Are you considering pursuing a career as a speech therapist in New York? You have an eye for good things because New York is a latent state for speech therapists. Labeled the “Empire State” to recognize its vast wealth and resource variety, New York is the fourth-most populous state in the United States. A global metropolis known for its iconic skyline, diverse neighborhoods, and unmatched cultural offerings. New York offers a unique blend of opportunities and experiences, from the bustling Times Square to the historic neighborhoods. 

In 2023, The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that New York has the third highest employment level in the nation for speech therapists, otherwise known as speech-language pathologists (SLPs). As of July 1, 2024, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) has a record of 19,935 speech-language pathologists (speech therapists), signifying a wide job market for speech therapists in New York.

The New York State Department of Labor projects that the number of jobs for speech-language pathologists (speech therapists) will increase by 40% between 2020 and 2030, once again signifying that New York is just the right place for anyone considering a career as a speech therapist. Even beyond incentives like job security and a comfortable salary, the many innovative speech therapy practices found in New York create an inspiring environment full of opportunities to work in clinics that enhance patients’ quality of life. 

Nearly half of all speech therapists work in educational settings. While healthcare and social assistance facilities employ most others, some speech therapists work in patients’ homes. Be sure to complete this article, as it covers the educational requirements and process required to become a speech therapist in New York. 

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Becoming a speech therapist in New York would require an undergraduate degree, a master’s degree, a supervised practice, and a state board-approved license. Below are the educational requirements needed to become a speech therapist in New York. 

Undergraduate Degree 

For your undergraduate degree, communication sciences and disorders is the most appropriate program for speech therapists; fundamentals in comprehending human speech, communication disorders, swallowing, speech, and language would be taught. A few examples of common undergraduate majors for aspiring speech therapists are linguistics, language development, education, psychology, and english.  

Master’s Degree

Holding a Master’s degree is essential when looking to become a speech therapist in New York. The administrative code specifies that the degree program must either be approved by the Board of Education or be accredited by the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA). You do not need a communication sciences and disorders degree for admission into a master’s degree in New York; however, institutions frequently require applicants to have completed coursework in biological sciences, physical sciences, social and behavioral science, statistics, or specific healthcare and related fields. Still, if your degree is unrelated, you must complete the fundamental prerequisites and prove your dedication to the field. These courses typically include sound and auditory mechanisms, anatomy and physiology of speech mechanisms, phonetics, clinical audiology, and introduction to communication disorders. These programs usually take two years of postbaccalaureate study. Some institutions may request that you provide a statement of purpose, academic reference, and sometimes proof that you have worked in a speech-language pathology clinic in a non-clinical role.

Major coursework will cover topics such as a survey of speech disorders, advanced anatomy, physiology, neurology of the speech mechanism, language disorders in children, speech and language development, acquired neurogenic speech disorders, audiological assessment, and rehabilitation for SLPs (speech-language pathologists).

Taking elective courses allows you to study topics you are interested in learning more about, including health preparation for SLPs, autism spectrum disorders, diagnostic procedures, acquired language disorders, oral motor function, bilingual speech path, and health preparation for slps.

Supervised practice / Clinical practicum

Completing a supervised practice or clinical practicum of at least 400 hours during your graduate program is required to qualify for licensure in New York. The supervised practice presents itself as your first opportunity to work directly with patients suffering from speech disorders. You will learn to evaluate patients, diagnose their handicaps, and develop treatment plans under the supervision of a New York licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP). 

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

Post-graduate Clinical Fellowship

A post-graduate fellowship helps develop skills learned during your practicum and allows you to gain supervised experience in completing the day-to-day tasks of an SLP. A minimum of 36 weeks of clinical fellowship must be completed to meet New York’s licensing requirements, and you will need to spend at least 12 hours per week in direct contact with patients for the experience to count. Supervised activities will include assessing, diagnosing, evaluating, screening, and treating patients; developing treatment plans; and having family consultations. Depending on your preference or schedule, you may work part-time or full-time during this period. Submission of the record of supervised experience to the New York Board is also required, which would be completed by both your supervisor and yourself. 

CERTIFICATION AND LICENSURE 

The Praxis Exam

Becoming licensed in New York requires registering and passing the praxis speech-language pathology exam. A score of 162 on a 100-200 is needed to meet the New York board requirements for licensure. The praxis exam is a series of tests showing the candidates’ field competence.

Here is a study aid that includes practice questions and a breakdown of the topics you can expect to encounter on the test. 

For more information on the Praxis series test for speech-language pathology, go to: http://www.ets.org/praxis/.

Licensure

These are the New York requirements for speech therapists to be licensed:

Educational Requirements

You must have obtained a graduate degree in speech-language pathology from a New York state-registered licensure-qualifying program accredited by the American Speech Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) or the equivalent. To be considered equivalent, your educational program must culminate in a graduate degree from a college or university acceptable to the department. It must include a practicum and 75 semester hours of courses, as specified below. At least 36 of the 75 semester hours must be at the graduate level.

Experience Requirements

You must complete a minimum of 36 weeks of supervised experience in speech-language pathology or audiology. (Any break in time, e.g., maternity leave or, in a school setting, summer break, should be compensated for by the ending date.) The experience cannot begin until all requirements (including any examinations or completion of a thesis) for the graduate degree are satisfied. 

Exam Requirements

To meet the examination requirement for licensure as a speech-language pathologist or audiologist, you must pass the specialty area test of the praxis series, praxis II, administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) in your licensure area.

• Candidates for licensure in speech-language pathology must take praxis examination 5331.  It is scored on a scale of 100-200.  162 is the minimum acceptable passing score.
• Examination scores must be sent directly from ETS. Request that scores be sent to agency code R7747.

Application

The application for licensure should be printed and submitted to the New York Board along with an application fee of $294.00, an official graduate transcript, and your praxis exam results. 

Your professional education certificate will need to be mailed to the institution that issued your master’s degree, and they will need to fill it out and send it to the board. An identification of supervisor and setting form will need to be filled out with help from your clinical fellowship supervisor. On completion of the required forms, you can mail all documentation to the New York SLP board at: 

New York State Education Department
Office of the Profession,
PO Box 22063
Albany, NY 12201

They typically reply within two to three weeks. 

LICENSE RENEWAL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION

License renewal

You’ll need to renew your license every three years and complete 30 continuing education hours, or ten continuing education hours per year.

Your continuing education credits must be made up of the following activities:

• Academic study
• CE courses
• Independent study
• Mentoring or being mentored
• Publication of a journal article in a peer-reviewed journal
• Presentations in a professional area at a professional conference
• Participation in a professional study group as defined by regulation
• In-service training for teachers offered by a public school or BOCES to their employees as part of the school’s professional development plan

At least 20 of the CE hours must be related to clinical practice, such as studying speech disorders and treating those disorders. The other ten may involve legislation that affects practice, business practices, or pedagogical methodologies.

How Much Do Speech-Language Pathologists Earn?

The average annual income reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for speech-language pathologists in the United States was $89,460. The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) reports that in 2023, they earned a median annual salary of $104,606 (those in the 25^th and 75^th percentile made approximately $67,377 and $128,675, respectively).

Conclusion

There are opportunities for pursuing a career in speech-language pathology in New York; some people consider working full-time with their clinical fellowship provider, while others open up an independent practice, allowing for specialization in the type of clients they are most interested in working with. 

Becoming a speech therapist in New York requires you to have a master’s degree in speech-language pathology accredited by ASHA and the New York Board, gain supervised experience during the program and a clinical fellowship after the program, pass the praxis exam, and apply for the license, after which you should be able to apply for a position as a licensed speech-language pathologist.