SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – South Suburban College is offering an A.A.S. degree in the exciting field of Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SPA). An SPA is an emerging paraprofessional support person who has completed the academic requirements of an accredited two-year program. They assist a certified Speech-Language Pathologist in treating people who have speech-language and communication disorders.
As a clinician, SPAs can work in various settings: schools, private practice, healthcare settings and in Illinois, primarily in early intervention. An SPA may conduct the following tasks under the supervision of a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP):
- Assist the SLP with Speech-Language hearing screenings and assessments (without
interpretation). - Follow documented treatment or intervention plans developed by the supervising SLP.
- Document student performance and report information to the SLP.
- Assist with clerical duties, research projects, and collect data for quality improvement.
South Suburban College prepares graduates of the SPA program to become eligible for licensure with the State of Illinois. This license is required in order to work in any setting in the state. After completing the necessary requirements for the AAS degree one may obtain licensure from the state of Illinois by successfully passing the licensure test and paying the application fee. The Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant field is predicted to grow 21% 2014-2024 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics), is listed as #20 in Best Health Care jobs (U.S. News rankings) and has salary ranges of $28,000-$63,000. Need another reason; the opportunity to improve the communication and ultimately quality of life of individuals is a reward in itself!
For more information regarding this program, please call David Frazier, Coordinator for the SPA Program at (708) 596-2000, ext. 2204 or email DFrazier@ssc.edu, or visit the Allied Health Department Office in room 4457. For more information about all of SSC’s programs, admissions and registration, please visit www.ssc.edu or contact the Admissions Office at (708) 210-5718.
