Praxis Examination Acceptability

The Council for Clinical Certification (CFCC) has ruled that, effective January 1, 2005, results of the Praxis Examinations in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology submitted for initial certification in either speech-language pathology or audiology 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.

It has been the long-standing requirement of the CFCC that individuals applying for certification, no matter their date of graduation from an academic program, are assessed under the standards in effect at the time of their application for ASHA certification. This new decision follows that policy.

This decision, which was reached at the July CFCC meeting, was made because the Praxis exams are designed to address standards in effect at the time of exam development. Individuals who apply in 2005 but who took the exam in 1999 or earlier will, in all likelihood, have been tested on information that does not meet current knowledge and skills requirements for practice in the professions.

This requirement will apply only to those individuals submitting applications for certification on January 1, 2005, or later. Individuals already in the certification process (i.e., an application for certification is on file in the ASHA National Office) who have completed the examination requirement will not be required to retake the exam.