How to Become a Speech-Language Pathologist in Colorado 2025

Written by Sarah Keller, Last Updated: November 19, 2025

Colorado is a state for people who take care of themselves and others. That’s an attitude and perspective that’s just part of being a Coloradan.

That extends to a sizable and growing population of speech-language pathologists (SLPs). Speech-language pathologists enjoy the unique rewards of a career dedicated to helping diverse patient populations overcome communicative disorders. From kids who stutter to stroke patients relearning to swallow, SLPs provide essential services across the lifespan. Colorado’s second-highest SLP salaries in the nation and projected 40% job growth make it an attractive destination for aspiring speech therapists.

Find out how you can become a speech therapist here by earning your speech-language pathologist license through the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies Office of Speech-Language Pathology Certification.

Step 1. Complete an ASHA-Accredited Graduate Program in Speech-Language Pathology

Master’s programs in communicative sciences and disorders generally don’t require applicants to have a bachelor’s in a closely related major, but it definitely makes your path easier. If you hold a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated major, you’re usually allowed to complete foundational courses as part of the graduate program before beginning graduate-level coursework.

Standard prerequisite courses include Physiology of Communication, Phonetics and Phonemics, Fundamentals of Audiology, Development of Speech and Language, Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing Mechanism, and Language Science. These foundational courses prepare you for the rigorous graduate curriculum ahead.

To apply to a graduate program, you’ll typically need to submit:

• A resume of your experience
• A statement of purpose
• Two letters of recommendation from academic references
• An official transcript from your undergraduate program
• GRE scores

Online programs are an ideal option for students seeking an SLP master’s degree from far-flung Colorado outposts. These programs consist of traditional coursework, such as online problem modules, tests, and quizzes, coupled with clinical practicum hours completed in nearby clinics or hospitals.

In addition to the accredited online programs that are now widely available, the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) accredits three SLP graduate programs in Colorado. These programs are located at the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Northern Colorado, and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.

The graduate program coursework covers linguistics, psychology, physiology, and physical science. Core courses typically include Communication and Neuroscience, Articulation and Phonological Disorders, Language Learning Disabilities, Advanced Topics in Social Communication, Motor Speech Disorders, Disorders of Language & Literacy, and Assistive Technology for Communications Disorders.

Electives may include Voice and Resonance Disorders, Advanced Diagnostic Procedures, Acquired Disorders of Language & Cognition, Voices and Listeners, Management, Approaches to Natural Language, and Current Research on Communicative Science and Disorders. You’ll also complete 400 practicum hours, participating in real therapy sessions under careful supervision in the community.

Step 2. Gain Required Professional Experience Through a Clinical Fellowship

You can view your practicum as a preview of the following and most intensive step in the license process: gaining the required professional experience in an active therapy practice. The Colorado DORA requires that SLP program graduates complete a 36-week (1,260 hours) clinical fellowship before becoming licensed in the state.

SLP graduates often find clinical fellowships through sponsors in their graduate program. You may also look for clinical fellowship opportunities on other job boards where SLP openings pop up.

During your clinical fellowship, you must meet several requirements:

• 36 weeks of full-time experience (or the equivalent part-time experience), for a total of 1,260 hours at a minimum
• Receive mentoring from an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist
• Passing an evaluation of core skills in the final segment of the experience
• 80% of your fellowship must be spent in direct clinical contact with patients

These mentored activities will include assessing and diagnosing patients, performing administrative work related to clients, and meeting with clients’ families to discuss progress. It’s an opportunity to put your theoretical classroom knowledge into practice and build skills and competencies you can rely on throughout your SLP career.

Step 3. Pass the National SLP Examination

A passing score of 162 on the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) Speech-Language Pathology Exam is one of the primary qualifications required for licensure in Colorado. The test is offered through Praxis, a third-party exam administrator.

A passing score on the national exam also makes you eligible to apply for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) credential through ASHA. The CCC-SLP serves as an alternative pathway to meeting some licensure requirements in Colorado, and many employers prefer to hire SLPs who hold the CCC-SLP.

When registering for the national exam, you’ll be required to send an official graduate transcript and provide proof of completion of a clinical fellowship by submitting the speech-language pathology clinical fellowship report and rating form. The Praxis SLP test is scored on a 100-200-point scale, with a minimum required score of 162.

For preparation, you may purchase Praxis study guides, take practice tests, or review the speech-language pathology exam’s study companion. The test consists of 132 questions covering practice methods, screening, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment evaluation, among other topics.

In Colorado, the exam can be taken at a Praxis test center in any one of several locations across the state. There’s no requirement that you take the test in the same state as you’re applying for licensure, however, so you can also find an out-of-state option if that’s more convenient. There are also new online options with remote proctoring that let you finish your test in the comfort of your own home.

Step 4. Earn Your License and Begin Your Career as a Speech-Language Pathologist

Once you’ve passed the national exam, you’ll be ready to apply for licensure online through the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.

You’ll need to submit:

• A required license fee
• Official transcripts from the graduate program
• Proof of successful completion of a clinical fellowship
• National Examination scores
• A patient’s medical record security plan
• Proof of professional liability insurance
• A healthcare professional’s profile
• Answers to a series of questions about your criminal background

It’s also possible to obtain licensure by endorsement in Colorado if you already have an active SLP license in good standing in another state.

A High-Paying Career that Offers Diverse Opportunities and Job Satisfaction

SLPs don’t tend to wind up in their positions by accident. It’s a profession that can be as much a calling as a job. When you’re giving the gift of communication, it’s a good bet that you get some warm feelings along the way.

The data backs that up. Two studies found high levels of job satisfaction among SLP professionals. US News & World Report ranked the profession third among health care jobs. In addition, the salary aggregator and job board site PayScale rated speech-language pathology among the 15 most meaningful jobs that pay well in a survey of 2 million workers.

It’s common to start in these positions along one of three paths:

Join the Clinic Where You Performed Your Clinical Fellowship

Clinics prefer to hire SLPs who have worked under their tutelage to gain the required professional experience because they already have internal references and knowledge of the clinic’s clients. This is, in some ways, the easiest path because you’ll already have a good idea if you’re on it by the time you complete your fellowship. Since you’re familiar with the clinic, you’ll know right away if you want to stay.

Start an Independent Practice or Partnership

Once licensed, you may also consider starting your own business to practice independently. This can be a high-risk, high-reward approach to SLP practice. If it goes well, you reap all the benefits. If it fails, you’re the only one to blame.

Some SLPs choose to work under a more experienced SLP for a period of time to gain experience and a work reference. Other SLPs use their clinical fellowship provider as a reference while they get started in a partnership or independent practice.

Pursue Job Openings With Other Providers

The Colorado school system and hospitals or clinics throughout the state are also major employers in the SLP job market. Essentially, anywhere that has a strong need for screening or rehabilitation for speech disorders will be looking for SLPs in this job market. SLPs in school settings work with children on articulation, language development, and social communication skills.

Some of Colorado’s top SLP employers include dedicated therapy clinics such as Colorado Springs Therapy Center, major healthcare centers like Children’s Hospital Colorado, or contract solutions like Zoah Speech and Outreach.

Step 5. Maintain SLP Licensure and Complete Continuing Education

As a practicing SLP in Colorado, you’ll need to renew your license every year. You can renew online through DORA.

You’ll need to demonstrate continuing professional competency to maintain your license status. DORA offers three paths to meet this requirement:

• Participate in the continuing Professional Development Program, involving:
  • Completion of a Reflective Self-Assessment Tool (RSAT)
  • Completion of Learning Goals based on your RSAT
  • Accumulate 10 professional development activities
• Qualify for deemed status as part of a continuing professional competency program through another entity; currently, the Colorado Department of Education is the only approved entity on the list (ASHA activities do not count)
• Receive a military exemption.

It’s always wise to look to local SLP organizations for opportunities to complete professional development activities. In Colorado, the Colorado Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CSLHA) has become highly active in this role.

The organization holds an annual conference through which SLPs explore the latest developments in the field. Past conferences have involved the exploration of such topics as treating oropharyngeal dysphagia, the surgical treatment of dysphagia and vocal cord dysfunction, and emerging education technology in speech-language pathology. It’s a way to stack up your continuing education while making valuable connections with fellow SLPs.

Speech-Language Pathology Salary in Colorado

When it comes to SLP salaries, Colorado has a lot to brag about. Colorado ranks second among all states for the highest average SLP salary: $107,780 annually, or $51.82 per hour.

Statewide, SLPs at the high end of the salary spectrum take home an annual salary of $141,490 or $68.02 per hour. The number of jobs for speech-language pathologists is projected to increase by 40% between 2020 and 2030, which is the third-highest rate in the nation and more than double the national average. This level of growth should generate an average of 420 job openings per year.

Nationally, Boulder and Denver both rank among the top 10 best-paying cities for average SLP salaries.

Detailed Salary Analysis for Speech-Language Pathologists in Colorado

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides hourly and annual salary data for speech-language pathologists throughout Colorado (10th to 90th percentile). This can be important data to help you narrow down where you’d like to work in the Centennial State.

Frequently Asked Questions

2024 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary and job market figures for Speech-Language Pathologists reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed November 2025.

Sarah Keller

Sarah M. Keller, MS, CCC-SLP, is a licensed speech-language pathologist with 15 years of experience in pediatric clinics and university training programs. She earned her master’s in speech-language pathology from a CAHPS-accredited program in the Midwest and supervised clinical practicums for online and hybrid SLP cohorts. Sarah now advises students on graduate school applications, clinical fellowships, and state licensure. She lives in Colorado with her family and golden retriever.

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