Book excerpt: Competencies and Strategies for Speech-Language Pathology Assistants is an introductory text that provides a comprehensive understanding of the roles and responsibilities, as well as the day to day expectations, of Speech Language Pathology Assistants (SLPAs). It augments the coverage of traditional SLPA topics with chapters on “Professionalism and Ethical Issues,” “Health and Safety,” and “Observation”, thus providing the user with concrete skills that are applicable in all treatment settings. The text acknowledges the ASHA approved criteria for SLPAs, and in addition offers alternative models based on individual state licensure requirements. The text approaches the SLPA degree with the understanding that it may be the starting point to a professional support personnel career, or it may be a ladder to a Speech Language Pathology undergraduate or graduate degree. The content reflects the varied possibilities the SLPA degree can hold for different individuals, in varied treatment settings, across the United States, and encourages users to explore these possibilities.