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The group met with Sen. Wiklund, the chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, to discuss promoting the Speech-Language Pathology Assistants licensure bill and the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact which will be looked at in the upcoming legislative sessions.

Currently, Minnesota does not license Pathology Assistants (SLPAs). Under current state statutes, SLPAs have to operate under the direct supervision of a licensed Speech Language Pathologist (SLP).

“We wanted Sen. Wiklund to be aware specifically of this bill and how impactful it would be to the state,” Thul said.

Alexandria College developed the SLPA program in response to the growing shortage of SLPs in Minnesota, Thul explained. The college aims to provide qualified, specifically trained individuals who can support and assist the state’s current SLPs.

A licensed assistant would be able to assist an SLP with a large caseload and support those with communication disorders in both rural and metro communities, Thul continued. The licensure would allow SLPAs to operate in a similar manner to Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants and Physical Therapy Assistants.

“Alexandria College students would benefit from being licensed because it would be easier for schools to employ them as licensed professionals,” Thul said. “The biggest shortage in Minnesota is within the school setting, and this is where 98% of our graduates are getting jobs.”

Alexandria College offers an Associate of Applied Science degree for those new to the field, and a certificate program exclusively for individuals with a Bachelor of Science in speech-language-hearing sciences.  

The college strives to maintain strong relationships with industry professionals and community leaders, and program directors regularly incorporate opportunities for students to contribute to the greater good of their communities and the state.

The passing of the bill would create more opportunities for Alexandria College students to support this growing profession while providing Minnesotans with a much-needed service.