Free CEUs for SLPs

Free continuing education units for speech language pathologists (CEUs for SLPs) are important whether you’re a seasoned clinician or just starting your career as an SLP. Ongoing education is part of being a speech language pathologist. 

CEUs which stands for Continuing Education Units, help provide this education. SLPs are required to obtain a certain number of CEUs per year or per set interval of years in order to maintain state licensure and ASHA certification. 

But what’s a busy therapist to do when free CEUs for SLPs and their requirements vary from state to state, between ASHA and individual states, and you don’t want to spend a week’s salary on online courses? Follow this guide to make it all easy.

Why are free CEUs for SLPs important?

Free CEUs for SLPs aren’t intended to be completed simply to check a box on your license and certification renewals. 

According to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), the requirements are intended to:

• “Contribute to professional development” 
• “Lead to acquiring and enhancing skills and knowledge required for independent audiology or speech-language pathology practice”. 

ASHA states that by completing at least a set minimum of CEUs, speech language pathologists can ensure they are staying current in the field. The SLP may learn about the latest research, new therapy techniques, novel treatment approaches, up-to-date technology, and more. 

Committing to lifelong learning in this way can provide the SLP with the education and tools they can apply when providing services as they strive to achieve the best outcomes for their clients.  

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ASHA requirements

In order to practice, SLPs must maintain their Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) from ASHA. 

SLPs can login to their ASHA account to view the start and end dates of their 3-year certification maintenance interval. 

Therapists are required to accumulate a minimum of 30 CEUs during their 3-year certification maintenance interval. 

ASHA also refers to CEUs as Professional Development Hours (PDHs). 

These 30 hours of CEUs (or PDHs) must include: 

• At least 2 hours in the areas of cultural competency, culturally responsive practice, cultural humility, or diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). 

• At least 1 hour in the area of ethics. 

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State requirements

Obtaining a certain number of CEUs is a requirement for maintaining your state licensure as an SLP. 

The number of CEUs required varies by state. For example, Alabama requires 12 hours of CEUs per year. The state of Arizona requires that SLPs obtain 20 hours of CEUs every 2 years, based on their initial licensure date. 

Here is a list of CEU requirements for SLPs across states. SLPs should refer to the Board of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology for their state of licensure for details requiring CEU requirements.  

Speech Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs) are also required to complete CEUs to maintain state licensure. This number varies from the number of CEUs SLPs are required to obtain, and can also be viewed on their state’s SLP Board website.  

Resources for free CEUs for SLPs

Here’s some good news for SLPs - there are several sites out there that offer free CEUs for SLPs. Many of them can be taken on-demand, so you can fit them into your busy schedule! 

Bilinguistics offers free CEUs for SLPs

Bilinguistics.com currently offers 4 free CEUs for SLPs. One of these courses addresses the topic of Ethics. 

If you’re also interested in taking one of over 40 online CEU courses on the site, Bilinguistics offers a discount with their annual pass. The content is always available to you, so you can complete them when it’s convenient to you. 

The SLP Impact Membership starts at $19.99 per month. 

PRC-Saltillo offers free CEUs for SLPs

SLPs who want to further their knowledge in Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) can earn CEUs through PRC-Saltillo’s free CEUs for SLPs which are offered online. 

Classes are typically taught by PRC-Saltillo consultants. SLPs can learn strategies for integrating communication devices into various environments for clients, and PRC-Saltillo AAC products are featured in the classes. 

Schedules for AAC Learning Journey, Product Classes, and Implementation Classes can be found on the PRC-Saltillo website. Note that ASHA CEUs are not available for the recorded webinars offered. 

Tobii Dynavox

For more free CEUs for SLPs focused on AAC, head to Tobii Dynavox. Through the Tobii Dynavox Learning Hub, you can choose from an extensive list of on demand courses that offer ASHA approved CEUs. 

Complete courses at your own pace as you learn about strategies for working with clients who use AAC. Courses are designed by experts in the field, educating participants on how to get the most out of using Tobii Dynavox products.  

Passy Muir

Passy-Muir offers a comprehensive selection of virtual self-study courses for ASHA CEUs. Through these courses, SLPs can learn about basic and advanced concepts for assessing and use of the Passy Muir speaking valve with their clients. 

Free CEUs for SLPs are also offered through Passy Muir’s live continuing education courses which are held over Zoom. The weekly schedule for live classes, and the schedule for self-study courses, can be found here.  

SpeechPathology.com

Choose from over 500 courses on more than 30 topics taught by presenters who are leaders in their fields on SpeechPathology.com. 

By using the promo code 1FREECOURSE at registration, SLPs can take a one-hour course offering free CEUs for SLPs. To take additional courses, the website offers a $99 per year membership that includes an unlimited number of courses. 

Knowing the top resources for free CEUs for SLPs can help clinicians stay on top of state licensure requirements, maintain ASHA certification, and continue a career-long path of learning. 

Speech language pathologists should remember to complete any necessary forms upon completion of courses. These forms may ask for the SLP’s state license number or ASHA number, and are important for reporting CEUs. 

SLPs should also save certificates from courses. Resources like the ASHA CE Registry Service or CE Broker can help therapists track their CEUs.