Clinical Hours

What are Clinical observation hours? Basically, you shadow or follow an SLP or SLPA and gain experience/ knowledge of what you'd eventually be doing. You don't always get to do hands on work but you get to see the work field and what it'd be like on a daily basis. Clinical observation hours vary depending on what school you go to and what state you live in/ where you want to practice. For example, if you go to NAU taking a few online classes can get you an SLPA Certification but you'll then need 100 clinical hours to work as an SLPA in the state of Arizona. SST 460 helps you get experience and hours, but there is a catch. It is only offered in the Summer for now. In the future, it may be offered during Fall and Spring semester if enough students sign up. It is best to get your hours done while in college so you can apply for your certificate once you graduate and have higher chances of getting a job. However, you can wait until you graduate and complete them then as well. Neither affects you but I do believe one i better than the other. It is important to remember that no two states are the same when it comes to their requirements. So make sure you look up the requirement and contact the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) via email or call if you have any questions that cannot be answered through the website.

Here is a bit of advice:

*Come up with a script on what to say to an SLP

*Have a Resume

*Community Service looks great on a resume as well as any extracurriculars

Check out these places that can help with your hours:

* Private practices

* Schools

* Home health

* Word of mouth