Department website: https://www.cerritos.edu/slpa/

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE

A licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) is a skilled technical worker who performs speech and language therapy intervention under the direction of a Speech-Language Pathologist. 

Successful completion of the degree requirements leads to eligibility for state licensure as a Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant from the California Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, and Hearing Aid Dispensers’ Board. Licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistants have the opportunity to apply for work settings such as: in-home health; public, non-public, and charter schools; and, medical settings such as rehabilitation centers and private clinics.

Technical Standards/Essential Functions

Technical standards/Essential Functions have been prepared to assist prospective and current students in understanding the technical standards of the Speech Language Pathology Assistant program in order to affiliate in the clinical agencies and ultimately practice the profession. The technical standards as stated herewith are not conditions of admission to a program of study. Rather, they reflect performance abilities that are necessary for a student to successfully complete the requirements of the specified Health Occupations program. The complete scope of practice for this occupation can be found in the Speech-Language Pathology Assistant handbook on the program’s website at: https://www.cerritos.edu/slpa. This information may be helpful in deciding if this career path is right for you.

The delivery of safe, effective speech and language intervention requires that students be able to perform functions related to the technical standards outlined here. The inability of a student to perform these functions may result in the student being unable to meet course objectives and to progress in the Speech Language Pathology Assistant program. Additionally, if a student is unable to perform these required competencies, the student may pose a risk of harm to the client(s) for whom care is provided.

All applicants meeting the appropriate academic requirements shall be considered equally for admission to Cerritos College or any academic program regardless of race, color, religion, sex, marital status, beliefs, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or physical or mental disability.

Program Mission

The mission of the Cerritos College Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Program is to prepare future Speech-Language Pathology Assistants to meet the needs of diverse populations in a variety of therapeutic environments. The Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Program was developed to align with the educational philosophy, mission, and values of Cerritos College. Specific goals, competencies, and student learning outcomes can be found in the program handbook on the website at:  https://www.cerritos.edu/slpa.

Accreditation

This program is accredited by the Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, and Hearing Aid Dispenser’s Board of California: 2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 2100, Sacramento, California, 95815; telephone: (916)263-2666; website: www.speechandhearing.ca.gov.

Length and Kind of Program

Students who wish to earn a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Associate of Science degree at Cerritos College must be admitted by application to the program. In order to apply to the Associate's degree program, students must complete prerequisite coursework in addition to other requirements identified in the "admission requirements" section below. Full-time students can expect to complete the prerequisites for application to the Associate's degree in 4-5 regular academic semesters, depending on their course load and any transferrable coursework. Once admitted to the Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Associate of Science degree program, the program is two semesters in length. Students are required to participate in the required courses for both the fall (SLP 225, SLP 230) and spring semesters (SLP 235, SLP 250) in order to to be eligible for graduation in the spring. The program reserves the right to modify the application process, application deadlines, and course offerings for the Associate of Science degree program and related certificates based on regulatory changes mandated by local, regional, state, and/or federal entities.

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant classes and any required general education units are scheduled on the college campus. While online or hybrid courses may be offered for some courses and semesters, this program is not designated as fully online, so students need to be prepared for on-campus coursework as required. 

Upon admission to the SLPA Associate of Science degree program, students will be asked to complete specific requirements in order to be placed at a clinical site and participate in required fieldwork experience. Once students have successfully completed those requirements (e.g., background check, vaccinations, CPR certification) and prerequisite coursework, they will be eligible to be assigned to a site to gain fieldwork experience as a SLPA under the supervision of a speech-language pathologist. Fieldwork experience may take place on-campus or at selected schools, clinics, and healthcare centers in the Los Angeles and Orange County regions. Please see the SLPA student handbook on the SLPA website at https://www.cerritos.edu/slpa for more information about the clinical practicum requirements. 

Program Student Learning Outcomes

• Students adapt therapy materials and language based on the client's background and current level of functioning.
• Students describe normal and disordered communication, etiologies, and their implications for physical and psychological development.
• Students develop accurate and legible client/patient records in accordance with SLP guidelines.
• Students distinguish between those skills that are within and that are beyond the Scope of Practice for a SLPA as identified by the California State Licensing Board and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
• Students employ professional terminology correctly.
• Students explain the privacy and confidentiality laws in regards to speech-language assessment and intervention.
• Students gather data regularly during intervention to monitor the effectiveness of an intervention.
• Students implement the training protocol and treatment plans as directed by the supervising SLP.
• Students self-evaluate own performance realistically.
• Students utilize evidence-based resources to learn more about a particular topic or disorder.

Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Program Requirements

I. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS TO THE SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANT ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAM

A. PREREQUISITE COURSEWORK: 

The following courses (or their equivalents) must be completed prior to application for the program with a grade of “C” or higher.

Students must have completed coursework that satisfies Areas 1 and 2 of the Cerritos College General Education Curriculum requirements (CGEC) for the local Associate of Science degree prior to submitting their application.

B. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• A minimum of a 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) for all college coursework, 
• A minimum of a "C" grade in each prerequisite course, and
• A minimum overall 2.5 GPA for all prerequisite courses 

Note: A grade of "C-" will not be considered a passing grade or equivalent to a "C" grade.

C. ADMISSION POLICIES:

1. ​All coursework should be completed at the time of application to the Associate's degree program.
2. ​Students who believe they have taken equivalent courses for one or more of the prerequisites at another institution may consult with a Health Sciences and Wellness Pathway counselor or SLPA Department Chair prior to submitting their application.
3. Course recency policy:  Speech-language pathology (SLP) prerequisite courses may not be taken more than 8 years prior to application to the Associate of Science degree program. Students who have previously taken some of the SLP classes and wish to re-enter the program should consult with a Health Sciences and Wellness counselor. Students who need to re-take courses must submit a petition to Admissions and Records the semester BEFORE they wish to re-take the course.  American Sign Language, anatomy and physiology, child development, and general education coursework may be older than 8 years but are subject to approval by the corresponding department and the Cerritos General Education Curriculum (CGEC) for a local Associate of Science/Arts degree.
4. Graduates with foreign or Bachelor degrees in Speech-Language Pathology, Communication Sciences, or Communication Disorders will not be given priority.  Recency of SLP course work still applies. All foreign bachelor degrees must be verified by a Cerritos College approved agency at the student's expense.

​II. APPLICATION TO THE SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY ASSISTANT ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAM

1. ​Students are required to obtain unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended to turn in with their application.
2. Download the application from the Speech-Language Pathology Assistant webpage at https://www.cerritos.edu/slpa. Follow the instructions on the application for completion and submission of the application and all required materials.
3. Students who wish to determine course equivalencies prior to application may consult with a Health Sciences and Wellness Pathway counselor.
4. Incomplete and/or late applications will not be considered.

NOTE: Official transcripts sent to the Admissions and Records office WILL NOT be forwarded to the Health Occupations office for inclusion in the application file.

III. SELECTION PROCEDURES

1. All required documents, including the Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Program application and all college transcripts, must be submitted in the format outlined in the application by the deadline.
2. Applications will be reviewed for:      
   1. Completion of prerequisite coursework
   2. Minimum of 2.0 cumulative GPA for all college coursework, minimum of a "C" grade in each prerequisite course, and a minimum overall 2.5 GPA for all prerequisite courses
   3. Submission of required documents (i.e., transcripts, completed application forms, course descriptions
3. Application packets will be reviewed following the deadline. Applicants will be emailed a notification via email that their application was received. It is the responsibility of the student applicant to ensure they have received that notification email
4. Applications will be evaluated as they were submitted to the department. The department will not notify the student applicant if files were missing, incomplete, or submitted incorrectly. Eligible applicants will be selected by a randomized lottery system. The program currently accepts 25 students. Notification of acceptance or non-acceptance will be emailed at the email address given on the application no later than 45 days after the deadline.

IV. SLPA MAJOR REQUIREMENTS  

1. PRIOR TO ENROLLMENT
   1. Students who are offered admission to the program are obligated to do the following as a part of the acceptance process:
      1. Email a signed letter of acceptance by the assigned deadline sent in the offer of admission
         1. Students who accept the offer of admission must be able to commit to completing the program based on the required courses in the required sequence each semester. Students may not opt to take less courses or change the sequence in which they complete coursework in the program. No other alternative courses are accepted for SLP 225, SLP 230, SLP 235, and SLP 250. 
      2.  Attend a mandatory cohort orientation 
      3. Purchase an account with a compliance program to submit the following:
         1.  Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) certification—you must present a valid BLS CPR card offered through the American Heart Association or American Red Cross prior to the beginning of the program. Card must be valid for the duration of the program.
         2. Health Clearance—students must show evidence of immunizations, physical exams, and tuberculosis (TB) testing prior to enrollment in the program. Health and immunization forms will be issued to those applicants who are accepted into the program. Health forms must be reviewed and completed by the student’s physician, which include technical standards/essential functions for Speech-Language Pathology Assisting (available on the program website).
         3. Criminal Background check—clinical placements will require clearance of a criminal background check. Students admitted to the program will be given instructions for completing the background check. Students who do not clear agency requirements are not eligible for clinical placement, and will consequently, be ineligible to continue in the program. If there is any concern regarding clearance of a background check, please contact the SLPA Department Chair for more information prior to application. Students may have to complete multiple background and fingerprinting checks for clinical practicum clearance.
         4. Completion of Bloodborne Pathogens/Universal Precautions and Health Insurance, Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) trainings
         5. Current resume
         6. Student intake form
         7. Completed signature page from SLPA handbook
   2. Upon admission, students must submit official copies of transcripts to Admissions and Records for any courses they are transferring that were not taken at Cerritos College. 
   3. Upon placement assignment, students may have additional requirements to complete, including but not limited to: Livescan fingerprinting, drug screening, interview, and/or additional health and safety requirements.
   4. The program reserves the right to make changes to the admissions clearance process for the Associate of Science degree program based on local, state, and/or federal requirements
2. REQUIRED COURSEWORK

ASSOCIATE OF SCIENCE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Complete a minimum of 60 units to include (1) the above major requirements, (2) the General Education requirements, and (3) electives as needed.

Note: Students who complete the Associate of Science degree in SLPA are exempt from taking courses in areas 8 and 9 because the major requires more than 32 units. 

EXPENSES

Tuition, enrollment fees, CPR training, physical exam/immunizations, background checks, books, and supplies will cost approximately $3500. Students are responsible for their own living accommodations, transportation to and from campus and assigned clinical sites, background clearance, drug screening, CPR, health clearance, and any other costs required for clinical placement clearance procedures. See the Cerritos College catalog for enrollment and out-of-state resident fees.

 ATTENDANCE

Students are expected to comply with the attendance requirements of the College and the Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Program for all coursework, including clinical placements:
 
"Students who have missed an excess of 10% of the total class hours are subject to drop. Certain academic and career technical education areas may have stricter attendance requirements. Listed below are two types of absences which permit the making up of work missed, provided that the work is of such a nature that it can be made up.

1. AUTHORIZED ABSENCE: for an approved educational field trip or school activity
2. EXCUSED ABSENCE: for illness, injury or quarantine”

SCHOLARSHIP, PROMOTION

Successful completion of all levels of course work is necessary for completion of and graduation from the program of study. Students are required to maintain a grade of “C” or higher in all Speech-Language Pathology Assistant classes in order to progress in the program. Upon successful completion of all degree requirements, students are eligible to receive an Associate in Science degree. This program uses a modified grading scale for all classes, in which 76% is considered a C.
 
It is recommended that students who are transferring to other colleges to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology (or related field) should meet with a Health Occupations counselor to ensure they have completed the necessary coursework for transfer, which may require additional classes beyond what is required for the Cerritos General Education Curriculum (CGEC). Students must complete coursework for Areas 1-7 outlined in the Cerritos General Education Curriculum (CGEC) in addition to the required major coursework to be eligible for a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Associate of Science degree.
 
Once the degree has been conferred, students may apply to the California Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, and Hearing Aid Dispensers’ Board for licensure. The application and its requirements can be found at www.speechandhearing.ca.gov. It is the responsibility of the student to submit all application materials to the Board, including the verification of fieldwork hours, which must be signed by the student and the SLPA Department Chair. Completion of the program does not guarantee licensure or employment.

Students who are admitted to the Associate of Science degree program through the application process are required to take the sequence of courses as outlined below in Section IV, B. If a student does not pass one of the courses in Section IV, B, they may re-take them one more time, unless they have been dismissed from the program. Please note that Section IV, B courses are only offered once a year.