The demand for speech-language pathologists is ever-growing due to increased need for support from populations across lifespan and a scope that continues to expand; however, there has been an observable shortage. Due to the increased need and a reduced ability to fill roles, the caseloads and workloads of SLPs continue to rise. Graduate programs across the nation must continue to develop their programs to admit more students desiring to pursue this field to combat the ongoing shortage. Also, it is ideal for us as professionals to take into consideration the realistic expectations we can carry and complete. After all, “This scarcity of SLPS is a nationwide concern because most SLPs are employed in school settings, and when schools cannot employ enough qualified individuals, the students’ needs either go unmet, or students are served by untrained persons” (Squires, 2013). 

Below is a list of the designated caseload caps of all fifty states within the USA and the District of Columbia. Some states have not established ceilings for caseloads; therefore, “no minimum or maximum” is indicated. This information was gathered from ASHA’s published 2022 State-by-State Caseload Guidance. Additionally, data for states’ average caseloads is included if published within ASHA’s 2022 Schools Survey. 

1. Alabama
   1. Maximum of 30 students
2. Alaska 
   1. No minimum or maximum
3. Arizona 
   1. No minimum or maximum 
   2. Caseload average of 57 students 
4. Arkansas 
   1. Maximum of 45 students 
   2. Caseload average of 40 students 
5. California 
   1. School-age is 55 students & Preschool is 40 students 
   2. Caseload average of 55 students 
6. Colorado 
   1. No minimum or maximum 
   2. Caseload average of 45 students 
7. Connecticut 
   1. No minimum or maximum 
   2. Caseload average of 33 students 
8. Delaware 
   1. No minimum or maximum 
9. District of Columbia 
   1. No minimum or maximum 
10. Florida 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
    2. Caseload average of 60 students 
11. Georgia
    1. Maximum of 55 students 
    2. Caseload average of 45 students 
12. Hawaii 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
13. Idaho 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
14. Illinois 
    1. Compared to workload, but after analysis, no more than 60 
    2. Caseload average of 42 students 
15. Indiana 
    1. Caseloads are limited to allow implementation of IEPs 
    2. Caseload average of 72 students 
16. Iowa 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
17. Kansas 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
    2. Caseload average of 45 students 
18. Kentucky 
    1. Maximum of 65 students 
    2. Caseload average of 53 students 
19. Louisiana 
    1. Maximum of 79 points. Points are given for each hour of assessment, consultation, supervision, as well as every student 
    2. Caseload average of 55 students 
20. Maine 
    1. Maximum of 50 students 
21. Maryland 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
    2. Caseload average of 43 students 
22. Massachusetts 
    1. No minimum or maximum
    2. Caseload average of 38 students
23. Michigan 
    1. Maximum of 60 students 
    2. Caseload average of 53 students 
24. Minnesota 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
    2. Caseload average of 47 students 
25. Mississippi 
    1. Maximum of 48 students 
26. Missouri 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
    2. Caseload average of 44 students 
27. Montana 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
28. Nebraska 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
29. Nevada 
    1. Maximum caseload of 50 +/- 10% 
30. New Hampshire 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
31. New Jersey 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
32. Caseload average of 40 students 
    1. New Mexico 
    2. Maximum of 60 SLP only students 
33. New York 
    1. Maximum of 65 students 
    2. Caseload average of 30 students 
34. North Carolina 
    1. Maximum of 50 students 
    2. Caseload average of 49 students 
35. North Dakota 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
36. Ohio 
    1. Should not exceed 80 students 
    2. Caseload average of 58 students 
37. Oklahoma 
    1. Using a formula created by the state, no more than 50 students 
    2. Caseload average of 50 students 
38. Oregon 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
    2. Caseload average of 50 students 
39. Pennsylvania 
    1. Maximum of 65 students 
    2. Caseload average of 49 students 
40. Rhode Island 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
41. South Carolina 
    1. Maximum of 60 students 
    2. Caseload average of 50 students 
42. South Dakota 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
43. Tennessee 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
    2. Caseload average of 60 students 
44. Texas 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
    2. Caseload average of 60 students 
45. Utah 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
46. Vermont 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
47. Virginia 
    1. Maximum of 68 students 
    2. Caseload average of 50 students 
48. Washington 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
    2. Caseload average of 46 students 
49. West Virginia 
    1. Maximum of 50 students 
50. Wisconsin 
    1. No minimum or maximum 
    2. Caseload average of 40 students 
51. Wyoming 
    1. No minimum or maximum 

References:

2022 State-by-State Caseload Guidance. (n.d.). https://www.asha.org/siteassets/practice-portal/caseloadworkload/state-caseload-chart.pdf 

ASHA 2022 Schools Survey: SLP Caseload and Workload Characteristics Report. (2022, August 16). https://www.asha.org/siteassets/surveys/2022-schools-survey-slp-caseload.pdf 

Squires, K. (2013, Winter). Addressing the Shortage of Speech-Language Pathologists in School Settings. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1135588.pdf

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