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This will open up new opportunities for SLPA professionals to work across a wider range of settings, including schools and healthcare facilities.

Nancy Thul, director of the Alexandria Technical and Community College’s SLPA program, has been a driving force behind this bill since 2012.

“This is a major win not only for our graduates but for the state as a whole," Thul said. "The need for more trained professionals to support Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) has never been greater.”

Minnesota, like many other states, is facing a shortage of SLPs, particularly in rural areas and school districts. With the aging population and advances in medical care increasing the need for SLP services, the SLPA licensure will help alleviate this burden by providing qualified assistants who can extend the reach of SLPs.

Alexandria College is currently the only institution in Minnesota offering an SLPA program. The program is offered completely online. Students can pursue an associate of applied science degree, or those who already have a bachelor's can earn a certificate to advance their careers. The school has been attracting applicants from across the U.S., including states like Washington and California.

“We expect class sizes to grow, and we will be able to graduate more SLPAs each year,” Thul said.

The SLPA program has been evolving to meet the needs of the community. The college recently introduced a course, Speech Language Communication in Diverse Populations, to train students to work with bilingual patients from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Alexandria College has also partnered with the Minnesota State University Moorhead. The university is embedding Alexandria College's SLPA Certificate curriculum within its undergraduate degree program. At Minnesota State University Moorhead, students can complete a Bachelor of Science in Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences and earn a SLPA certification at the same time.

Though the bill passed, more work needs to be done during the upcoming session.

"The groundwork has been laid, but we are still refining details to make sure this licensure is as effective and as impactful as possible for both students and the community," Thul said.