How to Become a Speech Pathologist in Louisiana

Thinking about a career as a speech pathologist in Louisiana? You’re looking at a rewarding profession that offers great growth potential and solid earning power. Speech pathologists made a median salary of $89,290 yearly or $42.93 per hour in 2023. The job outlook shows an impressive 18% growth projection from 2023-2033, which is much faster than average.

Louisiana’s job market has great opportunities for future speech-language pathologists. The state has 3,756 licensed speech-language pathologists, and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette ranks #1 in the state. Your path to this rewarding field requires a master’s degree in speech language pathology from an accredited program. You’ll need to complete clinical requirements and get your speech language pathologist license. This detailed guide shows you the speech pathologist education requirements and the steps to get your SLP license in Louisiana for 2025 and beyond.

Education Requirements for Louisiana SLPs

Getting your speech language pathologist license in Louisiana starts with completing tough educational requirements. You’ll need to get a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from an accredited program.

Louisiana has nine accredited speech-language pathology master’s programs throughout the state. These include well-known schools like Louisiana State University, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and Xavier University. Each program meets the standards that the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association sets.

Speech-language pathology master’s programs need at least 36 credit hours of academic coursework. The full program usually takes 48 credit hours when you include clinical practicum experiences. Students typically finish in two years or six semesters, though your educational background might mean extra time.

Students who don’t have a communication disorders background need to take prerequisite courses before starting graduate studies. These basic courses usually include:

• Anatomy and physiology of speech and hearing
• Phonetics
• Communication science
• Normal speech and language development
• Articulation disorders
• Introduction to audiology
• Language disorders
• Aural rehabilitation
• Clinical methods/observation

Your undergraduate degree should include statistics, biological science, chemistry or physics, and at least one behavioral science course. You can still get admitted without these non-discipline specific courses, but you’ll need to complete them in your first year of graduate study.

These programs are highly selective. Most schools look for:

• A minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA, though some prefer 3.2-3.5 for prerequisite courses
• Three letters of recommendation
• A personal statement
• GRE scores, though several schools won’t require them for 2025-2026
• Observation hours documentation at some schools

On top of that, all accredited programs make sure you complete the 400 clinical hours needed for licensure. These hands-on experiences happen in clinical settings of all types and with different populations.

The program ends with a detailed examination, often called “mini comps” or a Capstone Seminar. This test shows you’ve gained the knowledge and skills needed to enter the profession.

After finishing your educational requirements, you’ll be ready to get your license through the Louisiana Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

Getting Your Licensure and Credentials

Your next big step after completing your master’s degree is to get a license from the Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (LBESPA) to practice as a speech-language pathologist in Louisiana.

Louisiana requires four main things to get a full speech-language pathology license. You’ll need a master’s degree in speech-language pathology. The state wants documentation of 400 clinical practicum hours. You must pass the Praxis examination or have ASHA certification. The final requirement is 36 weeks of full-time post-graduate professional work experience.

Louisiana offers a provisional SLP license if you’re a new graduate who hasn’t finished professional experience yet. This temporary license needs a master’s degree and 400 clinical hours. You can work under supervision for up to three years with this license. The Praxis exam must be passed within your first year of getting the provisional license.

The Praxis examination in Speech-Language Pathology (test code 5331) tests your knowledge equally in three areas: foundations and professional practice, assessment and diagnosis, and planning and implementation of treatment. You’ll need a score of at least 162 on a scale of 100-200 to pass.

Your license application must include:

• A completed criminal background check
• Official college transcripts
• Verification of clinical practicum hours
• Verification of any licenses held in other states
• Praxis examination scores sent directly from ETS (using code R7331)

LBESPA gives you a 60-day grace period to start working while they review your application. This period starts after the Board receives and confirms all your application documents.

Most Louisiana SLPs also go for the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) through ASHA. This national credential isn’t required for state licensure but helps boost your professional mobility and credibility. The requirements line up well with Louisiana’s licensure standards, making it a practical addition to your credentials.

Your license needs yearly renewal. You’ll need to complete 10 continuing education hours each year to keep your professional standing.

Salaries for SLPs in Louisiana

Speech-language pathology careers in Louisiana offer both personal satisfaction and competitive pay. Your career choices become clearer when you learn about earning potential in different settings and regions while pursuing your education and license.

A master’s degree in speech language pathology proves to be a smart investment through reliable earning potential. New speech-language pathologists in Louisiana can expect starting salaries ranging from $58,000 to $65,000 annually, based on their location and workplace. Your earning potential grows as you gain experience and extra certifications.

Louisiana’s speech-language pathologists with 5-10 years of experience usually earn between $75,000 and $90,000 per year. Medical settings often pay over $100,000 to professionals who have specialized skills, advanced certifications, or leadership roles.

Your location in Louisiana affects your salary substantially. Big cities like New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Shreveport tend to pay more than rural parishes, though living costs rise too. Rural areas make up for this by offering perks like student loan forgiveness programs to draw qualified professionals.

There’s another reason your pay can vary – your work setting. School-based SLPs typically earn $60,000-$75,000 yearly and enjoy school holidays and summers off. Hospitals and skilled nursing facilities pay more at $75,000-$95,000 but might need weekend or holiday coverage. Private practice owners can earn the most, often above $110,000 yearly once they build their client base.

Your Louisiana SLP license lets you work in settings of all types. This flexibility helps you pick environments that match your career interests and money goals. Many SLPs find that specialized certifications in swallowing disorders, autism intervention, or neurological rehabilitation can boost their market value and salary by 10-15%.

Planning your career path after getting your speech language pathologist license should include both your preferred location and the settings that offer the right compensation package for you.

Careers in Louisiana

Speech-language pathologists in Louisiana have exciting career opportunities throughout the state. Your Louisiana SLP license opens doors to careers in a variety of settings that align with your professional goals and location priorities.

Major healthcare facilities employ many SLPs in Louisiana. Leading hospitals like Ochsner Health System, LCMC Health, and Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System need qualified speech pathologists regularly. These organizations help patients with communication and swallowing disorders through acute care, rehabilitation, and outpatient services.

Career paths also flourish in educational settings. Traditional K-12 schools offer numerous positions, and you might want to explore roles at specialized education centers that serve children with developmental disabilities or autism spectrum disorders. Universities provide clinical and research opportunities for professionals who want to shape future speech pathologists.

Starting a private practice works well anywhere in Louisiana, especially when you have communities lacking access to speech therapy services. Your own practice gives you the freedom to choose your caseload, specialization, and schedule.

SLPs interested in working with infants and toddlers who have developmental delays will find growing opportunities in early intervention programs. There’s another reason to be optimistic – telehealth has created new possibilities that let you help clients in Louisiana’s rural parishes without traveling long distances.

Yes, it is remarkable how your speech language pathologist license creates opportunities in every life stage and region of Louisiana.

Start Today

A career as a speech-language pathologist in Louisiana promises competitive pay and excellent growth opportunities. This piece walks you through everything you need to know about joining this dynamic field in 2025 and beyond.

The first step is to complete your master’s degree at one of Louisiana’s nine accredited speech-language pathology programs. Next, you’ll need to get your license through LBESPA. The process includes passing the Praxis examination with a score of at least 162. You must also complete clinical hours and gain professional experience.

Louisiana offers many career paths once you have your credentials. You can work in schools, medical facilities, private practices, or telehealth services. Each option comes with unique benefits in terms of work settings, schedule flexibility, and earning potential.

Entry-level speech-language pathologists in Louisiana can expect to earn between $58,000 and $65,000. Experienced professionals often make $75,000 to $90,000 per year. Medical settings offer even higher salaries for specialists and those in management roles.

This career demands academic excellence and deep commitment. The rewards are substantial – you’ll help others overcome communication challenges while enjoying job security and great pay. This detailed guide gives you a clear path to become a successful speech-language pathologist in Louisiana.