Free CEUs for SLPs

For speech-language pathologists (SLPs), Continuing Education Units (CEUs) is an important part of the job. Not only are CEUs required for meeting professional requirements, online learning can also help therapists grow their clinical skills.

The downside is that earning CEUs can feel like another item on an SLPs to-do list amid daily schedules packed with client care and administrative tasks. There’s also the worry of costly courses creating a financial burden.

Summary

• Free and low-cost CE opportunities can help SLPs meet professional requirements while expanding their knowledge of topics such as AAC, dysphagia, telepractice, ethics, and culturally responsive care.
• SLPs need to consider both ASHA and state requirements. CCC-SLP holders must meet ASHA certification maintenance requirements, while state licensing requirements and renewal cycles vary.
• Professional organizations, clinical education providers, and AAC companies are useful places to look for free online continuing education opportunities.
• Before enrolling, SLPs should verify that a course qualifies for the credit they need and choose evidence-based learning that aligns with their caseload, specialty, and professional goals.

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Not to worry. Free CEUs for SLPs and professional development opportunities are available online and cover a range of topics – from language development and telepractice to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and dysphagia.

Here are some of the best sources for free CEUs for SLPs to help you advance clinical skills without breaking the bank.

Why continuing education matters

The field of speech-language pathology is constantly evolving, with new research, assessment tools, technology, and treatment approaches emerging. By making a commitment to lifelong learning, SLPs can incorporate best practices and current evidence into services provided.

Meeting ASHA and state requirements

American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA): ASHA’s certification maintenance requirements must be met by SLPs who hold the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP).

Current ASHA guidelines require SLPs to accumulate a minimum of 30 Professional Development Hours (PDHs) during each 3-year certification maintenance interval.

Specific mandatory coursework includes:

• A minimum of 1 hour in ethics.
• A minimum of 2 hours in culturally responsive practice, cultural humility, cultural competency or diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

State: SLPs must also meet specific continuing education standards set by their state licensing board. CEU requirements vary significantly by state. For example, Arizona requires SLPs to complete 20 hours of CEUs every two years based on initial licensure dates. Alabama mandates 12 hours of CEUs annually.

It’s important for SLPs to consult their state’s Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board to confirm specific CEU requirements and renewal intervals.

Staying current in clinical practice

Participating in continuing education isn’t just about checking a box – there’s a direct influence on client care. Staying up to date on evolving research and providing evidence-based care helps ensure therapy is impactful and effective.

According to ASHA, continuing education is designed to “contribute to professional development and lead to acquiring and enhancing skills and knowledge required for independent audiology or speech-language pathology practice.”

SLPs can also learn to navigate new technologies and teletherapy models through ongoing education. Utilizing modern practice management software and incorporating HIPAA-compliant teletherapy tools lets therapists deliver seamless care online and expand their reach. Running a more efficient practice is possible by pairing up-to-date clinical knowledge with the latest digital tools.

Best sources for free CEUs for SLPs

Lucky for SLPs, it’s easier than ever to find valuable, accredited online learning opportunities. Here are some of the top places for free CEUs for SLPs.

Professional organizations

• ASHA: ASHA-certified members have access to free or low-cost learning opportunities such as ethics courses, introductory modules, and webcasts. Therapists can also use ASHA resources like the ASHA CEFind tool to locate ASHA-approved CE providers.
• State associations: State-specific speech-language hearing associations are a source for conferences, webinars, and occasional free continuing education opportunities. These opportunities can be particularly helpful for learning about state-specific topics like documentation, licensing regulations, school-based practice, and ethics.

Clinical education providers

SpeechPathology.com: SLPs can access a large library of over 500 online continuing education courses through SpeechPathology.com. Full access to the platform typically requires a subscription, but a current offer allows therapists to complete one select course for free. Courses span over 30 different clinical topics, from apraxia and AAC to dysphagia and neurogenic communication disorders.

Passy-Muir: Clinicians working with clients who have tracheostomies and ventilators can participate in continuing education through Passy-Muir. Educational topics include speaking valves, swallowing, interdisciplinary care, and communication.

Bilinguistics: Bilinguistics offers CEUs centered around bilingual assessment and intervention, language disorders, cultural and linguistic considerations, and school-based practice. SLPs can refer to a selection of complimentary ASHA-approved CEU courses, including required ethics content.

AAC Companies: Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) manufacturers can be a valuable source of free CEUs for SLPs, particularly those who are interested in building practical AAC skills.

• Tobii Dynavox: Tobii Dynavox’s Learning Hub contains a catalog of free online training resources - many of which offer ASHA CEUs.
• PRC-Saltillo: The PRC-Saltillo AAC Learning Journey hosts free product and implementation courses taught by expert consultants. Clinicians can take advantage of these educational opportunities to learn more about integrating high-tech AAC devices into therapeutic environments.

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How to choose the right free CEUs for SLPs

With such a vast range of online CEUs available, following three key criteria can help clinicians select the best options for their specific professional goals and areas of growth:

1. Match courses to your specialty: Look for topics that align with your current caseload or areas you’d like to expand to. Medical SLPs might seek out courses on cognitive-communication disorders or dysphagia, while school-based SLPs may prioritize learning more about literacy, executive functioning, or speech sound disorders.
2. Look for practical, evidence-based content: Courses that provide immediate, actionable strategies allow SLPs to incorporate them into real-world clinical practice.
3. Verify CEU approval before enrolling. Most importantly, verify that a course advertised as a “CEU” is approved by ASHA or recognized by your state licensing board. Thoroughly review the provider information, course description, number of credit hours, and the requirements of your licensing board.

Tips for earning CEUs efficiently

• Complete courses throughout the year. Spreading courses throughout the year avoids the stress of completing several CEUs at the end of your renewal period.
• Track certificates and renewal deadlines. Consider setting reminders several months before state license and ASHA certification deadlines come up. Some clinicians may choose to keep digital copies of certificates in a dedicated folder on their computer. Tracking services like CE Broker or the ASHA CE Registry can also help simplify record-keeping and prepare clinicians for potential auditing.
• Mix live and on-demand learning. There are advantages to each type of learning opportunity. Live webinars offer the ability to interact with presenters and ask questions. On-demand courses can be more convenient to fit into a busy schedule.

Earning CEUs is crucial for overall clinical growth and meeting ASHA and state licensing requirements. Free CEUs for SLPs makes it cost-effective and easy to fit continuing education into a busy schedule. SLPs can find relevant courses through professional organizations, clinical education providers, and AAC companies.

Having the right tools can make day-to-day clinical work more efficient as you incorporate new strategies and knowledge into practice.

Free Resources for Therapists

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• Ready-to-use worksheets, checklists, assessments & more!
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• Telehealth 101: On-demand videos
• Curious how TheraPlatform solves private practice pain points?

How EHRs can help with documentation

Modern EHR/practice management platforms (such as TheraPlatform) assist greatly with documentation by providing HIPAA‑compliant, integrated systems for note entry, storage, scheduling, and billing.

They allow therapists to:

• Use and customize templates (e.g., SOAP, DAP, and others) or build their own to streamline note writing and ensure consistency.
• Link notes to treatment plans, goals, and session history so client progress is easily tracked over time.
• Utilize e-fax and secure document sharing via client portal to safely exchange information with clients or other providers while maintaining confidentiality.
• Leverage dictation and telehealth transcription, which can automatically convert sessions into therapy or assessment notes, saving time and reducing manual entry.
• Take advantage of AI features that streamline documentation by automatically populating intake form data into assessment templates and generating complete therapy and assessment notes from the information you provide, all with a single click.

Meanwhile, AI‑assisted note tools are emerging which can further help clinicians by:

• Automatically transcribing session audio (if permitted) and highlighting key moments (e.g. emotional shifts, major themes).
• Suggesting draft notes or filling in objective or assessment sections based on observed data, freeing up clinicians’ time.
• Supporting consistency and reducing missing components in notes, which helps from both clinical, legal, and insurance perspectives.

Together, structured SOAP‑type notes, good EHR platforms, and smart AI tools support better therapeutic outcomes, more efficient workflows, and stronger accountability.

Streamline your practice with One EHR

• Scheduling
• Flexible notes
• Template library
• Billing & payments

• Insurance claims
• Client portal
• Telehealth
• E-fax

Learn More

Resources for speech therapists

TheraPlatform is an all-in-one EHR, practice management, and teletherapy software with AI-powered notes built for therapists to help them save time on admin tasks. It offers a 30-day risk-free trial with no credit card required and supports different industries and sizes of practices, including speech-language pathologists in group and solo practices.

More resources

• Therapy resources and worksheets
• Therapy private practice courses
• Ultimate teletherapy ebook
• The Ultimate Insurance Billing Guide for Therapists
• The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Private Therapy Practice
• Insurance billing 101
• Practice management tools

Free video classes

• Free on-demand insurance billing for therapist course
• Free mini video lessons to enhance your private practice
• 9 Admin tasks to automate in your private practice

References

Ashekian, T. K. (2025). Speech-Language Pathology Practice Advancement: The Influence of Research and Evidence-Based Practice on Staying Current. Armenian Journal of Special Education, 9(1), 110-121. https://specedjournal.aspu.am/index.php/se/article/view/49

Miles, A., & Wallace, S. (2026). Management of adults with a tracheostomy: An international survey of speech-language pathologists’ practice. International journal of speech-language pathology, 28(2), 183-196. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17549507.2025.2482865#abstract

Rogers, K., Peterson, A. K., Schwindt, M., & Kotlarek, K. J. (2026). A Review of Available Online Continuing Education Opportunities in Cleft Care for Practicing Speech-Language Pathologists. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 11(3), 783-795. https://pubs.asha.org/doi/abs/10.1044/2026_PERSP-25-00185