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California Speech Language Pathology Master’s Programs
Obtaining a master’s degree in speech pathology can help prepare you for a career helping people overcome speech, language and swallowing disorders. Becoming a certified speech pathologist requires completion of a program accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA)1, which is part of the Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). You may want to choose a master’s program that meets the requirements for ASHA accreditation.2
Explore California speech therapy programs and learn about the requirements for becoming a licensed speech-language pathologist (SLP) in this state.
Pepperdine University • Malibu, CA
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
20-32 Months
Credits
53
Admission Requirements
- Completed undergraduate degree (BA/BS), with an overall GPA of 3.000 or higher.
- Official transcripts for all previous college coursework.
- Completion of required foundational courses in communicative disorders.
- Applicants who have not completed the required foundational courses may be admitted to complete those courses in advance of full admission to the program.
- Three letters of recommendation by people familiar with your background and potential for success as a speech-language pathologist
- Statement of interest
Emerson College • Boston, MA
Master of Science in Communication Disorders
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 20 months
Credits
72
Admission Requirements
- Official Transcripts
- Résumé
- Letters of Recommendation
- Essay
- Interview
Find the Best California Speech Pathology Program for You
There are a plethora of California speech therapy programs to choose from, in online, on-campus and hybrid formats. Speech pathology programs in California are primarily offered on-campus. Just one California-based university offers an online master’s in speech-language pathology. Online programs can make it easier for students to attend faraway schools while still working to attain new credentials and begin new careers.
Each state has its own requirements for registering or licensing speech-language pathologists. As of December 2025, California SLP license requirements include the following:
- Fingerprinting.
- Obtain at least a master’s degree (or equivalent) in speech-language pathology from an accredited speech pathology school.
- Completion of 300 hours of supervised clinical hours in three different clinical settings.
- Completion of required professional experience (RPE) with a temporary license—36 full-time or 72 part-time weeks.
- A passing score of 162 on the Educational Testing Service Praxis exam for Speech-Language Pathology taken within 5 years of application filing.
Most of these programs are accredited by ASHA’s Council on Academic Accreditation; a few programs have pre-accreditation status as emerging and developing SLP programs. Graduates of these programs are qualified to apply for their Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in Speech-Language Pathology from ASHA, as well as licensure in speech-language pathology with the California Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board. Explore our compiled list of on-campus and online speech therapy programs in California below.
After doing your research, only you can decide whether a speech pathology program is worth it for you.
Pepperdine University • Malibu, CA
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
20-32 Months
Credits
53
Admission Requirements
- Completed undergraduate degree (BA/BS), with an overall GPA of 3.000 or higher.
- Official transcripts for all previous college coursework.
- Completion of required foundational courses in communicative disorders.
- Applicants who have not completed the required foundational courses may be admitted to complete those courses in advance of full admission to the program.
- Three letters of recommendation by people familiar with your background and potential for success as a speech-language pathologist
- Statement of interest
Pepperdine University • Malibu, CA
Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
20-32 Months
Credits
53
Admission Requirements
- Completed undergraduate degree (BA/BS), with an overall GPA of 3.000 or higher.
- Official transcripts for all previous college coursework.
- Completion of required foundational courses in communicative disorders.
- Applicants who have not completed the required foundational courses may be admitted to complete those courses in advance of full admission to the program.
- Three letters of recommendation by people familiar with your background and potential for success as a speech-language pathologist
- Statement of interest
Emerson College • Boston, MA
Master of Science in Communication Disorders
Enrollment Type
Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program
As few as 20 months
Credits
72
Admission Requirements
- Official Transcripts
- Résumé
- Letters of Recommendation
- Essay
- Interview
References:
1Council on Academic Accreditation. Retrieved December 17, 2025, from https://caa.asha.org/arrow_upward
2American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). ASHA certification. Retrieved December 17, 2025.arrow_upward
Information last updated: December 2025