SLP Licensure & Certification Disclosures

If you are considering an academic program that leads to obtaining professional licensure or certification in your state, note the following information.

Authorization

Sacred Heart University, as a member of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), is authorized to offer distance programs in all states and United States Territories that participate in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA).

SARA is a voluntary agreement of states and United States Territories that has established comparable standards for distance education programs offered across state lines. Only accredited, federally-recognized institutions are able to offer distance education programs under SARA.

Sacred Heart University’s institutional participation was granted by the State of Connecticut Office of Higher Education on January 11, 2017. California is the only state that does not participate in SARA therefore Sacred Heart University is exempt from approval from the California Bureau of Post-Secondary Education. 

Participation in SARA does not absolve Sacred Heart University programs from the need to meet applicable state licensing and certification requirements. Prospective students are advised to refer to the information below about state professional licensing and certification requirements, states in which clinical placements are either limited or restricted and potential consequences of relocating to a different state at any time after admission to a degree program.

Prospective students are also encouraged to review the Licensure & Certification Disclosures by State section of Sacred Heart University’s State Authorization, Disclosures & Student Complaints webpage for additional information.

Licensure & Certification as a Speech-Language Pathologist

SLPs earn national certification from the American Speech-Language & Hearing Association. For information on the Certificate of Clinical Competence in SLP, visit the ASHA.org website. 

SLP practice in Connecticut requires a license from the CT State Department of Health. For information on CT SLP licensure,visit the CT DPH website. Students graduating from the SHU SLP program will be eligible for both the Certificate of Clinical Competence and CT state licensure in SLP.

For information on licensure requirements in other states, visit ASHA State-By-State. Students may also visit the State Authorization & Disclosures website for more information on each state.