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Table 1 [PDF]: Personnel-to-Population Ratios by State for ASHA Certified Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, December 31, 2005
Figure 1 [PDF]: Personnel-to-Population Ratios for Speech-Language Pathologists by Geographic Region and Division, December 31, 2005
Figure 2 [PDF]: Personnel-to-Population Ratios by Geographic Region and Division for Audiologists, December 31, 2005
Frequently Asked Questions
What are personnel-to-population ratios?
Personnel-to-population ratios are a measurement of the number of a given class of personnel (e.g., ASHA-certified audiologists or speech-language pathologists) in relation to the overall population in a given geographic area (e.g., state, region, or country).
How are personnel-to-population ratios calculated?
Ratios are calculated by dividing the number of specified personnel in a given geographic area by the population of that area. The resulting number is then multiplied by 100,000 to arrive at the number of personnel per 100,000 people in the area. As an example, Florida had approximately 5,834 ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists and an estimated population of 17,789,864 people as of December 31, 2005. Its personnel-to-population ratio is then calculated as (5,843 / 17,789,864) x 100,000 = 32.8. In other words, there were 32.8 speech-language pathologists for every 100,000 Floridians at year-end 2005.
How are counts of ASHA-certified audiologists and speech-language pathologists determined?
ASHA uses membership data to compile Highlights and Trends: ASHA Member Counts, which includes annual counts of ASHA-certified audiologists and speech-language pathologists (see Table 2: Affiliation by State and Certification Status).
What is the source of state population estimates?
The U.S. Census Bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce estimates state populations on a periodic basis. These estimates are available on the Bureau's Web site. Please note that ASHA tabulates counts of ASHA-certified members annually, whereas the Bureau updates population estimates sporadically. Therefore, the numbers that appear at the above links may not coincide with the numbers provided in this FAQ. State population estimates are also included in Table 1.
To which geographic region does my state belong?
The United States is divided into four geographic regions. Each region has two or three divisions; each division has at least three states.
U.S. Geographic Regions and Divisions With Corresponding States
 Northeast
New England
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont
Mid-Atlantic
New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania
South
East South Central
Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee
South Atlantic
Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina,
South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia
West South Central
Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas
Midwest
East North Central
Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin
West North Central
Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota
West
Mountain
Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming
Pacific
Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington
Why are personnel-to-population ratios important?
By knowing the personnel-to-population ratio for a state or region we can then compare that state or region to other states, regions, or the national average. This information can be used (a) to affect policy changes to ensure that all populations are adequately served, (b) to determine trends, (c) to offer information for individuals considering relocation, and (d) to potentially foster growth of the professions within a given state or region.
Still have questions?
Contact Mike Jeffries, Research Associate, ASHA Surveys and Information Team, at mjeffries@asha.org or 800-498-2071, ext. 4285.
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