Connecticut, situated in the northeastern corner of the United States, offers many great speech-language pathology programs that are diversified and vibrant. The state’s diverse educational institutions provide anyone seeking education, training, or services linked to speech and language impairments. 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-Recognized SLP Master’s Programs | 4 (3 Accredited, 1 Candidate) — UConn, Southern Connecticut State, Sacred Heart (Accredited); University of New Haven (Candidate) |
| Average SLP Salary in Connecticut | $103,460 per year (BLS, May 2024) — the third-highest state mean SLP wage in the U.S. |
| Licensing Body | Connecticut Department of Public Health — Practitioner Licensing Section |
| Clinical Fellowship | 36 weeks / 1,260 hours under a CCC-SLP mentor |
| Praxis Exam | 5331 (national passing score 162) |
| National Job Growth | 15% projected growth (2024-2034, BLS) |
| Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC) | Not a member — Connecticut has not enacted ASLP-IC legislation |
2026 Updates for Connecticut SLP Candidates
Three Connecticut-specific developments are worth tracking in 2026:
- Connecticut SLP wages are among the highest in the country. The Connecticut BLS mean of $103,460 trails only California ($114,050) and Colorado ($114,410) among state averages. Fairfield County and the New York metro spillover drive the upper end; clinical placements in the Hartford and New Haven healthcare systems also pay above national means.
- University of New Haven is the newest entrant. UNH’s SLP master’s entered CAA candidate status in May 2022 and is working through its first full cycle (2022-2027). Candidate status confers ASHA certification eligibility on graduates, but applicants should track UNH’s progression toward full accreditation.
- Connecticut has not enacted the ASLP-IC compact. 36 other state-level jurisdictions are now compact members; Connecticut is not among them. Practitioners moving to or from Connecticut still need to apply for a full state license through the Department of Public Health, regardless of credentials held elsewhere.
Connecticut’s CAA-Recognized Speech-Language Pathology Programs
Connecticut has four CAA-recognized SLP master’s programs: three fully accredited (University of Connecticut, Southern Connecticut State University, and Sacred Heart University) and one in CAA candidate status (University of New Haven). UConn holds the longest accreditation tenure in the state at over 55 years, continuously accredited since October 1966.
University of Connecticut — Master of Arts in Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
UConn’s program in Storrs holds the longest CAA accreditation tenure of any Connecticut SLP master’s — continuously accredited since October 1966. The current cycle runs 2026-2033 with the next review in 2032. The program lives in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and benefits from the R1 flagship’s clinical placement network across the Hartford metro and eastern Connecticut.
Southern Connecticut State University — Master of Science in Communication Disorders
SCSU’s program in New Haven has been continuously CAA-accredited since September 1974. The current cycle runs 2018-2026 with the next CAA review in 2026, so SCSU is the closest of any Connecticut program to its next milestone review. The program is housed in the Department of Communication Disorders within the School of Health and Human Services and serves the New Haven and southwestern Connecticut clinical placement network, with access to Yale-New Haven Hospital affiliates among its medical-setting sites.
Sacred Heart University — Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
Sacred Heart’s program in Fairfield held candidate status from February 2014 through March 2019 and has been fully CAA-accredited since then. The current cycle runs 2024-2032 with the next review in 2031 — the longest forward-looking accreditation horizon of any Connecticut program. Sacred Heart is a private Catholic university, and the program lives in the College of Health Professions. The Fairfield County location gives students placement access to the New York metropolitan area’s clinical networks alongside Connecticut sites.
University of New Haven — Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
UNH is Connecticut’s newest SLP master’s, entering CAA candidate status in May 2022. The program is in its first full accreditation cycle (2022-2027) and is housed in the School of Health Sciences on the West Haven campus. Candidate status means current graduates are eligible for ASHA certification, though applicants should monitor the program’s progression toward full accreditation through CAA reviews.
Comparing Connecticut’s SLP Programs
Click any program name to jump to its detailed profile.
| Program | Location | Type | CAA Status | Next Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Connecticut | Storrs | Public R1 flagship | Accredited (since 1966) | 2032 |
| Southern Connecticut State University | New Haven | Public | Accredited (since 1974) | 2026 |
| Sacred Heart University | Fairfield | Private (Catholic) | Accredited (since 2019) | 2031 |
| University of New Haven | West Haven | Private | Candidate (since 2022) | 2027 cycle end |
Frequently Asked Questions: Connecticut SLP Programs
How many CAA-accredited SLP master’s programs are in Connecticut?
Four CAA-recognized programs: University of Connecticut (accredited since 1966), Southern Connecticut State University (since 1974), Sacred Heart University (since 2019), and University of New Haven (candidate since 2022). Both candidate and accredited programs confer ASHA certification eligibility on graduates.
How long does it take to become a licensed SLP in Connecticut?
About six years total: four for a bachelor’s degree, two for a CAA-accredited master’s, and a 36-week Clinical Fellowship under a licensed CCC-SLP. After passing the Praxis 5331, you apply for licensure through the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
How much do speech-language pathologists make in Connecticut?
The mean annual wage for SLPs in Connecticut is $103,460 (BLS, May 2024), the third-highest state mean in the country behind only Colorado and California. Fairfield County positions and the New York metropolitan area spillover drive the upper end; Hartford and New Haven hospital-system roles also pay above the national mean.
Can I do my SLP master’s online while living in Connecticut?
None of Connecticut’s four CAA-recognized programs runs a fully online track. Several out-of-state online programs accept Connecticut residents — see our best online SLP programs guide. Whichever you choose, confirm CAA accreditation or candidacy status so the program qualifies you for Connecticut DPH licensure.
Does Connecticut participate in the ASLP-IC interstate compact?
No. Connecticut is one of about a dozen states that have not enacted ASLP-IC compact legislation. SLPs moving to or from Connecticut need a full Connecticut Department of Public Health license rather than a compact privilege. Track the ASLP-IC homepage for any change in Connecticut’s status.
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 Connecticut’s DPH require both.
About the Author
Emily Waters earned her M.S. in Communication Disorders from Emerson University and holds ASHA’s Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). She is a practicing speech-language pathologist based in Boston, Massachusetts, and serves as Editor-in-Chief of Online Speech Pathology Programs.
References
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024): Speech-Language Pathologists, SOC 29-1127. bls.gov/oes/current/oes291127.htm
- Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA), program directory. caa.asha.org
- Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing. portal.ct.gov/dph
- Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC). aslpcompact.com
- ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). asha.org/certification
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