Speech Language Pathology

Speech Language Pathology Services Credential

Language, speech, and hearing services are often provided to students with special needs.  The Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Services Credential authorizes the holder to perform services as an itinerant speech clinician or speech and hearing therapist in preschool, K-12, or in classes organized primarily for adults.  An SLP Credential may hold an authorization in one or more of the following areas:

• Language, Speech and Hearing authorizes the holder to conduct Language, Speech, and Hearing Assessments and provide Educational Services, provide specific learning disability area services related to speech and language, and special education services to individuals with language and speech impairments across the special education disability areas, to students from birth through age 22 in services across the continuum of program options available.

• Audiology authorizes the holder to conduct audiologic assessments, provide instruction and management of individual and classroom amplification and assistive listening devices, central auditory processing testing, and related special education services to individuals with a primary or secondary disability of deaf or hard of hearing, deaf-blind, and a hearing loss that manifests itself in conjunction with additional disabilities including unilateral or bilateral, whether fluctuating, conductive, sensorineural, and/or auditory neuropathy, to students from birth through age 22 in services across the continuum of program options available. 

• Special Class Authorization* authorizes the holder to provide instructional services to special need students in the area of autism and speech and language impairment who are identified through the local level special education assessment, and to conduct Educational Assessments related to students' access to the academic core curriculum and Special Education Support.

*The Special Class Authorization (SCA) is a teaching authorization that may be added to a valid SLP credential.  Holders of the SLP credential may provide speech services to a small or large group without the SCA.  The SCA is required when providing acadmic instruction, rather than speech services alone.

Clinical or Rehabilitative Services Credential

The Clinical or Rehabilitative Services Credential authorizes the holder to perform services related to audiology, orientation, and mobility.  The service may be performed at any grade level- preschool, K-12, or in classes organized primarily for adults.

• Audiology authorizes the holder to conduct audiologic assessments, provide instruction and management of individual and classroom amplification and assistive listening devices, central auditory processing testing, and related special education services to individuals with a primary or secondary disability of deaf or hard of hearing, deaf-blind, and a hearing loss that manifests itself in conjunction with additional disabilities including unilateral or bilateral, whether fluctuating, conductive, sensorineural, and/or auditory neuropathy, to students from birth through age 22 in services across the continuum of program options available.

• Orientation and Mobility authorizes the holder to provide services to students who are blind, visually impaired, and deaf-blind individuals with age-appropriate, hands-on experiences and to allow them to learn how to navigate their natural travel settings including home, school and community, become independent travelers and assist in the development of a conceptual understanding of the environment to students from birth through age 22.

Terms and Definitions Related to Special Education Services