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How to Become an SLP or Audiologist in Ohio

Career guide · Last reviewed July 2026 · By the OhioLicenseCheck.com team

Speech-language pathology is one of the most flexible master’s-level healthcare careers in Ohio: the same license works in school districts, hospitals, private clinics, and teletherapy from your living room. Audiology adds a doctoral track centered on hearing and balance. School demand, in particular, chronically outstrips supply across Ohio.

Education

Master’s (SLP) or clinical doctorate (AuD); shorter pathway for hearing-aid fitters

Time to license

~6 years (SLP); ~8 years (AuD)

Exams

Praxis in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology

Typical pay

Ohio SLPs roughly $75–90k; audiologists roughly $75–95k (BLS-based estimates)

Licenses covered

  • Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)
  • Audiologist (AuD)
  • Hearing Aid Fitter

Why choose this path

  • Chronic SLP shortages in Ohio schools mean exceptional job security
  • School-calendar schedules (summers off) are genuinely available
  • Teletherapy has made this one of the most remote-friendly licensed clinical careers
  • Master’s-level entry — no doctorate required for SLP
  • Every age group is a potential caseload, from early intervention to stroke recovery

Path to the license

  1. 1

    Earn a communication sciences bachelor’s (or post-bacc)

    CSD undergraduate programs are the standard feeder; career-changers use post-baccalaureate bridge coursework.

  2. 2

    Complete the graduate degree

    ASHA-accredited (CAA) master’s for SLP or AuD doctorate for audiology, including supervised clinical hours.

  3. 3

    Pass the Praxis and finish your clinical fellowship

    SLPs complete a clinical fellowship year (CFY) under supervision before full licensure.

  4. 4

    Apply to the Ohio Speech and Hearing Professionals Board

    School-based practice also involves education credentials — verify both. Renew with CE on the Board’s cycle.

Pay and outlook

BLS medians sit in the high-$80,000s nationally for SLPs and audiologists; Ohio typically pays in the $75,000–90,000 band with school and hospital settings differing more in schedule than in salary. Teletherapy platforms have added a competitive national market on top of local employers.

SLP growth projections are among the strongest of any master’s-level occupation.

Where Ohioans train

Ohio State University

Speech and hearing science programs through the doctorate

University of Cincinnati & Kent State

Large CAA-accredited SLP and AuD programs

University of Akron (NOAC)

Audiology consortium training

Schools listed are well-known examples, not endorsements — always compare accreditation, cost, and outcomes.

Official links & resources

Licensed by the Ohio Speech and Hearing Professionals Board

Read our verification guide for this board — what the license record shows, renewal cycles, and how employers check it.

Curious what a real license looks like?

Look up any current speech & hearing license in the official Ohio record — and when you earn yours, set a free expiry alert so it never lapses.

Try a Free License Lookup

Pay figures are approximate, based on recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and Ohio market observations; actual earnings vary by employer, region, and experience. Licensure requirements change — always confirm current rules with the board and programs linked above. This guide is general information, not career or legal advice.