Located in the southwestern quadrant of the conterminous states, Arizona offers many great opportunities for individuals seeking assistance with speech-related challenges and communication. Whether you are a discerning parent or an aspiring student, embarking on this journey will unveil the profound impact of human connection and effective communication. Arizona’s speech-language therapy programs stand as beacons of hope, dedicated to aiding individuals of all ages in conquering their communication disorders. These programs are at the forefront of transformative change, from addressing speech impediments in children to tackling stuttering in adults.

CAA-Recognized SLP Master’s Programs	6 (4 fully Accredited, 2 Candidates) — ASU, U of Arizona, NAU, Midwestern (Accredited); A.T. Still, Grand Canyon (Candidate)
Average SLP Salary in Arizona	$98,390 per year (BLS, May 2024) — just above the national median of $95,410
Licensing Body	Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS), Division of Licensing
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)	Member state — compact privileges pending nationwide rollout

2026 Updates for Arizona SLP Candidates

Three Arizona-specific developments are worth tracking if you’re applying to a master’s program in 2026 or working toward licensure here:

• Two new programs are in CAA candidacy. Grand Canyon University in Phoenix entered candidacy in February 2025 and runs as an online program (CAA-recognized for distance ed since May 2024). A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences in Mesa has been a CAA candidate since May 2022. Candidacy means the program meets standards for accepting students and confers eligibility for ASHA certification on graduates — but it’s not the same as full accreditation. Both programs are working toward initial accreditation by 2027.
• Arizona is an ASLP-IC compact member, but practice privileges aren’t live yet. Arizona enacted Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact legislation, joining 36 state-level jurisdictions. As of early 2026, only Louisiana, Ohio, and West Virginia are actively issuing compact privileges through CompactConnect. Arizona is in the queue, so SLPs moving to or from Arizona still need a full ADHS license today. Track the ASLP-IC homepage for Arizona’s launch date.
• Distance-education capacity has grown sharply. Three Arizona programs now run CAA-recognized distance-education tracks: NAU (since 2022), A.T. Still (Mesa), and GCU (Phoenix). That’s a meaningful expansion since 2022 and gives Arizona-based students more routes to a master’s without relocating. Arizona SLP demand continues to outpace supply, particularly in school districts and rural Native American communities.

Arizona’s CAA-Recognized Speech-Language Pathology Programs

Arizona has six CAA-recognized SLP master’s programs spread from Tucson to Flagstaff: four with full accreditation and two in candidate status. The University of Arizona (since 1972) and Arizona State (since 1974) hold the longest accreditation tenures in the state. NAU added a distance-education option in 2022, and Midwestern University in Glendale moved from candidacy to full accreditation in 2020. Two newer programs — A.T. Still and Grand Canyon — are working toward full accreditation. Below, each program is profiled with accreditation status, modality, and what kind of student it suits best.

A.T. Still University — Arizona School of Health Sciences (Mesa)

A.T. Still’s SLP program has been in CAA candidate status since May 2022, with the current cycle running 2022–2027. The program lives in the Department of Speech-Language Pathology within the Arizona School of Health Sciences in Mesa. ATSU is best known for its osteopathic medical and audiology programs, and the SLP master’s shares departmental infrastructure with the AuD program (which is fully CAA-accredited and has been since 2007). Candidate status means current students are eligible for ASHA certification upon graduation, but applicants should track ATSU’s progression toward full accreditation. Best fit for students who want a smaller-cohort program embedded in a strong allied-health institution.

Arizona State University (Tempe)

ASU’s Master of Science in Communication Disorders (Speech-Language Pathology) is a 60-credit-hour program that has been continuously CAA-accredited since January 1974 — one of the longest tenures in the western United States. The program runs through the Speech and Hearing Science department in the College of Health Solutions and emphasizes evidence-based practice across pediatric, adult medical, and rehabilitation settings. ASU’s current accreditation cycle runs 2019–2027 with the next CAA review in 2027. Best fit for students drawn to a large research-active R1 with broad clinical placement networks across the Phoenix metro.

Grand Canyon University (Phoenix)

Grand Canyon University’s online MS in Speech-Language Pathology is the newest program in Arizona — CAA candidate since February 2025, with distance-education modality recognized since May 2024. The program lives in the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions and is delivered primarily online with required clinical placements arranged local to the student. Candidate status confers ASHA certification eligibility on graduates, and the program’s current cycle runs 2025–2030. GCU is a private Christian university, so faith-based ethics are integrated into the curriculum. Best fit for working students or career-changers who can’t relocate but want a structured online cohort experience.

Midwestern University, Arizona (Glendale)

Midwestern University’s MS in Speech-Language Pathology achieved full CAA accreditation in February 2020 after candidacy from November 2015. The program is currently in its 2025–2033 cycle, with the next CAA review in 2032 — the longest forward-looking cycle of any Arizona program. Midwestern’s SLP program lives in the College of Health Sciences alongside osteopathic medicine, dental, pharmacy, and other clinical health disciplines, giving students substantive interprofessional training opportunities. The Glendale campus is in Phoenix’s northwest suburbs. Best fit for students who want a newer accredited program with strong allied-health peer training.

Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff)

NAU’s MS in Communication Sciences and Disorders has been CAA-accredited since October 1989 and is now in its 2023–2031 cycle, with the next CAA review in 2031. The program requires 63–69 credit hours plus required internship/fieldwork, and operates from the College of Health and Human Services in Flagstaff. NAU added a CAA-recognized distance-education modality in July 2022, making it Arizona’s longest-running online MSLP option. The Flagstaff base gives students access to clinical placements serving northern Arizona’s Native American communities, where bilingual and rural-practice experience is highly valued. Best fit for students drawn to a smaller campus, distance-ed flexibility, or rural and Indigenous community service work.

University of Arizona (Tucson)

The University of Arizona’s MS in Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences holds the longest CAA accreditation in Arizona — continuously accredited since April 1972. The program offers a two-year traditional track for students with an SLHS background and a three-year track with leveling coursework for applicants from outside the field, with a minimum of 44 semester credit hours. UA SLHS is consistently ranked among the top SLP master’s programs nationally (U.S. News currently ranks it #6 in tied specialty rankings). The program lives in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences in the College of Science. Current cycle runs 2021–2029, next CAA review 2028. Best fit for students who want an established research-active program at a flagship R1 with a strong national reputation.

Comparing Arizona’s SLP Programs

The table below puts Arizona’s six CAA-recognized programs side by side. Modality, location, accreditation status, and credit hours are the first filters most applicants narrow on before reading the individual program write-ups.

Program	Location	Modality	Credits	CAA Status	Next Review
A.T. Still University	Mesa	Campus	varies	Candidate (since 2022)	2027 cycle end
Arizona State University	Tempe	Campus	60	Accredited (since 1974)	2027
Grand Canyon University	Phoenix	Online	varies	Candidate (since 2025)	2030 cycle end
Midwestern University	Glendale	Campus	varies	Accredited (since 2020)	2032
Northern Arizona University	Flagstaff	Campus + Distance Ed	63–69	Accredited (since 1989)	2031
University of Arizona	Tucson	Campus	44+ (2- or 3-year track)	Accredited (since 1972)	2028