Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Certificate

Do you have a bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders or Speech-Language Pathology? Are you looking to fulfill the clinical experience requirements for OBESPA licensure for an SLPA?

The OCCC SLPA Certificate will provide you with the assistant-level knowledge, skills and clinical experience needed to meet OBESPA SLPA licensure AND ASHA Assistant Exam requirements.

• 15 total credit hours required
  • Summer Semester
    • SLPA 1073 School Issues for the Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (8 weeks)
    • SLPA 1083 Instructional Procedures in Communication Disorder (8 weeks)
  • Fall Semester
    • SLPA 1033 Professional Issues for Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (Early 8 weeks)
    • SLPA 2033 Clinical Experience I (Early 8 weeks, 50 hours of direct clinical clock hours)
    • SLPA 2063 Clinical Experience II (Late 8 weeks, 50 hours of direct clinical clock hours)
• Obtain the necessary clinical experience hours by the end of fall semester to begin your career as an SLPA by spring.
• Courses are online and can be completed from your current place of residence
• Clinical experiences are located as close to your place of residence as possible

Minimum Criteria:

• Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences Disorders or Speech-Language Pathology from an accredited institution within the last 5 years
• Minimum graduation GPA of 2.5 with no less than a C in SLP major courses
• Recommendation from program or clinical director at your degree conferring university
• 25 guided observation hours are highly recommended prior to starting.  Applications without the 25 guided observation hours will be considered but admissions preference will be given to those with the completed observation hours requirement needed prior to clinical placements.

Important Dates and Deadlines:

• Application for the OCCC SLPA certificate program will open January 17, 2023
• Deadline for applications is April 21, 2023 at noon
• OCCC SLPA Certificate orientation May 12, 2023.  This is mandatory for all new certificate students.  It will be in-person on the OCCC campus.
• Speech and hearing screenings in Oklahoma City EITHER June 13 OR June 15, 2023 (8 am to 3 pm).  This is a requirement for the Instructional Methods course.  You will choose one of those days to do in-person speech and hearing screenings at a daycare located in Oklahoma City.
• Clinic Bootcamp July 21, 2023, 9 am to 4 pm.  This is mandatory for all students who will be starting a clinical placement in the fall Clinical Experience courses.

For more information contact:

Sarah Baker
Program Director/Professor
OCCC Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Program
405-682-1611 ext. 7395
Sarah.m.baker@occc.edu