TFirst and foremost SLPAs should absolutely have minimal educational requirements of a bachelor’s degree specific to communicative sciences and disorders.  It is troubling that it’s even suggested that a person in an unrelated field can provide appropriate and effective services with no formal knowledge of the principles related to speech language pathology.  On the job training is an insufficient method of providing an adequate level of training to an assistant to provide treatment to vulnerable consumers who won’t realize that they are potentially receiving subpar services from a person who possibly has a degree in an unrelated field with no background knowledge of communication disorders.  Certified SLPs are highly trained clinicians who must meet state and national standards.  We should not look to denigrate the profession with unqualified, unprepared individuals. The proposed guidelines are too broad and nonspecific and leave too much responsibility on the SLP to train the SLPA, who would have no accountability for their actions. Qualified SLPAs who meet educational requirements specific to the field of speech language pathology should be licensed and required to maintain annual minimal standards that are regulated by the board.  I personally do not support any less. ype over this text and enter your comments here. You are limited to approximately 3000 words.