If you’re pursuing speech-language pathology, you’ve probably heard about the 25 required observation hours. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) mandates these hours as part of the path toward earning your Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP).

Many graduate SLP programs now expect applicants to have all 25 hours completed before they begin the master’s program. If you’re not already in an undergraduate communication sciences and disorders (CSD) track, finding these observation opportunities can be tricky but totally doable.

Below, we’ll cover three ways to complete your ASHA-required 25 observation hours before starting grad school.

Hi everyone!

It's been a while, and I'm happy to be back. I'm starting up my second year on faculty, and the first year was chock-full of activity. Now that things have slowed down a bit in my second year, I've decided to write an update on things I've learned this year that you might find helpful. 

Applying to graduate school in speech-language pathology can be a challenging process--there are many small parts to keep track of, and you want to present as prepared and polished in your application materials. The process can be overwhelming, but with careful preparation, you can assemble a compelling application that highlights your qualifications and passion for the field. Here’s a guide on how to prepare the essential materials for your application. 

Many people do not get accepted into a speech-language pathology graduate program on their first try. Others may not be able to afford entering grad school immediately after undergrad. Whatever your reasons are, do not feel discouraged. There are many jobs that will provide you with the opportunity to learn skills that you will use as a speech-language pathologist. Read on the learn about jobs to consider as you prepare to begin your grad school journey. 

But first! A special thank you to Jackie Rodriguez, MS, CCC-SLP for authoring this blog post. She is a wealth of knowledge, and we're lucky to have her share with us. Check out her Instagram for information on all things SLP.