Florida's SLPA license runs through the Board of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology, under the Florida Department of Health. One thing worth knowing upfront: your supervising SLP is legally capped at overseeing 2 full-time or 3 part-time SLPAs at once, so ask about their current caseload of assistants before you accept an offer.
Step by step
- Complete a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university, including at least 24 semester hours of relevant coursework, with a minimum of 9 hours covering normal human growth and development, hearing and language, psychology, and normal speech development.
- Line up a supervising SLP. They're required to provide on-the-job training before you can begin working under a standard supervision plan.
- Confirm your supervisor isn't already at their limit of 2 full-time or 3 part-time SLPAs.
- Submit your application and required documents to the Florida Board of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology.
- Once licensed, renew every two years and complete 20 hours of continuing education per renewal cycle.