Speech Language Pathology Assistant

Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs) are licensed healthcare professionals who work under the direction of a speech-language pathologist (SLP). SLPAs serve children and, sometimes, adults with communication disorders by implementing therapeutic treatment plans designed by their supervising SLP. SLPAs work in public schools, private clinics, and early intervention settings.

Why Choose SLPA

The Speech-Language Pathology Assistant program at Delta College is well recognized for preparing students for licensure and practice in the state of California. Students study typical child development, causes, and the impact of communication disorders, as well as intervention procedures for addressing communication disorders. In addition to extensive didactic training in the classroom, students engage in clinical training in various settings, including the Delta College Child Development Center, local schools, and local clinics. The final semester of the program features a 15-week internship arranged by faculty, where students work alongside a practicing SLP mentor. Delta College partners with schools and clinics across the Central Valley and Bay Area regions of California to provide a variety of internship opportunities for our students. Upon graduation, our students meet qualifications for state licensure and national certification and are competitive in the job market.

Degrees & Certificates

Associates of Science in Speech Language Pathology Assistant

The Delta College Associates of Science in SLPA degree is a two-year degree program that prepares students for licensure and practice as SLPAs. SLPAs work in a variety of settings serving children, and sometimes adults, with communication disorders under the direction of a licensed SLP. The Delta College AS in SLP includes six core communication disorders courses, nine related courses and general education courses. In addition, the program provides students with extensive observation opportunities as well as clinical opportunities in order for students to obtain 100 clinical practicum hours required for state licensure. Clinical opportunities include serving children in the Delta College Child Development Center and in off-campus settings such as private clinics and public schools.

Please see the college catalog for degree requirements for the AS in SLPA degree.

A suggested course sequence is below. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with a counselor to develop their academic plan. The following serves as a guideline and requirements are subject to change. Please note that the SLPA program is a hybrid program with both in-person and online classes. The program cannot be completed 100% online.

Semester 1 (15 units)

COMM DIS 1A Introduction to Communication Disorders (3 units)
ENGL 1A Reading and Composition (3 units)
HS/FCS 19 Human Development (3 units)
CS 11 Fundamentals of Computer Science (3 units) *or similar computer class
COM ST 1A Public Speaking (3 units) *or other 1A GE

Semester 2 (16 units)

COMM DIS 1B Speech, Language and Hearing Development (3 units)
PSYCH 1 Introduction to Psychology (3 units)
STATS 12 Introduction to Probability and Statistics (3 units) *or other 1B GE
BIO 11 Human Biology (4 units) *or similar lab bio class
SL 1 Sign Language (3 units)

Summer 1 (4 units)*

CHEM 3A Introduction to Chemistry or
PHYSC 2A General Physics

Semester 3 (16.5 units)

COMM DIS 3 Therapy Analysis and Observations (4.5 units)
COMM DIS 7 Service Delivery Issues for the SLPA (3 units)
COM ST 7 Intercultural Communications (3 units)
ANTH/HUM 4 Introduction to Linguistics (3 units)
ECE 34 Children with Special Needs (3 units)

Semester 4 (15.5 units)

COMM DIS 5 Materials and Procedures (3 units)
COMM DIS 9 Remediation Techniques (6.5 units)
HIST 17 A History of the United States (3 units) *or other Area 4 GE
ETHNS any ethnic studies course (3 units)

*required for CSU transfer.

Application

Any Delta College student can take COMM DIS 1A and COMM DIS 1B. In order to move on to COMM DIS 3, students must apply and be accepted to the SLPA program. We have implemented this application procedure to ensure that we can guarantee eligibility for licensure when students graduate from our program. Applications are due at least one semester prior to enrollment in COMM DIS 3. In order to qualify for acceptance, students must have completed or be currently enrolled in three pre-requisite courses: COMM DIS 1A, HS 19 and ENGL 1A. Students must earn C grades or better in each of the pre-requisite courses to be accepted. Applications are accepted between September 1 and October 1 for spring admission and between March 1 and April 1 for fall admission.

SLPA Application

Should you have any questions about the Associates of Science in SLPA program, please email SLPA Program director, Dr. Reece at Benjamin.reece@deltacollege.edu.

Associates of Science Degree

Students interested in pursuing a career as a speech-language pathologist may consider transferring to a four-year bachelor’s degree program immediately after graduation from Delta College (rather than entering the job market) with the ultimate goal of attending a master’s degree program in SLP. Bachelor’s degree programs do not require that students complete the full SLPA program curriculum. Student’s are eligible to transfer once they have completed their general associate’s degree. Completing a general associate’s degree, rather than the AS in SLPA, may be a quicker path into a four-year degree program for some students. Students who are considering this path are recommended to consider taking COMM DIS 1A and COMM DIS 1B prior to transferring. These two classes are similar to the first two classes in most bachelor’s level SLP programs and thus are recognized as transferable by most bachelor’s programs. This path does not include courses and internship required for SLPA licensure.

Should you have any questions about academic pathways into the SLP profession, please email SLPA Program director, Dr. Reece at Benjamin.reece@deltacollege.edu.

Advanced Placement in SLPA Certificate of Completion

Many bachelors degree graduates in the field of SLP do not have enough clinical hours to apply for SLPA licensure in the state of California. Our state licensure requires 100 supervised clinical hours. The Delta College Advanced Placement in SLPA Certificate program consists of three classes specifically focused on SLPA practice and a clinical internship. The program can be completed in as quickly as one semester or students can pace the program as they see fit.
Applications for the Advanced Placement in SLPA Certificate program are accepted from September 1-October 1 for spring enrollment and March 1-April 1 for fall enrollment. A link to the application is provided on the SLPA webpage.
The pre-requisite to acceptance into the Advanced Placement in SLPA Certificate program is a bachelors degree in SLP or CSD with a GPA of 2.75 or better. Students may apply and be conditionally accepted in the final semester of their bachelor’s program.

The course sequence is as follows:

COMM DIS 5: Materials and Procedures (3 units): A survey of materials and procedures found in Speech Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) clinical practice.
COMM DIS 7: Service Delivery Issues for the SLPA (3 units): A study of principles and practices for management of individuals with communicative disorders as well as the legal and ethical considerations and requirements for employment in various work settings.
COMM DIS 9: Remediation Techniques (6.5 units): In-depth study of specific disorders of communication, with a focus on evidence-based practice. This course covers remediation techniques and rationales for commonly used therapeutic approaches.
- As part of COMM DIS 9, students will complete their 15-week clinical internship at an external internship site. This internship will be two days per week following the schedule of the student’s internship supervisor. The weekly schedule is determined by the supervising SLP.

The Advanced Placement Certificate program is a hybrid program, meaning that we have both in-person and online courses. The program cannot be completed 100% remotely.

Should you have any questions about the Advanced Placement Certificate in SLPA program, please email SLPA Program director, Dr. Reece at Benjamin.reece@deltacollege.edu

About the SLPA Profession

As a licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA), you will work under the direction of a supervising Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). SLPAs work directly with clients or patients to conduct screenings for speech, hearing, or language disorders.

SLPAs work to provide direct treatment to children, and sometimes adults, with communication disorders. SLPAs also assist their supervising SLP with speech, language and hearing screenings and evaluations. SLPAs may perform clerical duties such as: documentation, preparing materials, maintaining client files and coordinating clinical schedules. SLPAs schedule meetings or therapy appointments for their supervisor and may provide administrative assistance towards research projects, in-service training and family/community education in the field of Communication Disorders.