Ohio makes an excellent state for an aspiring speech-language pathologist (SLP). From its robust healthcare system, dedication to education, and developing demand for healthcare professionals to its combination of urban and rural areas, Ohio presents a range of settings for speech therapists, such as schools, hospitals, adult rehabilitations, and private organizations. The recently increased focus on improving speech pathology services across the state advocates Ohio’s keen interest in advancing the field of speech-language pathology. In the advancement of the speech-language pathology field in Ohio, the Ohio Speech-Language-Hearing Association (OSLHA) and the Ohio Speech and Hearing Governmental Affairs Coalition (OSHGAC) have been significantly involved by pressing for updated policies, providing resources for practicing professionals and improving the standards of clinical practice.

Specifically, Ohio is home to several highly regarded universities that offer accredited programs in Communicative Sciences and Disorders (CSD). These institutions provide extensive education and training, enabling students to acquire the skills needed and knowledge to be proficient in speech-language pathology. A few examples of institutions with well-regarded programs in speech pathology are Ohio University, Ohio State University, Kent State University, and the University of Cincinnati. Ohio presents aspiring speech therapists with various educational opportunities, setting them on a path to success in this fulfilling career. The process and requirements of becoming a speech therapist in Ohio will be discussed in this article. 

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS 

A master’s degree is the minimum educational requirement to obtain licensure and practice as a speech therapist in Ohio. To become a licensed speech-language pathologist, your first requirement is a master’s degree in speech pathology from an accredited program. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) accredits speech-language pathologist programs across the United States. This would also mean you must have a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders or a related field. This would be a foundational step, providing vital anatomy, linguistics, basic clinical practices, and speech development knowledge. Most institutions in Ohio will require a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and GRE scores at or above the 30th percentile. But if peradventure you don’t have a bachelor’s degree in any related field relating to CSD, you will be required to take prerequisite courses to fill up the knowledge gap and qualify you for a graduate program. This fundamental coursework may include the following: 

• Anatomy and Physiology of Speech
• Audiology
• Clinical & Diagnostic Procedures in SLP
• Early Intervention for Young Patients
• Science of Language

For your master’s degree curriculum, a broad range of topics would be covered, such as the following: 

• Speech and Language Development
• Speech Disorders
• Language Disorders
• Swallowing Disorders
• Audiology 
• Maxillofacial Anomalies
• Normal Language Processes 
• Research Methods in SLP

Your master’s degree program would include a mix of coursework, clinical practice, and research; this program typically takes two years to complete. 

CLINICAL HOURS 

You must complete a clinical practicum before graduating from your master’s degree program. To meet the Ohio SLP board, you must complete at least 400 clock hours, including 375 hours of direct client contact. and 25 hours working under supervision before you begin to perform any procedures yourself. A clinical practicum is designed to help you learn speech-language pathologists’ clinical and diagnostic methods and give you hands-on experience with diverse speech patients, allowing you to diagnose and treat an extensive range of language and communication disorders. 

Your clinical practicum will be conducted under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist, during which you will have the opportunity to work in various settings, such as schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and private clinics. This variety of experience is essential for developing your skills in different practice areas. 

After completing your clinical practicum and graduating from your master’s program, you must complete a Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY). This supervised professional experience takes place after the master’s degree is awarded but before obtaining full licensure. Throughout your clinical fellowship, you can work full-time, with a minimum of 30 hours per week for 36 weeks, or on a part-time basis, with a minimum of 15 hours per week for 72 weeks. You will be expected to work with a diverse patient population, including children, pre-teens, adults, and individuals with varying communication impairments. This may involve assessing, evaluating, screening, diagnosing, and treating patients, meeting with their families, providing consultation and advice, and learning administrative duties such as recording progress, documenting client case histories, and completing other related tasks. Before commencing your clinical fellowship, you must collaborate with your supervisor to complete the Supervised Professional Experience plan outlining your activities. After completing your clinical Fellowship, you must submit a Supervised Professional Experience Report to the Ohio Speech-Language Pathology Board. You have to hold a temporary/provisional license to be qualified for both your clinical experiences, 

HOW TO GET A PROVISIONAL LICENSE IN OHIO

Before you qualify for independent practice, a temporary license is necessary to begin your Clinical Fellowship (CF) in Ohio. The Ohio Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (OBSLPA) issues provisional licenses to individuals who have completed their master’s degree and wish to start their clinical fellowship. A provisional license would allow you to work under the supervision of a licensed SLP to gain the needed skills and experience for a full licensure. 

The following requirements must be met in order to get a provisional license in Ohio: 

1. Educational Requirement: you must have completed three to four semesters of study in a speech-language pathology graduate program, and your course work must be consistent with the population to be served and the work setting you will be assigned to. You must have at least less than twenty-five hours of observation and seventy-five hours of clinical experience. 

2. Background Checks: To apply for speech-language pathology licensure in Ohio, you are required to complete a criminal background check which will include fingerprinting, and will be carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI)

3. Fill out the Application Form: You can get the application from the OBSLPA’s website, download the form, and fill in the required details. 

4. Official Transcripts: official transcripts from your graduate program must also be submitted to verify that you have completed a master’s degree in speech-language pathology.

5. Clinical Experience Supervision Proof: A letter from your supervisor agreeing to oversee your activities during your clinical fellowship will also need to be submitted.  

6. Submission and Application Fee: submit your application with the required documents to the OBSLPA. A non-refundable $75 application fee is to be paid during the submission of your application. 

The board will review your application, and once it has been approved, you will receive your license and can then begin your clinical fellowship. 

EXAMINATION REQUIREMENT 

Taking the Praxis Examination in Speech-Language Pathology is the next step after completing your education and clinical experience. This exam is provided by the Educational Testing Service and administered by Praxis. Registration can be done online, and it is to examine your knowledge in the field of speech-language pathology, your understanding of concepts covered in your post-graduate course, and the identification, evaluation, and treatment techniques you learned while completing your practicum and clinical fellowship.

The exam would cover the following topics: 

• Counseling, collaboration, and teaming
• Human Development and performance across the lifespan
• Documentation
• Epidemiology of communication disorders
• Ethics
• Factors that influence feeding and swallowing
• Legislation and client advocacy

Your understanding of assessment and diagnosis will also be evaluated through the following topics:

• Augmentative and alternative communication
• Cognitive aspects of communication
• Fluency
• Receptive and expressive language
• Social aspects of communication, including pragmatics
• Speech sound production
• Voice, resonance, and motor speech

The Praxis exam is made up of 132 multiple-choice questions and is scored on a scale of 100-200. To pass this exam you must achieve a score of at least 162. The Examination Testing Service has provided a Praxis study guide which you can use to prepare for the exam. Passing the exam is an important step in your path to becoming a licensed speech therapist, as it showcases that you have acquired the necessary knowledge and skills to provide safe and effective services to patients. 

APPLY FOR FULL LICENSURE 

After completing the abovementioned requirements, you can apply for full licensure. To complete your application process, you would need to submit the following documents with a non-refundable fee of $200: 

• Official transcript
• Background check
• Passport photos
• Praxis score report
• Verification of completion of clinical fellowship

The timeframe for obtaining a speech and language therapy license in Ohio is usually between 1 to 3 months, largely determined by the board’s upcoming meetings schedule. You can also apply for the 

MAINTAIN LICENSURE 

Without exception, renewing your professional license is your responsibility after you have been issued a professional license. SLP licenses in Ohio must be renewed every two years. You will receive a renewal application and a mailed notice from the Ohio Speech Language Pathology Board 30 days before the renewal deadline. While you will not need to provide evidence of your continuing education credits, you must sign a form confirming that you have the necessary hours.

Renewing your license as a speech-language pathologist in Ohio requires ongoing professional development and adherence to ethical and professional standards. To keep your SLP license active, you must renew it every two years and complete 20 hours of continuing education. At least 10 of the 20 hours measuring and testing human hearing, making impressions for earmolds, or selecting and adapting hearing aids. You will retain supporting documents of continuing education for inspection by the Board for renewal on the renewal date. The hours must be obtained during the current practice period.

The acceptable continuing education credits include academic coursework, conventions, conferences, webinars, and seminars. The only requirement from the Ohio board is that a state licensing board or the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association approve the courses. You can explore ASHA’s continuing education requirements to get started. Additionally, the Ohio board offers periodic continuing education opportunities.

To renew your Speech-Language Pathology license in Ohio, you must submit a renewal application and pay $120 to the Ohio Board. You should note that submitting your renewal application after the due date will attract a late fee of $120, making the total fee $240.

To simplify the license renewal process, you can utilize the Ohio Board’s official continuing education tracking system, CE Broker. This provides an easy way to track your completed CE online and the process of maintaining your CE records and completion certificates. For more information on the board’s regulations, you can visit the Ohio Speech and Hearing Professionals Board’s website.