Understanding Speech Therapist Titles and Credentials
Education Resource
A Parent’s Guide to SLP, CCC-SLP, CF, SLPA, SLP Students, and New York State School Credentials
Written by Chotimanee Guandique
Founder & Family Resource Connector | ParentsOfBraveHearts
Why I Created This Resource
As a parent, you may hear the words speech therapist, speech-language pathologist, SLP, CCC-SLP, Clinical Fellow, or SLPA and wonder:
What do all these titles mean?
You may also wonder:
Who is qualified to provide speech therapy?
Is an SLP the same as a speech therapist?
What does CCC-SLP mean?
Is a Clinical Fellow fully qualified?
What can an SLPA do?
What is an SLP student allowed to do?
What credentials are required for someone providing speech services in a New York elementary school?
Does every SLP have the same experience?
What questions should parents ask?
I became curious about these questions because parents deserve to understand who is providing services to their children and what the different credentials mean.
I researched information from the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to create this educational resource.
This article is intended to help parents become more informed when communicating with speech-language professionals and their child's
eFirst: Is a Speech Therapist the Same as an SLP?
You will often hear the term speech therapist in everyday conversation.
The professional title is generally:
Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)
An SLP is trained to evaluate and treat communication disorders and, within their scope of practice, swallowing-related disorders.
Speech-language therapy can involve much more than helping a child pronounce sounds.
An SLP may work on:
Speech sounds and articulation
Receptive language
Expressive language
Social communication
Fluency and stuttering
Voice
Cognitive-communication
Literacy-related communication skills
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
Feeding and swallowing
Communication associated with autism
Developmental communication differences
Other speech and language disorders
So when someone says:
“My child sees a speech therapist,” They may be referring to an SLP.
What Does SLP Mean?
SLP = Speech-Language Pathologist
An SLP is the professional who provides speech-language pathology services within their scope of practice and applicable state requirements.
However, the title alone does not tell you everything about the professional.
For example, two SLPs may both have extensive education but have very different professional experiences.
One may specialize in:
Early childhood
Autism
AAC
Apraxia
Language development
Another may specialize in:
Adults
Stroke rehabilitation
Voice
Swallowing
Therefore, parents should ask not only:
“Are you an SLP?”
but also:
“What experience do you have with my child's specific communication needs?”
What Is ASHA?
ASHA stands for:
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
ASHA is the national professional association for speech-language pathology and audiology in the United States.
ASHA provides professional standards and offers national certification for speech-language pathologists and audiologists.
One of ASHA's best-known credentials for speech-language pathologists is:
CCC-SLP
This stands for:
Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology.
ASHA certification is important to understand, but it is not the same thing as state licensure.
A state determines who may legally practice under that state's laws and regulations.
ASHA provides a national professional certification system.
Therefore:
ASHA certification and state licensure are separate concepts.
What Does CCC-SLP Mean?
You might see:
Jane Smith, M.S., CCC-SLP
The letters CCC-SLP mean:
Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology
ASHA's certification process includes academic preparation, supervised clinical experience, examination requirements, and a Clinical Fellowship.
The CCC-SLP demonstrates that the professional has met ASHA's certification standards.
But parents should remember:
CCC-SLP does not automatically tell you what a professional specializes in.
For example, an SLP with a CCC-SLP may have extensive experience with:
Young children
AAC
Autism
Apraxia
Feeding
Another CCC-SLP may have a completely different area of practice.
So ask about experience and specialization, not just the letters after someone's name.
What Is a Clinical Fellow (CF)?
You may hear:
Clinical Fellow or CF
A Clinical Fellow is an individual who has completed the required academic education and clinical practicum and is completing a mentored professional experience as part of the pathway toward ASHA's Certificate of Clinical Competence.
A Clinical Fellow is therefore different from an undergraduate student.
The Clinical Fellowship is intended to help the new professional transition from graduate clinical training toward independent professional practice.
Parents can ask:
Is this person currently a Clinical Fellow?
Who is their supervising or mentoring SLP?
What experience do they have working with children?
What experience do they have with my child's needs?
Who is responsible for my child's treatment plan?
Being a Clinical Fellow does not automatically mean the person is incapable of providing good services.
It means they are at a particular stage of professional development.
What Is an SLPA?
SLPA = Speech-Language Pathology Assistant
An SLPA is not the same as an SLP.
An SLPA works under the direction and supervision of an appropriately credentialed SLP.
Depending on state requirements and the setting, an SLPA may assist with permitted therapy activities and other responsibilities assigned by the supervising SLP.
However, an SLPA does not have the same scope of practice as an SLP.
For example, ASHA's scope-of-practice guidance identifies certain responsibilities that remain with the SLP, including professional responsibilities such as diagnosis and development or modification of treatment plans.
The exact legal requirements can vary by state.
Parents can ask:
“Will my child's direct therapy be provided by an SLP or an SLPA?”
And:
“Who is the supervising SLP?”
These are reasonable questions.
What Is an SLP Student?
You may also meet an:
SLP Student
An SLP student is completing education and supervised clinical training in speech-language pathology.
Students may participate in clinical services as part of their training.
This does not necessarily mean that the student cannot work directly with a child.
However, the student is still completing professional training and should be appropriately supervised according to the requirements of the educational and clinical setting.
Parents can ask:
Is this person an SLP student?
Who is supervising them?
What role will they have with my child?
How much direct supervision will they receive?
Who is ultimately responsible for my child's services?
Are There Different “Levels” of Speech Therapists?
This is one of the most important things I learned while researching this topic.
There isn't a universal system in which an SLP is officially:
Level 1 → Level 2 → Level 3
Instead, there are different:
Professional titles
Credentials
Licenses
Certifications
Training stages
Areas of specialization
Experience levels
For example:
Title/Credential | What it generally means |
SLP | Speech-Language Pathologist |
CCC-SLP | Holds ASHA's Certificate of Clinical Competence |
CF | Clinical Fellow completing a mentored professional experience |
SLPA | Speech-Language Pathology Assistant working under appropriate supervision |
SLP Student | Student completing education and supervised clinical training |
These are not simply levels from lowest to highest.
They describe different professional roles or stages.
What About Speech Services in New York Schools?
This is where things can become confusing for parents.
A speech-language professional working in a private clinic and someone providing speech services in a New York public school may have different credentialing requirements depending on the setting and employment arrangement.
New York State has its own requirements.
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) regulates professional licensure and also oversees teacher certification.
NYSED specifically provides guidance regarding the credentials required to provide speech services in New York schools.
For public schools, NYSED identifies school-related credentials including:
TSSLD : Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities
and
TSHH : Teacher of the Speech and Hearing Handicapped
The terminology and certification pathways can depend on the person's role and the applicable New York State requirements.
What Is TSSLD?
TSSLD = Teacher of Students with Speech and Language Disabilities
TSSLD is a New York State teaching certification related to providing speech and language services in schools.
This is different from the ASHA CCC-SLP.
It is important not to think of:
CCC-SLP vs. TSSLD
as a simple “higher” versus “lower” credential.
They serve different purposes.
The CCC-SLP is an ASHA professional certification.
The TSSLD is a New York State school-related teaching credential.
What Is TSHH?
TSHH = Teacher of the Speech and Hearing Handicapped
TSHH is another New York State school-related teaching credential.
Parents may encounter this terminology when reviewing the credentials of professionals providing speech services in New York schools.
Because New York's certification rules and pathways can change, parents should check the current NYSED requirements rather than relying on an old article, social media post, or word-of-mouth information.
Does Every SLP Working With Children Have a CCC-SLP?
Not necessarily.
This is why parents should look at the complete credential picture.
Depending on the setting, a professional may have:
NYS professional licensure
NYS teaching certification
ASHA CCC-SLP
Clinical Fellow status
Other professional credentials
The requirements can differ depending on whether the person works in:
A public school
A private school
A private clinic
A hospital
A contracted agency
Another educational or healthcare setting
Don't assume that one credential tells the entire story.
Instead, ask:
“What credential authorizes you to provide speech services in this particular setting?”
What About an Elementary School in New York?
If your child receives speech services in a New York public elementary school, you can ask the school:
“What New York State credential does the person providing my child's speech services hold?”
You can also ask:
“Is the provider an SLP, Clinical Fellow, SLPA, or student clinician?”
And:
“Who supervises the provider?”
NYSED's official guidance should be used to determine the credential required for the specific school and employment arrangement.
This is important because school-based credential requirements are not necessarily identical to requirements in private clinical practice.
What Should Parents Look For Beyond Credentials?
Credentials matter.
But they are only one part of choosing or understanding a speech-language professional.
1. Experience
Ask:
“How long have you worked with children?”
2. Specialization
Ask:
“What types of communication needs do you specialize in?”
3. Experience With Your Child's Needs
If your child has autism, developmental disabilities, motor-speech difficulties, complex communication needs, or another specific concern, ask:
“How much experience do you have working with children with similar communication needs?”
4. AAC Experience
If your child is nonspeaking or has limited spoken communication, ask about:
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC).
This may include:
Communication boards
Picture-based systems
Speech-generating devices
Tablet-based communication systems
Other alternative communication methods
A child does not have to wait until they are “ready” to explore appropriate communication supports.
Parents can ask an SLP about AAC when communication needs indicate it may be appropriate.
5. Progress Monitoring
Ask:
“How will you measure my child's progress?”
You should be able to understand what goals are being addressed and how progress is evaluated.
6. Collaboration
Ask how the SLP works with:
Parents
Teachers
Special education staff
Occupational therapists
Behavior professionals
Other members of the child's team
Communication between professionals can be especially important when a child's needs cross multiple areas.
Questions Parents Can Ask a Speech Therapist
You don't have to ask all of these questions at once.
Choose the questions that are most relevant to your child.
About Credentials
What is your professional title?
Are you an SLP, CCC-SLP, Clinical Fellow, SLPA, or SLP student?
What New York State credential allows you to provide speech services in this setting?
Are you currently licensed or certified?
Where can I verify your credential?
About Experience
How many years have you worked with children?
What age groups do you work with?
What communication disorders or needs do you have the most experience with?
Have you worked with children with my child's specific needs?
Do you have experience with AAC?
About Therapy
How do you determine my child's speech and language goals?
How will you measure progress?
How often do you review progress?
What happens if my child isn't making progress?
How do you adjust therapy when a strategy isn't working?
About Who Provides the Service
Who will actually provide my child's therapy?
Will an SLP provide the sessions directly?
Will an SLPA or student clinician participate?
If an assistant or student participates, who supervises them?
How often is the supervising SLP involved?
About Communication With Parents
How will you communicate with me about my child's progress?
Can I ask questions about my child's goals?
How can I support communication at home?
What can I practice with my child between sessions?
One Question I Especially Want Parents to Ask
There is one question that can give parents a much clearer understanding of the service:
“Who will actually be working with my child?”
Sometimes the person who evaluates a child is not the only person who participates in therapy.
That doesn't automatically mean something is wrong.
Different professionals can have different roles.
What matters is that parents understand:
Who is providing the service?
Who is supervising?
Who is responsible for the treatment plan?
What are the goals?
How is progress being measured?
Parents deserve to understand the services their children receive.
Don't Be Afraid to Ask Questions
Sometimes parents worry that asking questions will make them seem difficult.
It shouldn't.
Asking about credentials, experience, supervision, goals, and progress is part of being an informed parent.
You don't need to know all the professional terminology.
You can simply say:
“Can you explain what your credential means and what your role is with my child?”
That's a reasonable question.
The Bottom Line
The letters after a professional's name can tell you something about their education, certification, licensure, or professional role—but the letters don't tell the entire story.
Remember:
SLP: Speech-Language Pathologist
CCC-SLP: ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology
CF: Clinical Fellow completing a mentored professional experience
SLPA: Speech-Language Pathology Assistant working under appropriate supervision
SLP Student: Student completing speech-language pathology education and supervised clinical training
TSSLD / TSHHNew York State school-related teaching credentials associated with speech and language services
And perhaps the most important reminder:
Credentials tell you about qualifications. Experience tells you about expertise.
For your child, you may want to understand both.
Ask questions.
Learn who is working with your child.
Understand the goals.
Ask how progress is measured.
And remember that parents are an important part of their child's educational and communication team.
A Note From the Author
I created this resource because I believe parents should have access to understandable information when navigating their child's education and services.
I am not an SLP, and this resource does not replace professional advice.
My goal is to educate, empower, and inspire parents to ask questions, understand available resources, and participate confidently in conversations about their child's support.
Always verify current professional credentialing requirements directly with the appropriate state or professional organization.
Written by Chotimanee Guandique
ParentsOfBraveHearts
Parent Education & Family Resources
References & Resources
New York State Education Department
New York State Education Department — Speech-Language Pathology License Requirements
Provides information about New York State professional licensure requirements for speech-language pathology.
NYSED — What Credential Is Required to Provide Speech Services in New York State?Provides New York-specific information regarding credentials for providing speech services in different settings.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
ASHA — Certification
Information about ASHA certification and the Certificate of Clinical Competence.
ASHA — Clinical Fellowship
Information about the Clinical Fellowship experience.
ASHA — Speech-Language Pathology Assistant Scope of PracticeInformation about the role and supervision of SLPAs.
ASHA — Qualified Providers of Speech-Language Pathology Services in Schools
Information about qualified providers and school-based speech-language services.
Disclaimer
This article is provided for educational resource or general educational purposes only. It is not medical, legal, educational, or clinical advice and does not establish a professional relationship.
New York State requirements and professional standards may change.
Parents should verify current requirements and individual credentials with NYSED, ASHA, the school district, or the appropriate licensing authority.
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