What is an speech language pathologist license, and how do you get one?
Speech-language pathologists are licensed in every state after completing a master's degree from a programme accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation, passing the Praxis examination in speech-language pathology, and completing a supervised clinical fellowship — a period of mentored practice following the degree. Most therapists also hold the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence, which many states use as the licensure basis. School-based practice may require an additional education credential. Speech-language pathologists earn a $97,870 median.
- Complete a CAA-accredited master's programme with clinical practicum.
- Pass the Praxis examination in speech-language pathology.
- Complete the supervised clinical fellowship.
- Obtain the ASHA CCC-SLP and apply for state licensure.
- Add a school credential where required and maintain certification.
How to get a speech language pathologist license
- 1
Complete a CAA-accredited master's
Finish a master's degree accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation, covering communication and swallowing disorders across the lifespan with supervised clinical practicum hours in a range of settings.
- 2
Pass the Praxis examination
Sit the subject assessment in speech-language pathology, covering assessment, intervention across the disorder areas, and professional practice. Confirm the passing scores set by both your state and ASHA, since they can differ.
- 3
Complete the clinical fellowship
Work the supervised fellowship under an experienced SLP mentor, meeting the defined hours and supervision requirements. This is normally done under a provisional or temporary state licence and is the bridge from student clinician to independent practitioner.
- 4
Obtain ASHA certification and full licensure
Apply for the Certificate of Clinical Competence once the fellowship is verified, and submit your state licence application with degree, examination result and fellowship documentation plus any jurisprudence requirement.
- 5
Add a school credential and maintain both
If you will work in public schools, obtain the state education agency credential where required. Then maintain ASHA certification through continuing education and professional development, and renew your state licence on its separate cycle.
Speech Language Pathologist license requirements
Requirements are consistent nationwide, with the clinical fellowship the distinctive element. You need:
Accredited master's
A master's degree from a programme accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, including supervised clinical practicum hours across disorders and age ranges.
Praxis examination
The Praxis subject assessment in speech-language pathology, covering assessment, intervention and professional practice across communication and swallowing disorders.
Clinical fellowship
A supervised postgraduate fellowship of mentored clinical practice, with defined hours and mentoring requirements, completed before full licensure and ASHA certification.
State licence
Application to the state board or health department, usually on the basis of the accredited degree, examination and fellowship, with a jurisprudence element in many states.
How much a speech language pathologist license costs
Beyond the master's, costs are modest and often employer-supported. Budget for:
The master's programme dominates. ASHA and the testing provider publish their fees directly, and school and healthcare employers commonly reimburse certification dues and continuing education.
The speech language pathologist license exam
The Praxis subject assessment in speech-language pathology is the national examination for the profession, covering assessment — screening, evaluation and diagnosis — intervention planning and implementation across articulation, fluency, voice and resonance, language, cognition and swallowing, and professional practice including ethics, documentation, supervision and evidence-based practice. Each state sets its own passing score, and ASHA sets one for certification, so confirm both. It is typically taken during or shortly after the master's programme, before or during the clinical fellowship, and the result feeds into both licensure and certification rather than being sat twice.
How long it takes to get licensed
Six to seven years including the undergraduate degree, with the two-year master's and the supervised clinical fellowship following it.
Speech Language Pathologist license types: the full ladder
The ladder runs from assistant through the fellowship stage to full licensure and specialty certification.
Speech-language pathology assistant
A separately regulated tier in many states, delivering treatment activities under an SLP's supervision with its own education and registration requirements.
Graduate student clinician
Provides supervised therapy within the accredited programme's clinical practicum, accumulating the hours certification requires.
Clinical fellow
Practises under a mentor's supervision during the postgraduate fellowship, generally under a provisional or temporary state licence.
Licensed speech-language pathologist
Full state licensure after the fellowship: independent assessment, diagnosis and intervention across communication and swallowing disorders.
ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence
The national credential most states build licensure on, maintained through continuing education and professional development.
Board certified specialist
Specialty certification in areas such as swallowing and swallowing disorders, child language, or fluency, requiring documented specialty practice and review.
School credential
Where required, a state education agency credential permitting practice in public schools, held alongside the health licence.
Clinical fellow vs Fully licensed SLP: speech language pathologist license
Speech Language Pathologist license reciprocity between states
The ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence is national and travels without any transfer process, which makes speech-language pathologists mobile in qualification terms. State licences do not transfer: each state licenses separately, though because most build directly on the accredited degree, the Praxis result and the certificate, the process is usually administrative. Two things to check before moving: whether the destination state requires a jurisprudence examination, and whether school-based practice there requires a state education credential you do not currently hold.
Speech Language Pathologistsalary & job outlook
Speech-language pathologists earn a median of about $97,870 per year ($47.05/hour), with healthcare and skilled nursing settings typically above school-based practice, and school SLPs generally working a ten-month year. Employment is projected to grow 15%, with roughly 13,300 openings a year. See the full speech language pathologist salary guide for pay by state, city and experience level.
Speech Language Pathologist license requirements by state
Every state licenses speech-language pathologists, so what differs is fellowship supervision detail, jurisprudence requirements and whether school practice needs an education credential.
All states license speech-language pathologists. Differences lie in the detail of clinical fellowship supervision and reporting, jurisprudence requirements, continuing-education rules, the regulation of speech-language pathology assistants, and whether school-based practice additionally requires a state education credential. Confirm with both the licensing board and, for school roles, the state education agency.
Browse all state guides
Speech Language Pathologist license FAQs
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook (Speech-Language Pathologists) · American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certification · ETS, The Praxis Tests · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (29-1127). Requirements and fees are set per state and change, confirm with your state board before applying.
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