Wyoming Speech-Language Pathologist Licensure Guide - 2024

Wyoming Speech-Language Pathologist Licensure Process

The Wyoming Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology has the legal authority to regulate and issue licenses for speech pathologists and audiologists. The validity period of this license ends on December 31st, which comes after the year they were issued. The licensure process entails obtaining a master’s degree in speech-language pathology, passing a national SLP exam, and completing a clinical fellowship experience. In addition, you also need to conduct a background check.

Education Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree Requirements

To be eligible for a master’s degree in speech pathology, you need a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders, or a similar field, from an accredited college or university. While having an undergraduate degree in communication sciences and disorders makes it easier to pursue a master’s in this field, those with a degree in a different area can still proceed with their graduate studies after finishing certain prerequisite courses.

These courses usually consist of the following:

• Anatomy and Physiology of the Speech and Swallowing Mechanism
• Introduction to Audiology and Aural Rehabilitation
• Language Acquisition
• Language Development and Disorders in Children
• Phonetics
• Speech Development and Disorders

Master’s Degree Requirements

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) accredits campus-based programs as well as online programs/ The speech-language pathology master’s program comprises approximately 48 credits and includes courses such as:

• Acoustics of Speech & Hearing
• Aural Rehabilitation
• Language Development
• Language Disorders Across the Lifespan
• Neurological Bases of Communication
• Phonetics and Phonological Development

Experience Requirements

To obtain a license as a speech-language pathologist in Wyoming, it is necessary to meet the experience requirements specified by the Wyoming Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology. It is crucial to acquire clinical experience to prepare for a speech pathology career adequately. Consider this an integral aspect of your comprehensive evaluation.

To obtain a license in Wyoming, one must complete a 36-week clinical fellowship, equivalent to ASHA requirements, and at least 375 hours of supervised clinical practicum. Shadowing opportunities for SLP can be found in various settings, such as clinics, hospitals, schools, and private practice. It is also possible to volunteer with the populations that interest you, as this can enhance your resume.

Testing Requirements

Only a handful of states mandate passing the national SLP Praxis exam (#5331) before beginning a post-graduate clinical fellowship. To sit for the Praxis-administered national SLP exam, one must enroll through the Praxis registration page and then take the test at a Praxis testing center in various locations throughout the country.

If residing in Wyoming, the exam can be taken at a testing center in any of the subsequent cities:

• Casper
• Gillette
• Laramie
• Rawlins
• Riverton
• Sheridan

To prepare for the exam, utilize the Praxis preparation materials. The exam consists of 132 questions and must be completed within 150 minutes. The questions are categorized into three main groups with corresponding subcategories:

Foundations and Professional Practice

• Typical development
• Communication, feeding, and swallowing
• Common communication and swallowing disorders
• Wellness and prevention
• Documentation
• Research methodology
• Ethics
• Documentation

Screening, Assessment, Evaluation, and Diagnosis

• Assessment of anatomy and physiology
• Causes of neurological disorders
• Choosing appropriate assessment procedures, instruments, and materials
• Creating case histories

Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation of Treatment

• Creating a prognosis for the patient’s condition
• Prioritizing treatment goals and developing a plan
• Utilizing augmentative and alternative communication during treatment
• Addressing speech sound production issues during treatment

To pass the exam, you must score at least 162 on a scale ranging from 100 to 200 is necessary. Taking the SLP Praxis assessment incurs a $146 fee per attempt. Extra Praxis test costs may apply to some examinees, like a $40 charge to modify a test date or location or an added $50 for a supplementary Praxis score report.

Once you have completed your clinical fellowship and passed the SLP exam, you may apply for the Certificate of Clinical Competency in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) through ASHA, a respected national certification. While not required for licensure, many SLPs pursue this certification to demonstrate their dedication to the profession and improve their job prospects.

Background Checks

Before issuing Speech-Language Pathology Licenses, the Wyoming Board of Examiners of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology must conduct criminal background checks per Wyoming Statutes. To obtain the necessary fingerprint cards, you must get in touch with the Board office or your local law enforcement agency and ensure that both hands are printed on each of the two blue cards to be submitted.

To complete a background check, the following requirements must be met:

• You must use black ink only when filling out the fingerprint cards.
• Only authorized individuals, such as law enforcement officers, may perform the fingerprint procedure.
• You are responsible for completing all of the yellow highlighted areas in the example provided.
• The official who takes the fingerprints must sign the cards.
• Fingerprints must be fully rolled with no smudges. Only prints that are fully rolled or smudged will be accepted, and the applicant must submit new cards.
• Do not fold the cards.

Mail your application packet and the cards to the following address:

The fee for the background check for the state of Wyoming is $15 for the majority of applicants, while the cost of an FBI fingerprint-based criminal background check is $24.

Application Process

To apply for speech-language pathology licensure in Wyoming, you must download and complete the application packet and send it to the State of Wyoming Board of Examiners of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (if the previous link does not work, you can download it from the Wyoming Board of Examiners of SLP and A). In addition, you must comply with Chapter 2 of the Board’s Rules and Regulations.

Unless stated otherwise, you must respond to all inquiries and fill in all requested data below:

• Application information: Your name on your application must match the name on your photo ID.
• Contact Information, including mail & email addresses and phone number(s).
• Evidence of Competency
• Correspondence from the Board office
• Clinical competency
• State Licenses/Registrations
• Experience
• Education
• History

Submitting an incomplete or faxed application is unacceptable as the Board demands the complete, original, signed Application. In addition, the information and identification below must also be provided by you to submit your speech-language pathology licensure application:

• SLP Clinical Fellowship Report and Rating Form
• State verification
• Supervisor agreement
• Official transcripts
• Background check
• SLP exam score

You must submit the mandatory documents and complete all the required parts to ensure the review process is completed on time. Plus, the Application must be accompanied by a payment of $300.00 (non-refundable), made out to the State of Wyoming, and sent as a personal/business check, cashier’s check, or money order.

The regular application review time is extended by 4 weeks for a background check.

You can proceed with your speech-language pathology profession in Wyoming upon receiving your license. An email will be sent to you upon approval of your application.