Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Degree Online

The Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) Associate of Science degree prepares you to work as support personnel in the field of communication disorders. Support personnel in speech-language pathology, or speech-language pathology assistants (SLPAs), perform tasks as prescribed, directed, and supervised by ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists (SLPs).

Our program follows the nationally recognized Education Pathways to Speech-Language Pathology Assistants Certification (C-SLPA) recommendations and prepares you to meet the Standards for SLPA Certification set forth by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA).

When you finish this A.S. in SLPA, you'll have completed your general education requirements (31 SCH) and 27 major/minor hours toward your bachelor's CDIS degree at ENMU. The 9 hours in CDIS not counting toward the major/minor will be countable as electives in CDIS. All CDIS courses in this degree are upper division.

Apply now

Who should get the SLPA Associate Degree?

Our Associate of Science in Speech Language Pathology fills the gap between a rigorous four-year degree and real-life limitations. This degree is completely online and provides an affordable career path for students who fit into the following categories:

• You're unsure if SLP is the field for you and you want to work in the profession before committing to a four-year degree and a master's degree after that.
• You're interested in SLP, but do not want a four-year commitment or cannot afford to work on a degree for four consecutive years.
• You don't want the responsibility of being a speech language pathologist but want to work in the SLP field as support personnel.
• You've completed a sizeable number of college credits but still have no degree.
• You've been unable to gain admission into a graduate program or you need to work to save money before attending a graduate program.
• You need to "stop-out" after two years working on a bachelor's degree and still need multiple employment options.

Learning Format for SLPA Associate Degree

Our SLPA Associate Degree can be completed 100% online, with students completing assignments, readings, tests and projects throughout the semester. Recorded lectures via Panopto will connect you with professors and other students.

Student participation, using Panopto, Canvas and Collaborate is done both during actual class time and on your own time.

This means some classes will flex around your schedule, while others give you the benefit of engaging with professors and peers during class time.

You must accrue 100 clock hours in your fieldwork course: 80 hours of direct patient/client/student services under the supervision of an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist (SLP) and 20 hours of indirect patient/client/student services under the supervision of an ASHA-certified SLP. Fieldwork placements can be completed in your geographical area.

Advising for SLPA Majors

As a CDIS student, we are committed to helping you complete your degree as efficiently as possible. Throughout the program, we offer advising via phone or email and are always happy to help when students reach out to us.

Associate in SLPA Academic Resources

We want to make sure you get the support you need. We offer flexible tutoring services, including the ENMU Writing Center which is available to help you improve your writing and help you clearly communicate for written, school-related projects and assignments.

We also have online databases, journal article, and eBooks accessible through the Golden Student Success Center (GSSC). ENMU librarians are available virtually, via phone and email to provide assistance, so you'll always have the help you need to take advantage of library resources.

If you have questions or concerns about your homework assignments, projects or grades, you also have the option to email or call your professor.

See our distance learning library services

Affordable SLPA Associate Degree

Eastern New Mexico University has the second lowest undergraduate and master's-level tuition in the state of New Mexico, and has one of the most affordable tuition rates in the United States. Once you are an enrolled CDIS student you are eligible to apply for scholarships through the ENMU Foundation.

Get more scholarship information

Career Opportunities with an Associate in SLPA

Students completing the A.S. in SLPA will meet ASHA Standards I, II, and III for ASHA Speech-Language Pathology Assistants Certification (C-SLPA) and should meet all eligibility requirements to be approved to take the C-SLPA national examination.

The employment outlook for SLPAs is expected to reflect a "faster than average" growth rate of 15%–21%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Summary Report for Speech-Language Pathology Assistants as part of the O*Net OnLine project. The summary report lists the median wage in 2013 for SLPAs as $16.42 hourly or $34,150 annually; job openings from 2012 to 2022 are expected to reach 37,700. As of 2012, approximately 107,000 individuals were employed in this career pathway. In addition to great faculty, Counseling and Career Services offers free job placement assistance to all students, so if you are looking for another job, we can help you.

Check out career services for students