Clinical education is a vital and defining component of the Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) program at the University of Kentucky. From the first semester of graduate study, students engage in hands-on clinical experiences that build foundational skills and grow in complexity across five consecutive semesters. These experiences occur both on-campus and off-campus in a variety of settings, including healthcare, public schools, and rural or underserved areas, through the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) program.
Students work under the guidance of experienced and credentialed speech-language pathologists, known as clinical educators or preceptors, who provide supervision, instruction, and mentorship. These professionals offer expertise across a wide range of practice areas, including speech-sound disorders, language delays, fluency, voice, cognition, swallowing, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and hearing-related services.
To ensure a comprehensive clinical education, students must complete the following minimum requirements prior to graduation:
- 25 guided observation hours
- 375 total hours in evaluation and treatment
- 100 hours in pediatric evaluation and treatment
- 100 hours in adult evaluation and treatment
- 10 hours in hearing screening, evaluation, or treatment
- Three off-campus clinical rotations
- One AHEC (rural/underserved) rotation
To meet the requirements for ASHA certification, students must complete one pediatric rotation and one adult rotation. Typically, these rotations will include one in an adult setting, such as long-term care, outpatient rehabilitation, inpatient, or residential rehabilitation facilities, and one in a public school or pediatric facility.
- Students who do not complete a school rotation must complete a sequence of two 1-credit elective courses to gain the required school-based competencies. The first course will be taken during the second fall semester, and the second course during the second spring semester. These two courses will fulfill the students’ elective requirement.
Clinical placements are determined with attention to the student's academic preparation, clinical competencies, professional interests, projected graduation date, and ASHA certification and accreditation requirements. When making assignments, faculty consider:
- Academic performance and clinical skills achieved
- Clinical clock hours completed and needed
- Current and projected schedules
- Previous and planned clinical rotations
- Student preferences and goals
- Participation in specialized departmental training grant programs
Clinical sites are carefully vetted before student placement. The review process includes an assessment of the client populations served, the supervisor's qualifications and experience, previous student evaluations of the site and educator, and direct communication with the site. Clinical educators must hold current ASHA certification and state licensure.
During each placement, the clinical education team maintains close contact with students and clinical educators, providing support and oversight. The University of Kentucky’s clinical education model ensures that each student graduates with the depth and breadth of experience needed to become a confident, ethical, and well-rounded speech-language pathologist prepared to serve diverse populations across settings.