Arkansas, a landlocked state in the South Central region of the United States, offers many great speech-language pathology (SLP) programs that are diversified and vibrant. It provides a mesmerizing backdrop for anyone seeking education, training, or services linked to speech and language impairments. If you are about to investigate Arkansas’ wide range of opportunities, it offers many departmental degrees in all educational fields. It does not matter whether you are a prospective student eager to start a career path that involves enhancing communication or a parent looking for help for a near and dear one; you will have many choices to make in your relevant studies.
| CAA-Accredited SLP Master’s Programs | 5 — Arkansas State, Harding, U of Arkansas (Fayetteville), UAMS, University of Central Arkansas |
| Average SLP Salary in Arkansas | $84,430 per year (BLS, May 2024) — below the national median of $95,410, with stronger pay in medical settings |
| Licensing Body | Arkansas Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (ABESPA), Arkansas Department of Health |
| Clinical Fellowship | 36 weeks / 1,260 hours under a CCC-SLP mentor |
| Praxis Exam | 5331 (national passing score 162) |
| State Employment (SLPs) | ~189 employed SLPs in Arkansas (Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, May 2024) |
| Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC) | Member state — compact privileges pending nationwide rollout |
2026 Updates for Arkansas SLP Candidates
Three Arkansas-specific developments to track if you’re applying to a master’s program in 2026 or working toward licensure here:
- Arkansas is in the ASLP-IC compact, but practice privileges aren’t live yet. Arkansas enacted Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact legislation, making it one of 36 state-level jurisdictions in the compact. As of early 2026, only Louisiana, Ohio, and West Virginia are actively issuing compact privileges through CompactConnect. Arkansas is in the queue, so SLPs moving to or from Arkansas still need a full ABESPA license today. Track the ASLP-IC homepage for Arkansas’s launch.
- UCA and Harding are both starting fresh CAA cycles. University of Central Arkansas entered a new 2024–2032 cycle with the next review in 2032, and Harding entered a 2025–2033 cycle, also reviewed in 2032. Arkansas State has a 2026 next review on its current cycle. For applicants, what this means in practice: every Arkansas program is comfortably accredited through the next several enrollment cycles.
- Arkansas SLP demand outpaces in-state supply. The Arkansas Division of Workforce Services reports approximately 189 employed SLPs statewide, and demand from school districts, the UAMS health system, and rural hospitals continues to grow. National SLP demand is projected to grow 15% from 2024 to 2034 (BLS). Arkansas wages run below the national median — mean annual $84,430 versus the national $95,410 — but cost of living and rural-practice incentives often offset the wage gap.
Arkansas’s CAA-Accredited Speech-Language Pathology Programs
Arkansas has five CAA-accredited master’s programs in speech-language pathology, spread across the state from Fayetteville to Little Rock. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) holds the longest accreditation tenure (since 1978), and four programs sit at public universities while Harding University is private. Below, each program is profiled with accreditation tenure, location, and the kind of student it suits best.
Arkansas State University (Jonesboro)
Arkansas State’s MS in Communication Disorders has been continuously CAA-accredited since September 1990. The program runs through the Department of Communication Disorders in the College of Nursing and Health Professions on the Jonesboro campus. The current cycle runs 2019–2027, with the next CAA review in 2026 — meaning A-State is the closest of any Arkansas program to its next accreditation milestone. Best fit for students in eastern Arkansas or the Mississippi River corridor who want a public-university program with established clinical-placement networks in northeast Arkansas school districts and regional hospitals.
Harding University (Searcy)
Harding’s MS in Speech-Language Pathology held candidate status from July 2007 through July 2012 and has been fully CAA-accredited since then. The current cycle runs 2025–2033, with the next CAA review in 2032 — one of the longest forward-looking accreditation horizons in Arkansas. The program lives in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders within Harding’s College of Allied Health. Harding is a private Christian university affiliated with the Churches of Christ, and faith-based ethics are integrated into the curriculum. Post-baccalaureate leveling coursework is available online for applicants without an undergraduate CSD background. Best fit for students who want a faith-grounded program at a smaller private campus.
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
The University of Arkansas’s MS in Communication Sciences and Disorders has been continuously CAA-accredited since April 1982 and is currently in its 2023–2031 cycle, with the next review in 2030. The program lives in the Department of Rehabilitation, Human Resources, and Communication Disorders within the College of Education and Health Professions on the Fayetteville flagship campus. Students benefit from clinical placement networks across northwest Arkansas, including the Washington Regional Medical Center system, Springdale Public Schools, and Mercy Health. Best fit for students who want a flagship-R1 setting with strong research opportunities and access to the Fayetteville-Bentonville-Rogers metro’s clinical employers.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences — UAMS (Little Rock)
UAMS holds Arkansas’s longest CAA accreditation tenure — the MS in Speech-Language Pathology has been accredited since October 1978, and the next cycle runs 2026–2033 with the review in 2032. The program is uniquely positioned in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology within the College of Health Professions at UAMS, the state’s only academic medical center. Students train alongside peers in audiology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other allied-health disciplines, and clinical rotations include the UAMS Medical Center, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System. Best fit for students drawn to medical SLP practice, dysphagia, neurogenic disorders, or careers in academic medical centers.
University of Central Arkansas (Conway)
UCA’s MS in Speech-Language Pathology has been continuously CAA-accredited since October 1987 and is currently in its 2024–2032 cycle, with the next review in 2032. The program lives in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders within the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences on UCA’s Conway campus, about 30 miles north of Little Rock. UCA’s clinical placements span the Conway, Little Rock, and Hot Springs metros, giving students exposure to school, medical, and private-practice settings. Best fit for students who want a public-university program in central Arkansas with broad clinical-setting variety within commuting range.
Comparing Arkansas’s SLP Programs
The table below puts Arkansas’s five CAA-accredited programs side by side. Location, institution type, and accreditation tenure are the filters most applicants narrow on before reading the individual program write-ups.
| Program | Location | Type | Accreditation Since | Next CAA Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro | Public | 1990 | 2026 |
| Harding University | Searcy | Private (Christian) | 2012 | 2032 |
| University of Arkansas, Fayetteville | Fayetteville | Public R1 flagship | 1982 | 2030 |
| University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) | Little Rock | Public academic medical center | 1978 | 2032 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway | Public | 1987 | 2032 |
Frequently Asked Questions: Arkansas SLP Programs
How many CAA-accredited SLP master’s programs are in Arkansas?
Five CAA-accredited programs: Arkansas State University (since 1990), Harding University (since 2012), University of Arkansas, Fayetteville (since 1982), University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (since 1978, the longest in the state), and University of Central Arkansas (since 1987). Four are at public universities; Harding is private.
How long does it take to become a licensed SLP in Arkansas?
About six years total: four for a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders (or a related field), two for a CAA-accredited master’s program, and a 36-week Clinical Fellowship under a licensed CCC-SLP. After the fellowship and a passing score on the Praxis 5331 exam, you can apply for licensure through the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (ABESPA).
Do I need a master’s degree to practice SLP in Arkansas?
Yes. Arkansas requires at least a master’s degree from a CAA-accredited program for full SLP licensure through ABESPA. A bachelor’s degree alone qualifies you for limited support roles such as Speech-Language Pathology Assistant under direct supervision, but not independent practice.
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Arkansas?
The mean annual wage for SLPs in Arkansas is $84,430 (BLS, May 2024), below the national median of $95,410. Medical SLP roles at UAMS, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, and other healthcare systems typically pay above the state mean, while school-based positions and rural placements often align closer to the average.
Can I do my SLP master’s online while living in Arkansas?
None of Arkansas’s five CAA-accredited programs currently runs a fully online master’s track, though Harding offers leveling coursework online for applicants from outside CSD undergraduate backgrounds. Several out-of-state CAA-accredited online programs accept Arkansas residents — see our best online SLP programs guide. Whichever you choose, confirm CAA accreditation status so the program qualifies you for ABESPA licensure.
Does Arkansas participate in the ASLP-IC interstate compact?
Yes — Arkansas has enacted ASLP-IC compact legislation and is one of 36 state-level jurisdictions in the compact. However, the compact is not yet fully operational: as of early 2026, only Louisiana, Ohio, and West Virginia are issuing compact privileges through CompactConnect. Until Arkansas onboards licensees, SLPs moving into the state still need a full ABESPA license. Track the ASLP-IC homepage for the next launches.
What’s the difference between CAA accreditation and the ASHA CCC-SLP?
The Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) accredits the master’s program you graduate from. The ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) is the individual credential you earn after graduating from a CAA program, completing your Clinical Fellowship, and passing the Praxis 5331. Most employers — and ABESPA — require both.
