Pathology Programs in Ohio - OH

By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: January, 28 2010

Steps towards Becoming a Speech Pathologist in Ohio

The Ohio Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (OBSLPA) has laid out the following steps that aspiring speech-language pathologists will need to follow to earn a job in that profession within the Buckeye State:

1. Applicants must have obtained a broad general education that will serve as a background for the preparation of professional experience and the necessary specialized academic training that they will need. This background may include the completion of courses in the following areas:

• Sociology
• Psychological development
• Physical development
• Human psychology
• Physical sciences (especially sciences that are related to biological and acoustic phenomena)
• Human anatomy and physiology (including neurophysiology and neuroanatomy)

2. Applicants who would like to be licensed as a speech-language pathologist – which is highly recommended and may be necessary in order to earn the average Ohio salary in speech-language pathology – must submit to the OBSLPA a transcript that proves that they have received a master’s degree in the field of speech-language pathology or an equivalent of a master’s degree (which will be determined by the OBSLPA). Applicants must have completed what the OBSLPA defines as well-integrated online or campus based Ohio speech pathology graduate programs that offer courses in the following areas of study:

• Human communication
• Clinical techniques in evaluating and improving human communication and developmental disorders
• The various aspects of human communication and development disorderS

This program must have been completed at a university or college that is accredited by national or regional accrediting bodies that are recognized by the OBSLPA.

3. Applicants must also submit to the OBSLPA proof that they have completed the necessary supervised clinical experience in the area of speech-language pathology that is necessary to obtain licensure. This clinical experience must have dealt with numerous communication disorders, and the relevance of this experience will be determined on a case-by-case basis by the OBSLPA. This experience must have been obtained in a university, college, or another program that is accredited by a national or regional body that is recognized by the OBSLPA.

4. Applicants must supply the OBSLPA with proof that they have passed the necessary licensure examination to practice speech-language pathology in Ohio. The OBSLPA will issue a license or conditional license to all applicants who have passed the necessary examinations. This will be determined by the OBSLPA on an individual basis. The license or conditional license will allow the holder to practice speech-language pathology within the state of Ohio. These licenses will be reissued every two years as long as the individual satisfies the necessary continuing education requirements.  Please note that there will be a nonrefundable fee that applicants will have to pay in order to receive a license. The fee amount will be determined by the OBSLPA on an individual basis at the time that a license is issued.

To read more about the rules and regulations of speech-language pathology in Ohio, go to http://66.161.141.185/orc/4753.