Florida is a great place for anyone aspiring to become a speech therapist, and here is why: Florida is known for its efficient educational system; the state also has a sizable system of state universities and community colleges listed among the top-rated universities in the country. Additionally, in 2023, according to an analysis by the U.S. News and Report, Florida ranked as the number one state with the best education. Furthermore, significant contributions of prominent health organizations like The National Institute of Health (NIH) and Florida Center for Reading Research in speech therapy only imply that Florida is a state that surely commits to the advancement of speech therapy and, therefore, is a fertile ground where you can cultivate, hone your skills, and get certified as a speech therapist. 

Florida is ranked among the top five states with the highest employment rate in the United States, also according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate for speech-language pathologists is expected to grow nearly about 30 percent between 2020-2030, this is extensively higher than the average employment rate for all other occupations. This information mirrors the increasing need for services rendered by speech and language pathologists in hospitals, schools, adult homes, and other clinical or medical-related settings. 

Several universities in Florida, like the University of Florida, the University of South Florida, and the Florida State University, have been rated among institutions with the best speech-pathology programs in the nation by the U.S. News and World Report. These institutions provide top-rated education and contribute to the development of the field and significantly to the expertise of freshly certified speech therapists in Florida. This article will discuss how you can become a speech therapist in Florida. 

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

To become a speech therapist in Florida, you will need to complete a master’s or doctorate in speech-language pathology from an institution accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). This national recognition helps ensure the program provides a high-quality educational experience that prepares you for entry into the field of speech-language pathology. There are online program options available if, for one reason or another, you cannot participate in a physical program, you should note that this will take longer than the typical two-year duration for the physical program. Completing a master’s degree will mean you must have completed a bachelor’s degree in communication science and disorders (CSD). Still, if your bachelor’s degree was in areas other than communication science and disorders, you may need to take CSD-related prerequisites before applying to your desired graduate speech-language pathology programs. This would aid in laying the foundational knowledge needed to further understand what will be taught to you during a graduate program.

Standard prerequisites that establish a foundation for graduate-level coursework include: 

• Neuroanatomy & Communication
• Clinical Phonetics
• Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing Mechanism 
• Introduction to Anatomy 
• Science of Language 
• Speech and Language Development in Children 

Florida schools commonly require a 3.0 GPA or higher to be considered for a graduate program, so be sure to know the requirements of the particular school you are applying to.

There are 25 SLP programs in Florida offered at the Masters and Doctoral levels. There are 6 SLP programs offered entirely online, and 10 Master of Speech Pathology programs accredited by CAA-ASHA. Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida International University in Miami, University of Central Florida in Orlando, University of South Florida in Tampa, and University of Florida in Gainesville are popular locations in the state where you can find accredited universities offering in-person or online SLP Master’s programs. 

Becoming a speech therapist requires in-depth knowledge about speech and language disorders and expertise in accessing and diagnosing patients, which is why SLP graduate programs tend to be highly selective, so make sure to put your best forward. Only students who have proven to be up to the task are considered candidates. 

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE HOURS 

During your master’s degree program in speech pathology, you will have to complete a clinical practicum. In Florida, candidates are expected to complete a supervised clinical practicum of at least 300 clock hours, 200 of which must involve direct work in the area of speech-language pathology in order to qualify for licensure. The supervised clinical practice will include each of the following areas: evaluation of speech and language problems; management of language disorders in children; management of disorders of articulation, fluency, and voice; and assessment and management of auditory disorders.

You would also need to complete a clinical fellowship year after your master’s degree program. The Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology requires SLP license candidates to complete 9 months of professional experience that involves direct supervision by a state-licensed SLP as part of a post-graduate clinical fellowship. The SLP CF is a mentored professional experience that begins after the completion of academic coursework and clinical practicum. A full-time fellowship would consist of 30 hours per week for thirty-six 36 weeks, while a part-time fellowship would consist of 15 hours per week for 72 weeks.

The period of supervised professional experience would involve:

• At least 18 hours of direct observations of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, with a maximum of 9 hours dedicated to the evaluation of clinical records
• At least six 6 on-site evaluations every three months in which the fellow is observed conducting evaluations, therapy
• Reviews of the following diagnostic and treatment reports, clinical correspondence management plans, and conference summaries
• 18 hours (6 every three months) conferring with the fellow regarding evaluations and management strategies, monitoring case conferences, and contributions to professional meetings and publications

You should note that you will practice with a temporary license for clinical practicum and fellowship year in Florida. The temporary license is valid for 21 months.

HOW TO GET A TEMPORARY LICENSE IN FLORIDA 

To get a temporary license in Florida, you would need to go through the following steps: 

1. Educational Requirements

• Master’s Degree: To be considered for a temporary license, you must have completed either a master’s or doctoral degree in speech-language pathology from an ASHA-accredited institution. 
• Online Courses: You need to take two courses before you begin your application for provisional licensure. These courses are:
  
  HIV/AIDS (one hour)
  Prevention of Medical Errors (two hours)

You can make sure to check for approved course providers. 

2. Application 

• Download and Fill Application: you can get the form by visiting the Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology website, select the correct type of temporary licensure that is needed(temporary licensure for Clinical Fellowship Year), and download and fill the application form. 
• Submit Required Documents: Have your university send official transcripts to ASHA and the Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. This becomes the slowest component of your application, so make sure to initiate this step as soon as possible.
• Employment verification: A provisional licensee needs a fully licensed SLP supervisor. You and your supervisor will complete this form and mail it to the below mailing address: 

Department of Health
Board of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology
4052 Bald Cypress Way
Bin C-06
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3256

• Application Fee: an application fee of $100 will be paid during your application submission.

3. Background Check: You must complete the required background check and submit your biometrics through an approved vendor on the application site. 

4. Submit your application and wait for approval: Submit your application and wait for approval, if your application is approved, you will be granted a temporary license. 

EXAMINATION REQUIREMENT

After completing your clinical practicum and fellowship year, passing the Speech Pathology Praxis Exam is the next step toward becoming a licensed speech therapist in Florida. 

The SLP Praxis exam is designed to test your skills and abilities as a speech-language pathologist in a wide range of settings. Within the exam, you will be asked questions from a range of topics that fall into three different content categories: 

• Foundation and Professional Practice
• Screening, Assessment, Evaluation, and Diagnosis
• Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation of Treatment

These sections help ensure that you know the role and responsibilities of speech-language pathologists and the methods and techniques these professionals use while working with clients. You can register for the Praxis here or through mail or phone, which costs an additional fee of $35. The SLP Praxis exam costs $146 each time it is taken. If there is any reason for you to change your exam date or location, an extra charge of $40 will be paid. 

The test is scored on a 100-200 scale score, and a passing score of 162 is required to be considered for licensure in Florida. You can use the study guide to start preparing for the exam. 

APPLY FOR INITIAL LICENSURE 

After passing your Praxis Exam and completing your supervised clinical hours, you will be qualified to apply for full licensure through the Florida board. You will need to fill out the application and mail it to the Board along with the following documents; 

• Evaluation of Professional Experience, completed by the supervisor of your clinical fellowship
• Certification of a Master’s Degree, signed by your university director
• Official graduate transcript
• National Exam scores

Mail the completed documents to: 

Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

1. O. BOX 6330

Tallahassee, FL 32314-6330

It takesabout thirty days to be notified of the status of your application and be registered for a license. Once you are licensed, you may also seek specialty certifications through ASHA. These can be helpful in the long run if you decide to specialize in a particular population of patients. 

MAINTAIN LICENSURE 

Your license must be renewed every two years through the Florida Board. Maintaining licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist in Florida requires you to complete 30 approved continuing education hours, including 18 hours of clinical-related CEs, 10 hours of non-clinical-related CEs, and two hours of CEs on medical errors. You’ll receive a mailed notice at least 90 days before your license expires, which you can renew online.

Clinically, courses are defined as those that involve learning new information, techniques, procedures, or protocols that can be applied in the direct assessment, treatment, diagnosis, or counseling of patients.

You may also gain CEs through the following methods:

• A maximum of 5 hours per biennium for being a presenter or moderator of approved continuing education hours
• A maximum of 5 hours per biennium may be earned as an instructor of a graduate-level course
• A maximum of 2 hours per biennium may be earned in a non-paid directed clinical experience

You’ll be responsible for tracking your CEs through cebroker.com. The system also lists which courses the Florida Board approves. The department will renew your license upon receipt of your completed renewal application and the required fees. 

Your current mailing address must be on file to ensure you receive your renewal notification from the department. Failure to renew an active or inactive license by the expiration date will result in the license being placed in delinquent status. Failure by a delinquent licensee to renew before the expiration of the current licensure cycle renders the license null and void without any further action by the board or the department.