To become an SLP in Arizona, you’ll need a master’s degree from an ASHA-accredited program (with 400+ clinical hours), pass the Praxis exam with a passing score of 162, and complete a 36-week full-time or part-time equivalent clinical fellowship under supervision. The entire process takes 6-7 years, and Arizona SLPs earn a median annual salary of $95,920.
- Emerson College - Master's in Speech-Language Pathology online - Prepare to become an SLP in as few as 20 months. No GRE required. Scholarships available.
- Grand Canyon University - Online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. - This STEM program focuses on training aspiring speech-language pathologists to offer compassionate, effective services to individuals with communication disorders
- Arizona State University - Online - Online Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science - Designed to prepare graduates to work in behavioral health settings or transition to graduate programs in speech-language pathology and audiology.
- NYU Steinhardt - NYU Steinhardt's Master of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders online - ASHA-accredited. Bachelor's degree required. Graduate prepared to pursue licensure.
- Pepperdine University - Embark on a transformative professional and personal journey in the online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program from Pepperdine University. Our program brings together rigorous academics, research-driven faculty teaching, and robust clinical experiences, all wrapped within our Christian mission to serve our communities and improve the lives of others.
Arizona’s population is booming, and with it comes strong demand for speech-language pathologists. Young families and retirees are among the groups most likely to need speech therapy services, and Arizona has plenty of both.
The state is home to innovative SLP clinics and dedicated practitioners who are making fundamental contributions to the field. Researchers and everyday speech therapists in Arizona are developing new treatment methods and raising awareness of communication disorders.
To showcase their work, the Arizona Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ArSHA) holds an annual convention where SLPs share developments in areas such as split-brain research, social learning strategies, assistive technology, behavioral challenges, embedded coaching, student health outreach, and health literacy for underserved populations.
Step 1: Earn a Master’s Degree in Speech-Language Pathology
Arizona requires all speech-language pathologists to hold at least a master’s degree. There’s no pathway to licensure with just a bachelor’s degree.
To maximize your chances of acceptance into a graduate program, your best bet is earning a bachelor’s degree in communicative sciences and disorders first. If your undergraduate degree is in a different field, you’ll need to complete prerequisite courses that are fundamental to SLP practice.
Standard prerequisite courses include:
- Physiology of Communication
- Phonetics and Phonemics
- Introduction to Audiology
- Speech and Language Development
- Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing Mechanisms
- Science of Language
It also helps to have excellent academic references, a high undergraduate GPA, and strong GRE scores. SLP graduate programs are competitive, so you’ll need to present a solid academic portfolio to gain admission.
ASHA’s Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology accredits six universities in Arizona with ASHA-accredited SLP graduate programs. You can find ASHA-accredited programs in Arizona through their program search tool. You can also choose to enroll in a traditional on-campus program or pursue accredited online programs hosted by universities nationwide.
Core master’s courses typically include:
- Phonological Development and Disorders
- Neurobiology
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication for SLPs
- Motor-Speech Disorders
- Aphasia and Right Hemisphere Damage
- Clinical and Educational Methods in SLP
- Swallowing Disorders: Evaluation and Treatment
- Quantitative and Qualitative Methods in SLP
- Physics and Chemistry
You’ll also have electives to tailor your education toward your area of interest. Popular elective options include:
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication
- Therapeutic Procedures in Speech Pathology: Voice Disorders
- Craniofacial Anomalies
- Voices and Listeners
- Interdisciplinary Case-Based Dysphagia Management
- Natural Language
- Communicative Science and Disorders Research
- Neurogenic Speech Disorders
- Language and Communication in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Your graduate program will also include a clinical practicum. The practicum must be a minimum of 400 clock hours of supervised clinical experience. Twenty-five hours must be spent in guided clinical observation, and 375 hours in direct patient contact.
Your practicum must include experience with patients across the lifespan and from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. It must also include experience with various types and severities of communication disorders and related disabilities.
Step 2: Complete a Clinical Fellowship Program
The Arizona Department of Health Services requires you to complete a 36-week full-time or part-time equivalent clinical fellowship before becoming licensed. A fellowship is essentially on-the-job training under the close mentorship of an SLP who is currently licensed and has special training in supervision.
During your fellowship, you’ll demonstrate competency in the standard tasks that SLPs perform. At the same time, you’ll receive guidance and learn to adapt your classroom training to real-world situations. This supervised experience is where theory meets practice.
Arizona’s board requires at least 18 on-site observations, with no more than 6 in any 24 hours, and a minimum of 18 monitoring activities. Your supervisor must sign off on your work and submit your total hours of clinical interaction as part of your licensing packet.
Step 3: Pass the SLP Praxis Examination
Once you’ve completed your clinical fellowship, you can register for the national Speech-Language Pathology Exam offered through Praxis. This is a standardized national exam used for both licensure and certification throughout the field.
The test covers foundational practice, assessment, and diagnosis, and the implementation and evaluation of treatment for patients. You’ll also be tested on your knowledge of speech and hearing processes, voice and resonance disorders, language variances, social and cognitive aspects of communication, and feeding and swallowing disorders.
When registering online, you’ll need to submit an official graduate transcript from your SLP program and proof of your clinical fellowship completion. The required passing score for Arizona licensure is 162.
You’ll find plenty of test prep materials online. The exam content closely covers the material you studied in your graduate program and learned through your fellowship placement. In Arizona, you can take the exam at a Praxis test center in most major cities and some smaller ones. Test centers are often located at universities or other educational facilities. You can also take the test remotely with online proctoring.
Optional Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP)
You may also elect to pursue the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) credential once you’ve passed the national exam. Offered through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the CCC-SLP isn’t required for licensure in Arizona, but it’s a highly respected credential in the SLP professional community.
Most of the qualifications for the CCC-SLP are nearly identical to those for Arizona licensure. Because of this similarity, you can earn your CCC-SLP first and submit that instead of transcripts, fellowship documents, and other materials as proof to the Arizona Department of Health Services. This is a fairly standard path for anyone who completed their fellowship and degree outside the state.
Step 4: Obtain Your Arizona SLP License
Once you’ve passed the national exam, you’re eligible to apply for licensure through the Arizona Department of Health Services. The application fee is $100, plus an additional $200 license fee once you’re accepted.
You can apply based on your CCC-SLP if you’ve already earned it, or you’ll need to separately submit the official transcript from your graduate program, documentation of a passing score on the Praxis exam, proof of completion of your clinical practicum, and proof of completion of your clinical fellowship.
SLPs who work in public school settings must also obtain an Arizona Department of Education Speech-Language Pathologist, Pre-kindergarten-12 Certificate. This certificate costs $60 and requires you to submit your transcripts and proof of clinical clock hours (only 250 are needed, so you should meet this easily). While the Arizona Department of Education prefers applicants with a valid ASHA CCC-SLP, alternative qualifications may also be accepted depending on your specific educational background.
As a newly licensed SLP, you can begin your career in several ways. Many freshly licensed SLPs choose to continue working for the employer who provided their clinical fellowship. This is ideal because you’ll already have built relationships with clients and staff. Clinics often feel more comfortable hiring someone they’ve worked with directly.
You can also start your own independent practice or a partnership once you are licensed. This offers flexibility in setting your own wage, schedule, and patient load. You can pursue specific patient populations that interest you. The drawbacks include dealing with business licensing, taxes, employees, and marketing, but many SLPs find the autonomy worthwhile.
If you don’t want to work under your fellowship provider or start your own practice, there are still plenty of options. From clinics to hospitals to rehab centers, hundreds of employers throughout Arizona hire SLPs to treat patients.
Step 5: Maintain Licensure with Continuing Education
To maintain SLP licensure in Arizona, speech-language pathologists must obtain 20 hours of continuing education every two years. This roughly aligns with the 30 contact hours of professional development over 3 years you’ll need to keep your CCC-SLP, which works out to about 10 continuing education units per year.
CEUs can be earned through group activities such as workshops and conferences, independent study (e.g., course development, research projects, and internships), and attendance at educational programs, or through self-study via videos, podcasts, and journals. All continuing education must be gained from ASHA-approved providers.
Each time you renew your license, there’s a $200 fee. You can skip the paper forms and renew online through the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Speech-Language Pathology Salary in Arizona
Arizona’s SLP salaries are impressive from a statewide perspective. According to 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the annual mean wage is $98,390. The median annual salary is $95,920. Entry-level SLPs (10th percentile) earn $67,290 annually, while experienced SLPs at the top of the field (90th percentile) earn $136,660.
Arizona projects 36.4% job growth for speech-language pathologists from 2020 to 2030, significantly outpacing national averages and creating exceptional opportunities for new graduates entering the field.
The Speech-Language Pathology Profession Offers Rewarding Careers
In addition to earning competitive salaries, SLP has proven to be a rewarding profession on the interpersonal level. Speech-language pathology made the list of the 15 most meaningful jobs that pay generously, according to a PayScale survey of more than 20 million workers.
Arizona offers several private clinics specializing in speech-language pathology, as well as academic SLP centers and schools that provide a broad array of therapy options. Healthcare centers and rehab facilities throughout the state also frequently hire competent SLPs as part of multidisciplinary care teams.
Salaries for Speech-Language Pathologists Throughout Arizona
Nationally, Arizona ranks 11th among states with the highest average annual salaries for speech-language pathologists. The local breakdown of salaries by metropolitan area is as follows:
| Metropolitan Area | Annual Salary Range | Hourly Wage Range |
|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff | $69,910 – $166,400 | $33.61 – $80.00 |
| Lake Havasu City | $44,290 – $122,470 | $21.29 – $58.88 |
| Phoenix Metro | $65,580 – $132,710 | $31.53 – $63.80 |
| Prescott | $63,500 – $127,130 | $30.53 – $61.12 |
| Tucson | $61,640 – $123,590 | $29.63 – $59.42 |
| Yuma | $43,710 – $127,360 | $21.01 – $61.23 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum degree required to become an SLP in Arizona?
Arizona requires a minimum of a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from an ASHA-accredited program. There’s no pathway to licensure with only a bachelor’s degree. Your master’s program must include at least 400 hours of supervised clinical practicum experience.
How long does it take to become licensed as an SLP in Arizona?
The entire process typically takes 6-7 years. This includes 4 years for a bachelor’s degree, 2 years for a master’s degree, and approximately 9 months for the 36-week full-time clinical fellowship (or longer if completed part-time). Some students complete their education faster through accelerated programs or by taking courses year-round.
Can I complete my SLP degree online and still get licensed in Arizona?
Yes, as long as the program is accredited by ASHA’s Council on Academic Accreditation, Arizona accepts online graduate programs. Many accredited universities nationwide offer online SLP master’s programs that meet Arizona’s licensing requirements. You’ll still need to complete in-person clinical practicum hours and the clinical fellowship.
What score do I need on the Praxis exam for Arizona licensure?
Arizona requires a passing score of 162 on the Praxis Speech-Language Pathology examination. This score is standard across most states. The exam tests your knowledge of foundational practice, assessment, diagnosis, treatment implementation, and various communication disorders.
Do I need the CCC-SLP to practice in Arizona?
The CCC-SLP isn’t required for Arizona state licensure, but it’s highly recommended. The requirements are nearly identical, and having your CCC-SLP can simplify your license application. Many employers prefer or require the CCC-SLP certification, and it’s essential if you want to work in public schools or bill Medicare.
What are the continuing education requirements in Arizona?
Arizona requires 20 hours of continuing education every two years to maintain your SLP license. These hours must be earned from ASHA-approved providers and can include workshops, conferences, independent study, or self-study activities. The renewal fee is $200 every two years.
How much do SLPs earn in Arizona compared to other states?
Arizona SLPs earn a median salary of $95,920 annually, which is above the national median. Arizona ranks 11th nationally for SLP salaries. The state also projects 36.4% job growth from 2020 to 2030, creating excellent career opportunities and strong earning potential for new and experienced SLPs.
Key Takeaways
- Arizona requires a master’s degree from an ASHA-accredited program with a minimum of 400 clinical practicum hours.
- A 36-week full-time or part-time equivalent clinical fellowship under licensed supervision is mandatory before obtaining full licensure.
- The Praxis exam requires a passing score of 162 for Arizona licensure
- Arizona SLPs earn a median annual salary of $95,920, with experienced professionals earning up to $136,660
- The state projects 36.4% job growth from 2020 to 2030, creating exceptional career opportunities
- Continuing education requirements include 20 hours every two years to maintain active licensure
- Emerson College - Master's in Speech-Language Pathology online - Prepare to become an SLP in as few as 20 months. No GRE required. Scholarships available.
- Grand Canyon University - Online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. - This STEM program focuses on training aspiring speech-language pathologists to offer compassionate, effective services to individuals with communication disorders
- Arizona State University - Online - Online Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science - Designed to prepare graduates to work in behavioral health settings or transition to graduate programs in speech-language pathology and audiology.
- NYU Steinhardt - NYU Steinhardt's Master of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders online - ASHA-accredited. Bachelor's degree required. Graduate prepared to pursue licensure.
- Pepperdine University - Embark on a transformative professional and personal journey in the online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program from Pepperdine University. Our program brings together rigorous academics, research-driven faculty teaching, and robust clinical experiences, all wrapped within our Christian mission to serve our communities and improve the lives of others.
Ready to Start Your SLP Career in Arizona?
Arizona’s growing demand for speech-language pathologists creates excellent opportunities for new graduates. Explore ASHA-accredited graduate programs and take the first step toward your Arizona SLP license.
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.