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A plain-language guide to credentials, costs, and the questions worth asking. Then search thousands of certified speech-language pathologists across the United States, for free.
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Before You Book
Choosing a speech-language pathologist (SLP) is easier when you know what actually matters. These six checks cover most of it, and you can answer all of them from a therapist's profile or a short first phone call.
Nearly every state requires a license to practice speech-language pathology. Many therapists also hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). Both are worth confirming.
Speech-language pathology is broad. A therapist who treats adult swallowing disorders may not be the right fit for a toddler with a language delay. Browse by specialty to narrow the field first.
Some practices work only with children, some only with adults, and some with both. Confirm the age range before you schedule so the first appointment is not a wasted trip.
Therapy usually means weekly visits, so travel time adds up. If evenings and weekends are tight, look for practices offering speech therapy by telehealth.
Ask whether the practice is in network with your plan, what an evaluation costs, and what a session costs out of pocket. Get it in writing before the first visit.
Progress depends on trust and on practice between sessions. Ask how the therapist shares goals, measures progress, and involves family members in home practice.
Decoding the Letters
Profiles are full of abbreviations, and most people have never had a reason to learn them. Here is what each one tells you about training and scope of practice.
"Speech therapist" is the everyday term. "Speech-language pathologist" is the professional title, and the two refer to the same role.
Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology. A national credential from ASHA. It requires a graduate degree, a supervised clinical fellowship, and a passing score on a national exam.
Graduate degree in speech-language pathology. A master's degree is the standard entry requirement for the profession. A doctorate usually signals a research or academic background alongside clinical work.
Legal permission to practice in a specific state. Separate from national certification, and tied to where the therapist works rather than where they trained. Telehealth generally requires a license in the state where the patient is located.
Clinical Fellow. A graduate completing the supervised fellowship year required for certification. Fellows practice under the mentorship of a certified SLP.
Speech-Language Pathology Assistant. Supports treatment under the supervision of a licensed SLP. Assistants do not perform evaluations or set treatment plans independently.
Board Certified Specialist. An advanced specialty certification in swallowing (S) or fluency (F), awarded after additional clinical experience and review in that area.
Common Questions
The questions people ask most often before starting their search.
Start with your state, then narrow by specialty. On Speech Therapy List you can browse by state and filter results by specialty, ages served, and whether the therapist offers telehealth. Searching is free and no account is required. You can also ask your pediatrician, primary care doctor, or your child's school for referrals, and check your insurance provider's in-network directory.
Look for a master's or doctoral degree in speech-language pathology, a current license in the state where you will receive services, and ideally the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). License status is public, so you can confirm it through your state licensing board.
No. They are the same profession. "Speech-language pathologist" is the formal professional title used in licensing and certification, and "speech therapist" is the common everyday term. You will see both used interchangeably, including on this site.
Cost varies widely by region, setting, session length, and whether the provider is in network with your insurance. Private practice rates differ substantially from hospital or clinic rates, and an initial evaluation is usually billed separately from ongoing sessions.
Ask the practice directly for the evaluation fee, the per-session rate, and the out-of-pocket cost after insurance. Early intervention services for children under three and school-based services are often provided at no cost to families.
Many plans cover speech therapy, but coverage depends on your specific plan and on the reason for treatment. Plans often distinguish between therapy for a medical condition and therapy for a developmental delay, and may cap the number of covered visits per year.
Call the number on your insurance card and ask whether speech-language pathology services are covered, whether a physician referral is required, and which providers are in network.
It depends on two separate things: your state and your insurance. Many states allow you to contact a speech-language pathologist directly without a physician referral. Your insurance plan, however, may still require one before it will pay. Check both before scheduling.
There is no minimum age. If you have concerns about your child's speech, language, feeding, or social communication, it is reasonable to seek an evaluation at any age rather than waiting to see whether they grow out of it.
In the United States, early intervention services are available for children from birth to age three, and public school districts evaluate children age three and older. Read more about why early intervention matters.
Yes. Many speech-language pathologists deliver therapy by video, which is often called teletherapy or telepractice. It can work well for language, fluency, voice, accent modification, and social communication goals, and it removes travel time from a weekly commitment.
Therapists generally need to be licensed in the state where the patient is located. You can browse therapists offering telehealth in our directory.
There is no standard length. Duration depends on the diagnosis, its severity, the person's age, how consistently sessions happen, and how much practice takes place between them. Some goals resolve in a few months, while conditions such as aphasia after a stroke may involve longer-term work.
A good therapist will set measurable goals at the evaluation and review progress against them at regular intervals, so you are never guessing.
Start with the symptom rather than the label. Trouble producing certain sounds points toward speech sound disorders, stuttering toward fluency, difficulty finding words after a stroke toward aphasia, and trouble swallowing toward swallowing disorders. If you are unsure, an evaluation with a general speech-language pathologist will identify the right direction.
You can browse all 36 specialty areas to see which best describes your situation.
Yes, and it is a normal request. Ask about experience with your specific concern, typical outcomes for similar cases, and whether past clients are willing to speak with you. Privacy rules mean a therapist cannot share client details without permission, so expect a referral to a willing family rather than a list.
Listings come from two sources: speech-language pathologists who submit their own profiles, and publicly available professional directory information. We review submissions before publishing, and therapists can claim and update their own listing at any time.
We are a directory rather than a referral service or a healthcare provider, so always confirm current license status with the relevant state board before a first appointment. If you are a therapist and want to add or correct a listing, submit your details here.
Start Your Search
Now that you know what to look for, browse our directory of certified speech-language pathologists. There is no account to create, no form to fill in, and no cost. Connect with a therapist directly, on your terms.