Moravian College vs. other programs

[traveling_slp]

Hello there everyone,

I have received my Moravian College acceptance for the MS program Fall 2021.  I am out of state and excited to enroll soon.  The deposit deadline is approaching and I have two other grad school acceptances to decide between.  I am writing to find out if anyone else is in the same dilemma or ready to commit to a program including Moravian College.

Let me know, thanks!

[slp2023]

Congrats on the acceptances! So I personally did not apply to Moravian because I noticed that it is not accredited by ASHA yet and is only a candidate. I believe that only getting a degree from an ASHA accredited program will allow you to become a certified SLP through ASHA (CCC-SLP) and to be able to observed as a clinician. This is just what I was told as an undergrad student, I am not completely sure it if actually makes a difference career-wise if a degree is received from a program that is not accredited and maybe someone else on the forum can help answer that question! 

[jomyers.online]

Hi @slp2023 and @traveling_slp!

You should have no problem applying for your CCC's and licensure when graduating from a program that is in candidacy for accreditation, I've just heard that it involves a little more paperwork.

 

For certification, "All graduate coursework and graduate clinical experience required in speech-language pathology must have been initiated and completed in a CAA-accredited program or in a program with CAA candidacy status." -ASHA

 

There is previous advice on this forum to this effect, see:

On 1/9/2021 at 3:21 PM, Ivy27 said:

There are no concerns with accreditation. It is in candidacy for accredidation. Essentially all schools have to be pre-approved, with a trial period before they can be fully accredited. While they are in this trial period anyone that graduates at University of St. Augustine can be certified by ASHA and the approved states on the St. Augustine website with a little more paperwork.

 

On 12/7/2019 at 7:59 AM, bibliophile222 said:

Actually, from what I've read both on this site and on ASHA, if you get a degree from a school that is a candidate for accreditation, even if they end up not getting accredited your degree still counts. Programs have to jump through some hoops and have a good plan to even get to candidacy status, so it's not like they're bad programs, just new, and ASHA understands that. It might be different, though, if you go to an accredited school that later loses accreditation, but I don't think that happens too often. Schools definitely get put on probation but are typically able to turn things around before they lose accreditation.

 

On 12/7/2019 at 10:22 AM, sleepyslp2be said:

This is correct! I am applying to two schools in "candidacy" status. The degree you would earn from either of these schools is just as valuable as a degree from a "fully accredited" school. Essentially, schools in candidacy statues are accredited, they're just new. A new program needs to be in candidacy status for a minimum of 3-5 years, in which they are closely watched and criticized to ensure things are operating correctly. After that, nothing really changes except that they are given "accreditation status". 

 

-Jo

Edited March 9, 2021 by jomyers.online

[selfmadeslp]

On 3/9/2021 at 8:22 AM, slp2023 said:

Congrats on the acceptances! So I personally did not apply to Moravian because I noticed that it is not accredited by ASHA yet and is only a candidate. I believe that only getting a degree from an ASHA accredited program will allow you to become a certified SLP through ASHA (CCC-SLP) and to be able to observed as a clinician. This is just what I was told as an undergrad student, I am not completely sure it if actually makes a difference career-wise if a degree is received from a program that is not accredited and maybe someone else on the forum can help answer that question! 

This is not true at all. All programs are required to be in a 5-year trial period when going through the initial accreditation process. You will not have a problem becoming certified or finding a job after graduation if you attend a school going through the process.