Educational and clinical qualifications of speech-language pathologists treating children with disabilities

The ability to communicate is arguably the most critical and fundamental human behavior. From the moment of birth through adolescence children proceed through a development process during which they master the intricacies of human communication. When this process is altered due to neurological or physical trauma, referral to a speech-language pathologist (SLP) is warranted. Speech-language pathologists are uniquely qualified to work with children exhibiting a variety of communicative disabilities. The Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology is awarded upon completion of a graduate degree, passing a national examination and completion of a Clinical Fellowship. This rigorous process prepares SLPs to serve children with a variety of disorders across all practice settings.