How long does it take to become a speech-language pathologist?
BLS says SLP master’s programs “usually take 2 years of postbaccalaureate study.” ASHA’s Clinical Fellowship then takes at least 36 weeks and 1,260 hours, and ASHA says to allow up to about 6 weeks to review a completed certification application. CAA does not publish a single program length.
Quoted from official pages checked November 10, 2026. Confirm current requirements, fees, and dates on those sites. This page is not legal advice and does not guarantee eligibility, certification, or licensure.
Graduate program
BLS’s Speech-Language Pathologists page states: “These programs usually take 2 years of postbaccalaureate study.” It also states: “Although master's degree programs may not require a particular bachelor's degree for admission, they frequently require applicants to have completed coursework in biology, social science, or certain healthcare and related fields. Requirements vary by program.”
The CAA homepage and ASHA’s EdFind search page did not publish a single program-length figure on November 10, 2026. Check each program’s own listing, starting from the CAA list of accredited and candidate programs.
National exam
ASHA’s National Speech-Language Pathology Examination page recommends taking it “no earlier than the completion of their graduate coursework and graduate clinical practicum or during their first year of clinical practice following graduation.” It states: “Once certification has been applied for, applicants have 2 years in which to complete the certification process, which includes passing the examination.” It also states that scores “must have been obtained no more than 5 years prior to the submission of the certification application.”
Clinical Fellowship
ASHA’s Clinical Fellowship guide states: “As a Clinical Fellow, you must work at least 36 weeks and 1,260 hours to meet the ASHA CF experience requirement.” It also states:
- “Working more than 35 hours per week does not shorten the length of the CF experience.”
- “The CF experience must be completed within four years (48 months) from the date the CF began.”
- The CF is “divided into three segments, each at least 12 weeks long and representing one third of the total experience.”
- You “must work at least 5 hours per week to be able to count the hours/week toward the minimum requirement.”
Application review
ASHA’s How to Apply page states: “Please allow approximately 6 weeks for the review of your completed online application and all additional required documentation.” The Pathway to Certification states: “The application review process can take up to 6 weeks from the date your last document is received.”
What is not listed
State license processing times are set by each state and are not listed here. BLS adds that a certification fellowship “lasts several months”; ASHA’s 36-week and 1,260-hour minimums above are the specific figures.