About the Speech-Language Pathology Profession

woman child learning

Projected Workforce Growth

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the national employment rate of SLPs is expected to grow much faster than average through the year 2031. An additional 34,000 SLPs will be needed to fill the demand between 2021 and 2031—an 21% increase in job openings. 

Using data from the BLS and other sources, U.S. News & World Report ranked “speech-language pathologist” as No. 11 in their “Best Health Care Jobs” category and No. 31 in their “100 Best Jobs” category for 2023.

Professional Credentialing

At the national level, the credential is Certification of Clinical Competence (CCCs). Visit the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) website to learn about the requirements to achieve your CCCs.

State level credentialing for licensure and school certification varies by state. Information for your state can also be found on the ASHA website