Accreditations and Policies

Accreditation is a voluntary process that professional programs in communication sciences and disorders (not individual people) undergo to ensure that their academic and clinical curricula meet the minimum standards of quality as delineated by a governing board. The governing board for speech-language pathology and audiology programs is the Council for Academic Accreditation (CAA), a semiautonomous body of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Accreditation is a "seal of approval" by the CAA that the professional program in question provides a quality education to prospective students.

As part of the requirements for earning the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC), a speech-language pathologist must obtain his or her education at a college or university professional program that has been accredited by the CAA. For new programs, the first step in the accreditation process is candidacy. Candidacy can be considered a probationary period during which the new program must come to compliance with all accreditation standards. Once all accreditation standards are met, the program is then awarded accreditation. Upon earning accreditation, professional programs must continue to meet all accreditation standards or run the risk of being placed on probation, or worse yet, lose accreditation altogether. If a student attends a professional program and graduates from that program while it is in candidacy, he or she is still eligible for the CCC, even if the program does not earn full accreditation after the student graduates.

The Master of Science (M.S.) education program in speech-language pathology (residential program, distance education) at Misericordia University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.

If you have additional questions about Misericordia University's ASHA accreditation status, please contact the Accreditation Department at ASHA at 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.

Student Outcome Data

RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM COMPLETION RATES

PERIOD	# COMPLETED PROGRAM WITHIN EXPECTED TIME FRAME	# COMPLETED LATER THAN EXPECTED TIME FRAME	# NOT COMPLETING	% COMPLETED PROGRAM WITHIN EXPECTED TIME FRAME
2025	36	0	0	100
2024	34	0	0	100
2023	29	0	0	100
3 year average	33	0	0	100

 

DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAM COMPLETION RATES

PERIOD	# COMPLETED PROGRAM WITHIN EXPECTED TIME FRAME	# COMPLETED LATER THAN EXPECTED TIME FRAME	# NOT COMPLETING	% COMPLETED PROGRAM WITHIN EXPECTED TIME FRAME
2025	13	0	0	100%
2024	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
2023	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
3 year average	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

 

RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM PRAXIS SLP PASS RATES
Program Data

PERIOD	# OF STUDENTS TAKING EXAM	# OF STUDENTS FAILED EXAM	PASS RATE (%)
2025	36	0	100
2024	34	2	94.12
2023	29	0	100
3 year average	33	.66	98.04

 

DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAM PRAXIS SLP PASS RATES
Program Data

PERIOD	# OF STUDENTS TAKING EXAM	# OF STUDENTS FAILED EXAM	PASS RATE (%)
2025	13	0	100%
2024	N/A	N/A	N/A
2023	N/A	N/A	N/A
3 year average	NA	NA	NA

American Speech-Language Hearing Association

The American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) is the professional organization for speech-language pathologists and audiologists in the United States. This web site has a multitude of information for professionals and students alike. To learn more about the professional organization, click on the link.

The Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA)

The Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) (Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology) is the semiautonomous body within ASHA that is responsible for monitoring pre-professional academic programs in the communication sciences and disorders. All academic programs offering a master's degree in speech-language pathology and/or audiology must be duly accredited by the CAA. To learn more about the accreditation process, click on the link.

National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association

The National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA) is the student arm of ASHA. Any student who has an interest in the communication sciences and disorders is eligible to join this national organization. Most pre-professional programs in communication sciences and disorders also have local chapters of NSSLHA. To learn more about NSSLHA and what it can do for you, click on the link.

Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Most states have their own chapters that are affiliated with ASHA. The Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association (PSHA) is a state chapter of ASHA. Student membership is encouraged in the state association. To learn more about PSHA, click the link.

Professional Certification

In order to work professionally, speech-language pathologists and audiologists must be duly certified. For speech-language pathologists, the culmination of professional preparation is the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in Speech-Language Pathology. ASHA has very specific requirements that all individuals must meet in order to be conferred the CCC. To learn more about these requirements, click on the link.

State Licensure Requirements

Most states require speech-language pathologists and audiologists to earn licensure before they can practice in that particular state. Pennsylvania, and the surrounding states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York have licensure laws. To view a summary of the licensure laws in these states, click on the link.

Teacher Certification Requirements for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

The Department of Education of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has specific requirements concerning the granting of certification for public school instruction. If you wish to work in the public schools in Pennsylvania, you must be duly certified by the Department of Education. To learn more about teacher certification, click on the link.

ASHA's Graduate Guide to Education

This site is maintained by ASHA and contains an exhaustive list of all the accredited graduate programs in communication sciences and disorders in the United States. To view the list, click the link.

Council on Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders

The Council on Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CAPCSD) is an organization composed of most of the undergraduate and graduate programs in communication sciences and disorders in the United States. Although this organization primarily responds to issues related to academic and clinical preparation, it contains a list of its members that may be of interest to prospective students. Click on the link to learn more.

Considering a Career in Communication Sciences and Disorders

If you're not exactly sure what kind of career you would like to have, but do have some interest in communication sciences and disorders, click on the link to find out more about this particular career path.

Beginning a Career in Communication Sciences and Disorders

To learn more about what is involved in a career in speech-language pathology, click on the link.

ASHA Career Center

To see a current list of jobs available in speech-language pathology and audiology, click on the link. This list changes periodically, so keep going back to see what opportunities exist for graduates.

Misericordia University has academic policies to ensure that students are treated equitably. According to College policy, a student who has an issue that is grievable can file a complaint in accordance with the Misericordia University's Student Grievance Process found in the Catalog: 

Misericordia Undergraduate Grievance Process

Misericordia Graduate Grievance Process

Students may also file grievances with the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. To learn about the CAA Complaint Procedures go to the following link: CAA Complaint Procedures

Student Handbook

To graduate with the Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology, students must meet the following criteria:

1. Complete all academic coursework.
2. Complete all clinical practicum requirements.
3. Pass a comprehensive examination or complete a thesis during the last semester of graduate study.
4. Show evidence of having taken the PRAXIS SLP

Students who have completed the graduate curriculum only (i.e., students who earned a baccalaureate degree prior to commencing graduate studies in the Speech-Language Pathology program) will be granted the Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology.