Speech-Language Pathology assistants may work with infants, children, young adults or seniors in educational, clinical, and medical settings such as schools, daycare centers, hospitals, nursing homes and clinics. In addition, Head start, the federally funded pre-school program for disadvantaged populations, has also expressed a strong interest in hiring Speech-Language Pathology assistants.
Job surveys in Orange and Los Angeles counties indicate a growing demand for this position. Potential earnings for the entry level SLPA vary according to location and job site but range from $17.00-$25.00 an hour. Some statistics report earnings equal to 60-75% of professional salaries. The greatest area of need is for speech-language pathology assistants who are bilingual.
The Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Program at Santa Ana College is an A.S. (Associate of Science) Degree Program. The required curriculum is for two years. Students have the option of continuing their education at a four-year institution and pursuing a degree in Communicative Disorder or Speech-Language Pathology to become licensed Speech-Language Pathologists.
