Bordering Wisconsin to the northwest, Michigan is in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The state boasts of outstanding infrastructure and educational excellence. As one of the nation’s largest economies, Michigan is a prominent place for academic and cultural benefits, making the state a potential location for individuals searching for a place to embark on an academic journey.  

With about eight institutions in Michigan that offer graduate programs in Speech-Language Pathology accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) and more offered online, the state is home to a community of clinical practitioners, academicians, researchers, and policy advocates focused on communicative sciences and disorders.

Becoming a speech therapist in Michigan requires getting a Master’s Degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders (CSD), completing a Supervised Postgraduate Clinical Experience, passing a National Examination in Speech-Language Pathology, and applying for licensing. 

The purpose of this article is to help guide aspiring speech therapists in Michigan and even international students who want to study and become speech therapists in the state. The educational pathway, requirements, and steps needed to become a speech therapist in Michigan will be covered in this article. 

Educational Requirements

Undergraduate Program 

If you are a high schooler or an undergraduate student reading this, you need a graduate degree to work as an audiologist or speech-language pathologist. An undergraduate degree in Communication Science & Disorders (CSD)  or speech hearing sciences and related courses is the most common pathway into audiology and speech-language pathology graduate programs. Many graduate programs accept applications from students who have completed the prerequisite coursework in another degree or through a leveling or post-baccalaureate program. Other graduate programs accept applications from students with no background in CSD and include prerequisite coursework as part of the graduate program.

Depending on the university you would like to attend, you would need to take several prerequisite courses, such as;

● Neuroanatomy and Physiology of Communication

● Introduction to Audiology

● Introduction to Speech and Language Development

● Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing Mechanism

Complete a Master’s Degree Program in Communicative Sciences and Disorders (CSD)

The first actual step to becoming a licensed speech pathologist is getting a graduate degree in the field of study. The Michigan Board of Speech-Language Pathology requires that every candidate for licensure hold a master’s or doctorate in communicative sciences and disorders. The graduate program in which they are enrolled must be accredited by The American Speech-Hearing Association’s Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA), as recognized by the US Department of Education. 

Admission criteria

To be considered for admission into the Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) graduate program, you must have completed or be in the final stages of completing an undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders (CSD); however, if you do not have an undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders, you are required to complete a  Speech-language pathology post- baccalaureate program before you can pursue a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. 

An example of a program like that is Central Michigan University SLP Post-Baccalaureate program.  To find other accredited Post-baccalaureate programs in Michigan, please go through the Edfind Website created by ASHA.

Prerequisite requirements

Additional requirements are to be met before an individual can be considered for admission into a Speech-Language Pathology master’s degree program:

• A cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher in the last 60 semester hours of undergraduate coursework
• As mentioned earlier, if you do not already have a bachelor’s degree in communicative sciences and disorders, you’ll be required to complete prerequisite courses online through the university before beginning graduate studies. These can include:
  • Introduction to Language Science
  • Introduction to Clinical Procedures
  • Introduction to Diagnostic Procedures
  • Fundamentals of Audiology
  • Common Speech Disorders
  • Speech Sound Disorders

Alongside the classroom courses, the program will also require a practicum. A practicum is completed in a clinic under the direct supervision of a licensed Speech Language Pathologist (SLP). Assessing and diagnosing patients will be learned, and students will also work on treatment plans and therapeutic methods under the guidance of a supervisor.

Complete your Clinical Practicum

To become a speech therapist in Michigan, You need to complete 1,260 hours of a clinical fellowship program before moving on to the licensing stage. The clinical fellowship is completed after the master’s degree has been earned but before becoming fully licensed to practice; this is to help you gain experience with various populations and patients.

The supervisor, who must be a licensed SLP, would assist you with the development plan for the clinical experience, breaking it down into sections and tasks to be completed. You will also participate in feedback sessions with your supervisor to be sure they meet the expected outcomes. 

Students must complete at least 1,008 of the 1,260 hours involving clinical contact, including direct client or client assessment, consultations, recordkeeping, and administrative duties. On-site observations, including screening, evaluation, habilitation or rehabilitation activities, and assessment, must be completed. 

Michigan also requires the students to complete training in identifying victims of human trafficking before becoming licensed. The training is meant to help students:

• Understand the venues of human trafficking
• Identify victims in healthcare settings
• Identify the warning signs
• Have a knowledge of resources for reporting the suspected victims of human trafficking.

The training must be completed through a nationally recognized or state-recognized health-related organization. This could include the American Speech-Hearing Association (ASHA) or the Michigan Speech-Hearing Association (MSHA); this training is usually completed during the clinical fellowship. 

Pass the SLP National Examination 

The Michigan board requires you to score at least 162 on the National Speech-Language Pathology exam hosted by Praxis. You can register for the exam online, provided that you meet the requirements for the examination. 

Requirements include:

• Official graduate transcript from an ASHA-accredited university
• Proof of completion of a clinical fellowship

There is a Praxis SLP exam study companion that will help you understand the topics covered by the exam and offer practice questions for self-review, including speech and production, motor speech, social and cognitive communication, the process of hearing, feeding, and swallowing.

Licensing and Certification

You can decide to get certification through ASHA. Although the Michigan SLP board does not require a certification of clinical competence in speech-language pathology (CCC-SLP), it is an additional credential that may help you begin to apply for jobs.

To apply for licensing, you must go through the Michigan SLP Board, fulfill these requirements, and submit related documents.

• A completed application 
• Official transcripts from your graduate program
• Your supervisor must sign and mail a Clinical Fellowship Rating and Report Form.

 Check here to get more information about Michigan Licensing.

It might take a few weeks to process your application, and you are good to go after it is processed. You are officially a speech-language pathologist.

Renewal of License and Completing Continuing Education Requirements

The Michigan SLP license must be renewed every two years with proof of completed continuing education, usually 20 clock hours. The license can be renewed by mailing the renewal form to the Michigan board with a $115.00 fee. 

You’ll need to gain your continuing education hours through the ASHA, the MSHA, or any other nationally or state-recognized organization, and at least one clock hour of continuing education must be in pain and symptom management. For more inquiries on the Continuing Education Requirements, you may check the  ASHA continuing education offerings or MSHA continuing education offerings website.  

Speech-Language Pathology Salary in Michigan

According to the 2023 annual salary survey by ASHA, the median salary for a full-time speech-language pathologist in the Midwest Region (where Michigan is located) is $85,000. 

Are you already licensed by another state but would like to practice in Michigan?

You can get Michigan state licensing by endorsement, provided that your previous state has similar requirements, as determined by the Michigan Board of Speech-Language Pathology. If you have been licensed for over five years, you need a Master’s or Doctorate Program and pass the Praxis II exam.

However, if you have been licensed for under five years, you must meet the educational and exam requirements and complete a supervised postgraduate clinical experience. 

If you are an applicant certified by ASHA or SAC (Speech-Language and Audiology Canada), you must verify all previous licenses and disclose any disciplinary actions taken or pending.

For more information on Licensing Exemptions and Reciprocity, please visit the ASHA Information Page.

Resources

• For more information about how to become a speech therapist in Michigan state, visit the Michigan SLP Licensing and Regulatory Affairs page 
• To get more information about the rules and regulations for speech-language pathologists in the state of Michigan as provided by the Department t of Licensing, please check here