SLP Clinical Fellowship: A guide to start your career.

To work as a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP), you must complete a SLP clinical fellowship after graduate school. It bridges the gap between what you've learned in an academic setting and getting your feet wet in actual practice.

SLP clinical fellowship guide:

• About SLP clinical fellowships
• Requirements for clinical fellowships
• Applying for a school-based SLP clinical fellowship

About clinical fellowships in speech pathology.

Clinical fellowships in speech pathology offer hands-on experience, mentorship, and support to learn the skills you need for your career. Without an SLP clinical fellowship, you will not be eligible to become licensed to work in speech-language pathology.

Most SLPs CF candidates apply during their final semester of grad school or immediately following graduation. A clinical fellowship in speech pathology can happen in a variety of settings: medical centers/hospitals, rehabilitation clinics/centers, schools, and pediatric centers.

Ideally, clinical fellowships also provide opportunities to work to collaborate with other therapists (OT, PT, Behavior Analysts).

Requirements for clinical fellowships.

A speech language pathology fellowship takes a school year to complete. Students must work at least 36 weeks and 1,260 hours to meet the ASHA clinical fellowship experience requirement. CFs involve a fully mentored experience that complies with ASHA requirements for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP).

CFs are broken down into three 12-week-long segments. ASHA requires that at least 80% of your time must be in direct clinical contact related to the management of disorders.

• Screenings and diagnostic evaluations

• Treatment and planning

• Writing reports

• Consultation and counseling

• Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings

Applying for a school-based SLP clinical fellowship.

If you're ready to take the next step in your career and are seeking a healthy work-life balance, becoming an SLP in a school setting may be for you. School-based SLPs enjoy mentorship, opportunities for advancement, and a better work-life balance than many SLP roles in hospital or clinical settings.

Some school districts offer this type of clinical fellowship. However, many schools are using a third party to deliver high-quality SLPs and other therapy services to their students  Kelly Pediatric Therapy takes this responsibility for growing future SLPs very seriously.

We offer Clinical Fellowship programs for Speech-Language Pathologists in pediatric and school-based settings—providing mentored experience that exceeds ASHA requirements, flexible hours (full- or part-time), mentorship from experienced SLPs, and support for licensure.

Our fellowships are divided into three 12-week parts. In each segment, you'll learn essential skills for a school-based SLP job, including creating Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), consulting with families, screening, and much more.

Some key aspects of our fellowships include:

• Mentorship: Fellows are paired with experienced SLPs, who provide supervision beyond ASHA minimums.

• Flexibility: Offers both full-time and part-time schedules to fit personal needs, with options for 1099 contractor roles.

• School-Based Focus: Experience is primarily within school settings, supporting students and working alongside other school clinicians.

• Support: Assistance with licensure applications and a national network of fellows for support and training.

• Compensation: Often higher hourly rates for 1099 positions.

Beyond high-quality therapy, we're committed to creating an excellent work experience for our providers. We offer structure, resources, and mentorship to help guide you on your path to success as a Speech Language Pathologist.

To learn more about current fellowship or clinical fieldwork opportunities, contact us at TherapyUniversityRelations@kellyservices.com.