Are you planning to study and have a career in communication sciences and disorders? Are you a speech therapist in another state looking to move to Massachusetts? This is the article for you.

Massachusetts is the ideal center for students who wish to become speech-language pathologists since it comprises prestigious learning institutions and a health system concerned with communication disorders. World-renowned universities, such as Boston University and Emerson College, are in this state and offer excellent communication sciences and disorders programs. Massachusetts has about 10+ speech pathology program offerings at different educational levels. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, around 3,400 Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are employed in the Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH metropolitan area. SLPs are slightly more concentrated in this area than other professions, with about 1.23 SLPs for every 1,000 jobs. The location quotient of 1.09 indicates that the area has a slightly higher concentration of SLPs than the national average.

SLPs in this metropolitan area earn an average hourly wage of $47.36 and an average annual wage of $98,520, which are higher than the national average, suggesting that the Boston-Cambridge-Nashua area offers competitive pay and decent job opportunities for SLPs. The employment data for Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) in the Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH metropolitan area suggests a positive job outlook for SLPs in Massachusetts. With a moderate concentration of SLPs in this area and competitive wages higher than the national average, it indicates decent job opportunities and a favorable employment environment for SLPs in Massachusetts. Such high growth means increased demand for speech and language pathologists’ services in public schools, private schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and private practices. 

This would be where speech-language pathologists would wish to further their careers, as the state’s innovations in education and healthcare are highly developed. Below, we outline the essential steps towards qualification as a speech therapist in Massachusetts and take one through the educational requirements up to licensure for this dynamic field. 

Educational Requirements

The most common route is an undergraduate degree in Communication Science and Disorders (CSD) or related courses in audiology or speech-language pathology graduate programs. Depending on the university that you would like to attend. Keep in mind that not all graduate programs will accept undergraduates with unrelated fields, you might want to consider enrolling in a program that will give you a solid foundation in psychology, healthcare, or linguistics.

Related courses include Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Bachelor of Science in Education, and Bachelor of Science in Psychology.

Complete a Masters Degree program in speech-language pathology.

Acquiring a master’s degree is the first and most important step close to being a licensed speech pathologist in Massachusetts. Make sure you do your research on potential universities before enrolling. Any program of your choice must be accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA-ASHA). This adds to the credibility of your education, training, and knowledge of speech pathology in the United States.

Criteria for Admissions

You must have a university degree in a related field to be considered for admission into the speech-language pathology graduate programs. The curriculum usually involves 60 credit hours of coursework consisting of academic and clinical components. A well-rounded program incorporates plenty of opportunities to learn about key concepts, such as speech disorders, phonology, articulation, and dysphagia, and to implement them in clinical environments. Other requirements of Admissions into CAA-accredited graduate programs would generally require

• A bachelor’s degree
• A 3.0 cumulative undergraduate grade point(GPA)or higher in undergraduate coursework

If you do not have a degree in communicative sciences and disorders, you must complete prerequisite courses before beginning your master’s core courses. Those prerequisite courses may include:

• Anatomy, physiology, and science of speech
• Aural rehabilitation
• Introduction to language development
• Phonetics and phonetic transcription
• Acoustic Bases of Speech and Hearing
• An introductory course in audiology focusing on evaluation
• Introduction to Language and Communication 

Clinical Fellowship

To obtain CCC-SLP certification, you must complete classroom studies and a clinical practicum with a minimum of 400 clock hours. The practicum provides hands-on experience in a clinical setting, where you will learn to assess, diagnose, and treat patients under the guidance of a qualified supervisor.

After finishing your graduate program and practicum, you will move on to a clinical fellowship. This fellowship is designed to help transition you from academic training to working independently as a speech-language pathologist (SLP). Throughout the fellowship, you will participate in supervised clinical activities and work with diverse patient populations, similar to your practicum experience.

You can pursue the fellowship full-time or part-time, but regardless of the option, it must be at least 1,260 hours and last for at least 36 weeks.

You will receive mentorship from a licensed SLP during your clinical fellowship in Massachusetts. The fellowship’s focus will encompass components that constitute 80% of the clinical experience. These components include assessment, diagnosis, evaluation, screening, treatment, report writing, family and client consultation, and counseling of patients.

Pass the National Examination in Speech-Language Pathology

After completing the clinical fellowship, you prepare for the National Praxis Examination in Speech-Language Pathology, administered by ETS testing services. You can easily apply online. Be sure that you are eligible before you apply for the examination. The praxis speech-language pathology test is a multiple-choice exam measuring your competency in communication, diagnosis, and treatment implementation. As of 2021, applicants must score 162 out of 200 to pass.

In Massachusetts, you must also complete the Communication and Literacy Skills Test (CLST) to become a licensed educator, whether or not you plan to work with children. The exam is made up of two sub-tests: reading and writing. The former is multiple choice, while the latter is a mix of multiple choice, short answer, and open-ended essays. Passing scores are 156 in reading and 162 in writing.

If you need extra time to prepare, look at the practice questions and study advice in the praxis study companion. It takes a few weeks to get your test results from Praxis. 

Licensure Application and ASHA certification

After getting your results, you will apply for certification through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). You can apply for licensing through the MassachusettsSLPBoard as a CCC-SLP certified professional.

You’ll need to print and complete the application with 

• A fee of $68 
• The ASHA verification of CCC-SLP credential
• Evidence of a minimum of 400 clock hours earned during a practicum
• Your master’s degree transcript
• Official Praxis score

Steps to apply for a speech-language pathology and audiology license in Massachusetts: visit the Health Professions Licensing Portal.

• Create an account or log into your existing account
• If it’s your first time using the portal, check the Health Professions Licensing System User Guide for instructions
• Follow the prompts to complete your application once you have access
• If additional forms need to be uploaded after applying, visit the Applications and Forms section on the Mass.gov website
• Contact the Board of Registration for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology directly using the address and phone number provided on the website

You can then mail the application and all supporting documentation to the address below:

Board of Registration for Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology
100 Washington Street, Suite 170
Boston, MA 02118-6100

Maintain Licensure and Complete Continuing Education Hours

To continue to practice as an SLP in Massachusetts, you are required to renew your SLP license every two years. You must also complete 20 hours of continuing education within the two years. To renew, simply mail the application to the board.

Remember that you can obtain continuing education through organizations such as ASHA, MSHA, or other professional organizations in the state. Still, you must record the program title, hours spent, sponsoring organization, and completion date. The Massachusetts board may randomly audit SLP licensees every two years and request documentation of your continuing education credits.

To pursue continuing education, browse course offerings through ASHA or the MSHA.

Reciprocal Licensure

If you want to move to Massachusetts as a speech-language pathologist, as you are licensed in another state or U.S. territory and maintain your ASHA certification, you may qualify for reciprocal licensure. The process includes having your completed application notarized, having ASHA forward your verification to the Board, having each state or territory you have been licensed directly forward a verification on your behalf, and forwarding the applicable $68 processing fee payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Once all items are received and a criminal background check is completed, your application will be reviewed and processed.

 For more information, please read the instructions for the speech-language pathologist license application.