For many speech-language pathologists (SLPs), summer offers a unique opportunity to pause, reset, and grow. With the school year wrapped up and clinical demands often lightened, it’s the perfect season to reflect on your practice and invest in professional development that excites you. Whether you’re looking to earn required CEUs, explore trending topics, or simply stay sharp, there are plenty of flexible options to meet your goals. Let’s dive into the best summer professional development for SLPs, and why this season might be just what you need.

Why Summer Is the Perfect Time for SLP Professional Development

Between the warm weather and slower schedules, summer is an ideal time to focus on yourself as a professional. Unlike the jam-packed demands of the school year or clinical calendar, summer allows SLPs a chance to breathe, reflect, and realign with long-term goals.

Flexibility and Focus

With fewer sessions and meetings, summer naturally brings more flexibility. That freedom makes it easier to dedicate time to online courses for SLPs or virtual PD for SLPs without feeling stretched too thin. You can set your own pace, revisit materials when needed, and focus deeply on the content you care about.

Avoiding Burnout Through Growth

Let’s face it: burnout is real. Taking time to explore continuing education for SLPs not only helps you meet licensure requirements but can also reignite your passion. Learning something new, like a fresh AAC strategy or a creative way to tackle fluency therapy, can bring energy back into your practice.

Free and Low-Cost Summer CEU Opportunities for SLPs

Professional growth doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. If you’re on the hunt for budget-friendly summer CEUs for speech therapists, there are some fantastic free and low-cost options out there.

Free CEU Platforms and Webinars

Many organizations offer free SLP CEUs year-round, but summer often brings an extra wave of timely offerings. Sites like SpeechPathology.com, Speech Therapy PD, and Northern Speech Services frequently feature no-cost webinars and short trainings. Be sure to check ASHA’s CEU Find tool as well, which regularly updates with virtual PD for SLPs.

Affordable Bundles and Subscription Services

If you’re looking for more robust summer professional development for SLPs, consider a low-cost membership. Platforms like SLP Now and The Informed SLP offer monthly subscriptions with unlimited access to research summaries, video trainings, and therapy materials. These services are often ASHA-approved and ideal for speech therapists aiming to earn CEUs while keeping costs low.

 

Top Online Courses and Certifications for SLPs

If you’re ready to dive deeper, summer is a fantastic time to enroll in more comprehensive online courses for SLPs. These can range from multi-hour intensives to formal certifications that elevate your expertise.

Trending Topics in SLP Education

SLP education is always evolving. Right now, courses focused on neurodiversity-affirming practices, trauma-informed care, bilingual language development, and literacy-based intervention are generating a lot of buzz. These topics not only align with current research but can make a meaningful impact on your caseload in the fall.

Specialty Certifications to Consider

Looking to specialize? Summer is a great time to pursue certifications such as PROMPT, LSVT LOUD, or AAC. These structured programs are often offered in both live and self-paced formats and may fulfill several speech therapy CEU opportunities at once.

 

Self-Paced vs. Live Webinars: What’s Best for Summer Learning?

One of the great things about summer professional development for SLPs is the flexibility to choose what works for you. Both self-paced PD for speech pathologists and live webinars have their advantages.

Benefits of Self-Paced PD

Self-paced learning is a favorite for many during the summer months. You can complete modules on your own schedule, rewind lessons if needed, and pause when life gets in the way. It’s especially helpful for those who want to dig into complex content without time pressure.

When Live Webinars Make Sense

Live webinars, on the other hand, offer structure and connection. If you thrive with a bit more accountability, or want the chance to ask questions in real time, virtual PD for SLPs through live formats might be your best bet. These sessions often include discussion forums and digital handouts that enhance learning.

How to Choose PD That Supports Your Career Goals

Not all professional development for speech therapists is created equal. It’s important to pick opportunities that move you toward the kind of clinician you want to become.

Matching Topics to Your Caseload

Start by thinking about your caseload. Are you seeing more preschoolers? Students with autism? Adults with swallowing disorders? Choose summer learning that’s directly applicable, so you can confidently bring your new skills into practice.

Building Long-Term Skills

Also consider how your PD choices support your long-term vision. Maybe you want to move into supervisory roles, specialize in bilingual therapy, or transition to private practice. Summer CEUs for speech therapists that align with those goals will pay off well beyond the next school year.

 

Professional Development with a Community

Learning doesn’t have to happen in isolation. In fact, summer can be a great time to build community around your PD efforts.

Forums, Facebook Groups, and Online Cohorts

Many SLP summer learning opportunities are paired with online groups, places where you can ask questions, share ideas, or vent after a tough session. Facebook groups like “SLPs for Evidence-Based Practice” or forums on The Informed SLP are active, encouraging spaces for dialogue.

Finding Supportive Networks

Whether it’s an online book club, a Slack group, or a webinar chat box, having others to connect with can keep you motivated. Plus, you might find a new friend or future collaborator along the way.

 

Track Your CEUs and Plan Ahead for Licensure

As you begin your summer professional development for SLPs, don’t forget the paperwork side of things.

CEU Logs and ASHA Registry Tips

Create a running list of your CEUs in a spreadsheet or use ASHA’s registry system to track everything in one place. Double-check that your courses are ASHA-approved professional development opportunities, especially if you’re nearing your license renewal.

Setting Goals for the Upcoming Year

Use this downtime to reflect on your professional growth and jot down a few goals for the year ahead. Whether it’s attending a conference, mentoring a colleague, or trying a new therapy approach, planting the seeds now makes it more likely you’ll follow through.

 

Don’t Forget to Rest

As much as this blog celebrates summer learning, it’s also a gentle reminder: rest is productive too.

You don’t have to pack every week with webinars or courses. Taking time to rest, truly rest, allows your mind and body to reset. Whether it’s reading a novel that has nothing to do with speech-language pathology, going on a hike, or simply being still, those quiet moments often bring clarity and creativity. Sometimes, the best professional development for speech therapists starts with caring for ourselves first.

 

Summer doesn’t last forever, but the learning and rejuvenation it offers can carry you through the year ahead. However you choose to grow this season, make it meaningful, make it manageable, and most importantly, make space for joy along the way.