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.
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).
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
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. Pediatric Therapeutic Services, a Kelly Company, 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.
Working within our fellowship program offers the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students in our school communities. Every day, our providers feel a great sense of pride knowing that the work they do is making a profound impact on the next generation.