The Council For Clinical Certification (CFCC), the certifying body of ASHA, wanted to be sure that individuals who might have been educated under previous standards would have the opportunity to apply without needing to upgrade to the 2005 standards. The CFCC allowed a one year grace period, from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2005, for individuals to submit applications under the 1993 standards.

I received my degree a number of years ago. Can I still apply under the 1993 standards?

No. If you wish to pursue initial certification in speech-language pathology you must apply under the 2005 standards and meet the knowledge and skill requirements outlined in these standards.

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Degree/Accreditation Requirement

What is the degree requirement for ASHA certification in speech-language pathology?

Individuals applying for certification in speech-language pathology must have been awarded a master's, doctoral, or other recognized graduate degree.

In order for me to become certified, does my program need to be accredited, and by whom?

As was required under earlier standards, all graduate level academic course work and clinical practicum submitted for ASHA certification must have been initiated and completed in a program that holds accreditation by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA). You can find a list of CAA accredited programs by using EdFind, ASHA's academic search engine

What verification is required to prove that I have been awarded a graduate degree?

Applicants must submit an official graduate transcript showing the degree and the date it was awarded.

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Course Work/Knowledge Areas

How much course work must be completed?

Applicants for certification in speech-language pathology must complete a minimum of 75 semester credit hours (112.50 quarter hours) overall, including at least 36 semester credit hours (47 quarter hours) at the graduate level.

What pre-requisite courses are required for certification?

Although there is not a uniform curriculum that all applicants must have followed, transcript credit is required as evidence of courses completed in biological sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, and the social/behavioral sciences.

What courses are acceptable in those four areas?

Individual graduate programs will determine which courses are acceptable in biological science, physical science, mathematics, and social/behavioral sciences. The CFCC believes that the individual graduate programs are best equipped to make the assessment as to whether or not specific courses will best serve as providing appropriate and adequate pre-requisite skills and knowledge. A list of courses that might be accepted to satisfy the prerequisite requirement can be found in Standard III-A of the speech-language pathology standards.

What professional area courses are required in speech-language pathology?

Under the 2005 standards, the emphasis is on the acquisition of knowledge and skills, not on completion of specific course work. A graduate program is required to periodically assess the student's acquisition of knowledge and skills as listed in Standards III and IV and will determine which courses will permit acquisition of the mandated knowledge and skills.

How will the program director know that I have acquired the needed knowledge and skills?

Each academic program will have determined the specific student learning outcomes and mechanisms they will use to assess students' acquisition of knowledge and skills. The CFCC expects that programs will use a variety of mechanisms (e.g., performance on exams, submitted papers, performance in clinic), and will make these assessments on an on-going basis.

If a student receives a passing grade in a course, won't that indicate that he or she has gained a particular knowledge or skill?

It may, but a grade won't tell the CFCC which knowledge or skill has been mastered. Knowledge may be gained in more than one area through completion of a course. The CFCC is relying on the academic and clinical instructors/supervisors to assess which knowledge and skills have been achieved and how they have been achieved.

Is there a requirement for a certain number of courses or semester hours in speech disorders or language disorders?

No. Beyond the prerequisite courses noted earlier, there are no specific courses in speech-language pathology required for certification; however, graduate programs will likely have requirements for course work that are above those required for ASHA certification and that is their prerogative. Additionally, individual state licensure boards may have requirements that are not the same as the ASHA certification requirements. It may be necessary for applicants to be able to provide a breakdown of courses and practicum hours to satisfy those licensure requirements.

Is there a requirement for course work in audiology? If so, how much?

The 2005 standards do not mandate specific course work or clinical practicum in audiology, but do address acquisition of knowledge related to audiology areas. Individual graduate programs and licensure boards may have different requirements in this area.

In several of the standards there is the phrase "the applicant must demonstrate...the acquisition of knowledge or skills." How will a student demonstrate the acquisition of knowledge?

The individual graduate programs will have developed mechanisms for assessing the acquisition of the knowledge and skills listed in the standards. Their verification, via completion of the "Verification by Program Director" page of the application, will be sufficient documentation to the CFCC that the applicant has met the requirements.

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Clinical Practicum

How much practicum must be completed for ASHA certification under the speech-language pathology standards?

Applicants for certification under the current standards will be required to complete a minimum of 400 clock hours of supervised clinical experience. At least 25 hours must have been spent in clinical observation and at least 375 clock hours must have been spent in direct client/patient contact.

What activities will count toward the 375 clock hours in direct client/patient contact?

Only direct contact with the client or the client's family in assessment, management, and/or counseling can be counted toward the practicum requirement.

How many clock hours have to be completed at the graduate level?

A minimum of 325 clock hours of clinical practicum must be completed at the graduate level.

Is there a breakdown of practicum hours for the various disorder categories?

The standards do not specify a particular number of hours in different categories. Programs may determine the number of hours they will require and licensure boards may require a specific number of hours in different categories. Students must be aware of the various requirements so that they will be able to meet the standards of these various entities.

Are there requirements for a certain amount of hours in the area of audiology?

No. For ASHA certification, activities must be within the scope of practice of speech-language pathology to meet the requirements. But as noted above, programs and state regulatory agencies may have requirements that differ from the ASHA certification standards.

What are the supervision requirements?

As is stated in the implementation language for Standard IV-E, supervision must be in real time and must never be less than 25% of the student's total contact with each client/patient. Supervision must take place periodically throughout the practicum experience.

Who can supervise the clinical practicum?

Only individual holding current ASHA certification in speech-language pathology may supervise the observation and clinical practicum hours required for ASHA certification. (See Standard IV-C.) Other appropriate individuals, as determined by the graduate program, may supervise hours that are acquired beyond the ASHA certification requirements. The graduate program may use the input of these individuals in assessing the student's acquisition of knowledge and skills in particular areas.

What must be included in supervision?

Supervision must include direct observation, guidance, and feedback to permit the student to monitor, evaluate, improve performance, and develop clinical competence.

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Forms and Documentation

How will student progress in meeting the certification standards be documented?

Programs may use the mechanisms of their choice to document and track student progress in the acquisition of knowledge and skills, including the KASA. The Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) will review an accredited program's process and forms to ensure compliance with its standard related to accurate record keeping. The CFCC requires an applicant to file a certification application [PDF] that contains the "Verification by Program Director" page to verify that the student has met the appropriate knowledge and skills mandated by the standards

What happens if it is determined that a student has not met all of the requisite knowledge and skills for certification?

Programs must discuss their assessment of knowledge and skill acquisition with the student and it is anticipated that the program will work with the student to develop a plan to address the need for further development. It is the program's responsibility to ensure that the student has met all of the knowledge and skills prior to signing the application for ASHA certification.

My program uses a form called the KASA. What is the KASA and whose responsibility is it to keep?

KASA means Knowledge and Skills Acquisition. The KASA form [PDF] tracks students' progress in gaining the knowledge and skills required to earn the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC). In most programs, the maintenance of the KASA is a shared responsibility between the faculty/staff and the student. At the completion of the graduate program, the program director will be required to review the KASA and to complete the "Verification by Program Director" page that is part of the certification application.

Must I submit the KASA as part of my application for certification?

No. The CFCC does not require submission of the completed KASA from any applicant for certification.

What must be submitted when applying for certification?

Applicants who apply within 3 years of completion of the graduate degree need to submit the 3-page application form (includes the "Verification by Program Director" page) and an official graduate transcript that shows the degree and the date it was awarded. If the application is received more than 3 years after receipt of the graduate degree, the applicant must also submit both undergraduate and graduate transcripts for all courses being used to meet ASHA certification. And all applicants are required to submit payment of the appropriate dues/fees to initiate the certification process.

Applicants for certification are also required to submit the Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Fellowship (SLPCF) Report and Rating form [PDF] at the conclusion of the CF experience, and verification from ETS of having achieved a passing score on the Praxis examination in speech-language pathology.

Can I apply for certification if I have not yet completed the Praxis exam?

Yes. Individuals are eligible to apply for certification once all graduate level academic course work and clinical practicum have been completed and they have been judged by the graduate program as having met all of the knowledge and skills mandated by the current standards.

Before submitting my application, what things do I need to remember to do?

Be sure to review all of the paperwork you will be submitting to make sure that you have completed it correctly, that the application bears your signature on page 2, and that the "Verification by Program Director" page has been completed and signed by the director of your graduate program;
Before you send in your application, make a copy for your records. While it is a rare occurrence, there are times when materials are lost in the mail and applicants must submit a copy of the original forms in order to affect the certification process. Additionally, the National Office does not retain paper copies of the forms you submit and they are not available once certification has been granted;
Please be sure that you have enclosed the appropriate payment either through check or credit card. ASHA accepts either MasterCard or Visa. Applications received without the appropriate payment will be returned to the applicant.

Once I send in my application, how long will it take to learn whether or not I have been certified?

It will take 4 to 6 weeks from receipt of your application for it to be processed. Your care and attention in submitting the application and all required materials will make the process easier. You can check on the status of your application by e-mailing Certification Administration at certification@asha.org.

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Summative Assessment

What mechanism is used for summative assessment?

The summative assessment used for ASHA certification is the Praxis series examination in speech-language pathology administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).

Is the graduate program responsible for assuring that the students take the Praxis exam prior to graduation?

No, it is the student's responsibility to be sure that they have completed the examination at the appropriate time. The Praxis examination is designed to be taken once graduate academic course work and clinical practicum have been completed, but in many situations students take the exam as they are beginning their final year in the graduate program.

When the exam is taken, the applicant must list ASHA as a score recipient so that the results will be sent to the National Office. Additionally, it is helpful if the applicant lists his or her graduate program as a score recipient so that the program can report aggregate performance data periodically to the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) for the program's accreditation purposes.

What is the minimum passing score required for ASHA certification?

The current passing score in speech-language pathology is 600. In order for an applicant's score to be accepted for ASHA certification, it must be reported to ASHA by the Educational Testing Service. Score reports received directly from applicants are not acceptable for certification purposes.

How long do scores remain valid?

Exam results submitted for certification in speech-language pathology must have been obtained no more than five (5) years prior to the submission of the certification application. Scores older than 5 years will not be accepted for certification.

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Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Fellowship (SLPCF)

When can the SLPCF be started?

The SLPCF (also called the CF) can be initiated once all academic course work and clinical practicum requirements for certification have been completed.

What are the SLPCF requirements?

The SLPCF must consist of the equivalent of 36 weeks of full-time (35 hours per week) clinical practice. Clinical fellows have 48 months from the date of initiation of the CF in which to accumulate 1,260 hours of experience. The CF experience must be comprised of direct patient/client contact, consultations, record keeping, and administrative duties relevant to a valid program of clinical work.

Can the clinical fellow work less than 35 hours per week?

Yes, but if less than full-time employment is used for the CF, the length of the CF must be extended. Professional experience of less than 5 hours per week is not accepted toward meeting the SLPCF requirements.

If the clinical fellow works more than 35 hours per week, can those additional hours shorten the length of the CF?

No. Experience of more than 35 hours per week cannot be used to shorten the CF to less than 36 weeks.

The standards use the term "mentoring SLP" rather than supervisor. Is this person one and the same?

They may be, but not necessarily. While an employment supervisor is not required to hold current ASHA certification, the mentoring SLP must hold certification during the period of time she or he serves as the SLPCF mentor. The mentor will work with the fellow to establish outcomes and performance levels to be achieved during the SLPCF, and will provide guidance throughout the experience. It will be the mentoring SLP's responsibility to engage in periodic assessments of performance, and to evaluate progress toward meeting the established goals and achievement of clinical skills necessary for independent practice. One means of assessment that must be used is the SLPCF Report and Rating form [PDF] that will be submitted to the CFCC at the conclusion of the CF experience.

How much observation/supervision is required during the CF experience?

There must be no fewer than 18 hours of on-site observation of the clinical fellow providing clinical services throughout the CF experience. Additionally, at least 18 other monitoring activities must occur during the experience. The mentoring SLP will use these observations to assess performance and evaluate progress toward achieving the skills necessary for independent practice.

How will the mentor and clinical fellow use the Report and Rating form?

During each third of the CF experience, the fellow and mentor will have a formal meeting where they will discuss the fellow's performance on the skills listed in the Clinical Fellowship Skills Inventory form. These ratings will be transferred to the SLPCF Report and Rating form [PDF] and both the fellow and mentor will sign the form. This meeting will also be an opportunity for a discussion of areas of concerns or to highlight accomplishments of the clinical fellow.

At the conclusion of the experience, the mentor and clinical fellow will complete and submit the completed SLPCF Report and Rating form to the CFCC. In the final segment of the experience, ratings of "3" or above in the core skills must have been achieved in order for the experience to be accepted. If there are core skills that are not judged to be acceptable, the fellow and mentor should work out an arrangement where additional work can be performed in those areas. Once successfully completed, the additional work must be submitted via a follow-up SLPCF Report and Rating form that has been signed by both the mentoring SLP and the clinical fellow.

Can I wait until I complete my CF experience to apply for ASHA certification?

At the present time you can but this may change. The CFCC has been discussing requiring individuals to submit an application within 60 days of beginning the CF experience; if the application is not submitted within the requisite time period, experience gained more than 60 days prior to receipt will not be accepted. You are strongly encouraged to check the ASHA Web site for any changes in requirements prior to starting your CF.

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Certification Maintenance

Once I am certified, what do I need to do to maintain my certification?

You must do three things to maintain your certified status: 1) pay your annual dues/fees when billed, 2) continue to abide by the ASHA Code of Ethics, and 3) participate in continuing professional development hours sufficient to meet the Certification Maintenance Requirements outlined on the ASHA Web site.

What happens if I don't pay the annual fees or if I don't comply with the Certification Maintenance Requirement?

Failure to pay annual fees or meet the maintenance requirement will cause your certification to lapse. Should you decide at a later date that you wish to again be certified, you will need to meet the Certification Reinstatement Requirements in effect at the time you submit your reinstatement application. Current certification maintenance requirements and reinstatement procedures are detailed on the ASHA Web site.

To be sure that you receive important information regarding your maintenance interval and your annual invoices for dues/fees, be sure to notify the National Office of any name, address, and e-mail changes as they occur. You may make these changes yourself on the member section of the Web site, or by calling the ASHA Action Center at 800-498-2071.

Other Information

Once I have submitted all of my paperwork, can I begin working without supervision?

No. Submission of paperwork does not mean that you are certified. Until you receive notification from the National Office that certification has been awarded, you may not present yourself as being certified; provide independent clinical services; or supervise students in clinical practicum, individuals engaged in the clinical fellowship, or SLP assistants.

After I apply for certification, how much time to I have to complete the certification process?

Once you apply for certification you have five (5) years in which to complete the process.

How will I be informed that I have been awarded certification?

You will receive three things in the mail: 1) a letter of congratulations on your newly received certification, 2) a letter verifying your certification that can be shown to your employer, and 3) a Certificate Order Form to order your copy of the Certificate of Clinical Competence.

When will I receive the actual Certificate of Clinical Competence?

If you wish to receive the actual Certificate, you will need to complete the Certificate Order Form (see above question) and return it to the National Office. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks after submission of your order form to receive the Certificate.

Will ASHA notify my state licensure board/regulatory agency once I am certified?

We will be happy to notify anyone you designate once you become certified, but ASHA does not automatically send verification of certification to other entities. If you need a verification letter once you have been awarded certification, contact the ASHA Action Center at 800-498-2071 to have a letter prepared and sent to the entity you designate.

Please be aware that most licensure boards will not accept a faxed verification letter—check with the licensure board before requesting that the verification letter be faxed to them. ASHA cannot provide copies of certification documents to licensure boards/regulatory bodies because materials submitted are not retained long-term. Please make copies of all documents you submit for certification.

If I have more questions or need help, is there anyone I can talk with?

Yes, there is assistance available. You can contact the ASHA Action Center at 800-498-2071 if you have general questions about the certification process. For specific information regarding your file, you will want to contact the Certification Administration team who will have access to the materials you have submitted. The phone number for the Certification Administration Team is available on the ASHA Web site and will also appear on information you are sent when you submit your application for certification.

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This page was updated on: 11/7/2008.

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