Certification & Licensure Requirements
To become a professional speech-language pathologist (SLP), obtaining a graduate degree from a program accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) program is only the first step. You also need to complete a supervised post-graduate experience (a clinical fellowship), pass a national Praxis exam in speech-language pathology, and be appropriately credentialed to practice professionally.
Credentialing
There are two types of credentialing for speech-language pathologists: national certification and state licensure.
National Certification
The UW Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology is specifically designed to meet the educational knowledge and skill requirements for professional certification through ASHA, which is the national professional, credentialing and scientific organization for speech-language pathologists. Any student graduating from a CAA-accredited program, including ours, meets the educational eligibility requirements for ASHA’s Certification of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP).
State Licensure
All U.S. states and territories oversee and regulate the practice of speech-language pathology through licensure. While most states and territories have the same licensure requirements (that mirror ASHA’s national certification requirements), there is variability across states/territories. Additionally, the type of state license required often depends on the setting in which a speech-language pathologist will work. Licensing regulations and licensing bodies can differ across the following practice settings:
- Health care/medical settings (listed as state license requirements)
- Educational settings (listed as school-based license requirements)
- Early intervention settings (listed as early intervention license requirements)
UW Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology students are prepared for setting-specific licensure requirements as follows.
- Educational Track students (EdSLP) are prepared for licensure in school, early intervention, and non-school settings upon graduation.
- Medical Track students (MedSLP) and Clinical Research Track students (CoreSLP) are prepared for licensure in early intervention AND non-school settings upon graduation. However, with additional training (typically minimal), they can be licensed for schools as well if they choose to pursue that setting.
The UW Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program tracks are specifically designed to meet all the Washington state licensure requirements across settings, and most other state and territory regulations. If you’re planning to work outside of Washington state, we strongly recommend contacting the licensing entity in your desired state for guidance before beginning an academic program. We also encourage you to review ASHA’s state licensure requirements for all states and U.S. territories across these three practice settings.
The compatibility information for the settings listed below outlines how the UW Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology meets the educational requirements for professional licensure across practice settings in all U.S. states and territories. When reviewing this information, be sure to check the licensure information for the specific practice setting you plan to work in.
In some states, the UW Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program meets most — but not all — licensure or certification requirements. This doesn’t mean that program graduates would be ineligible for licensure in that state or territory; it just means that you may be required to complete extra steps to meet unique requirements. Typically, licensure applicants may need to complete additional courses and/or more experiential or clinical hours to qualify.
Program Compatibility With Licensure Requirements
These licensure compatibility findings are accurate as of September 2025.
The UW Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program meets the educational licensure requirements for practice in school settings in all but seven states; we do not meet the school setting licensure requirements for Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Maryland or New York.
Find current requirements to practice in any state on ASHA's state-by-state licensure page.
| State or Territory |
Yes |
No |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama* |
X |
|
| Alaska** |
X |
|
| Arizona |
X |
|
| Arkansas |
X |
|
| California |
X |
|
| Colorado |
X |
|
| Connecticut*** |
X |
|
| Delaware |
X |
|
| District of Columbia |
X |
|
| Florida**** |
X |
|
| Georgia |
X |
|
| Hawaii |
X |
|
| Idaho |
X |
|
| Illinois |
X |
|
| Indiana***** |
X |
|
| Iowa |
X |
|
| Kansas |
X |
|
| Kentucky |
X |
|
| Louisiana |
X |
|
| Maine |
X |
|
| Maryland****** |
X |
|
| Massachusetts |
X |
|
| Michigan |
X |
|
| Minnesota |
X |
|
| Mississippi |
X |
|
| Missouri |
X |
|
| Montana |
X |
|
| Nebraska |
X |
|
| Nevada |
X |
|
| New Hampshire |
X |
|
| New Jersey |
X |
|
| New Mexico |
X |
|
| New York******* |
X |
|
| North Carolina |
X |
|
| North Dakota |
X |
|
| Ohio |
X |
|
| Oklahoma |
X |
|
| Oregon |
X |
|
| Pennsylvania |
X |
|
| Rhode Island |
X |
|
| South Carolina |
X |
|
| South Dakota |
X |
|
| Tennessee |
X |
|
| Texas |
X |
|
| Utah |
X |
|
| Vermont |
X |
|
| Virginia |
X |
|
| Washington |
X |
|
| West Virginia |
X |
|
| Wisconsin |
X |
|
| Wyoming |
X |
|
| U.S. Virgin Islands |
X |
|
| Guam |
X |
|
| Northern Mariana Islands |
X |
|
| Puerto Rico |
X |
Yes = program meets the requirements; No = program does not meet the requirements
* Alabama has additional educational requirements:
- Alabama Educator Certification Assessment Program, which includes:
- Basic skills assessments
- Praxis II tests
- Performance assessment
*Alaska has additional educational requirements:
- Three semester (4.5 quarter) hours of approved Alaska studies (taken within the past five years)
- Three semester (4.5 quarter) hours of multicultural education or cross-cultural communications (taken within the past five years)
**Connecticut has additional educational requirements:
- Six semester or nine quarter hours of credit/course work in: foundations of education; psychology: child, educational, developmental, adolescent or cognitive learning; and classroom instruction and management, bilingual/bicultural education, reading, curriculum development or behavioral management
- A course of study in special education comprised of not fewer than 36 clock hours, including study in understanding the growth and development of exceptional, handicapped and gifted and talented children; and methods for identifying, planning for and working effectively with special-needs children in the regular classroom
***Florida has additional educational requirements:
- Three semester hours in survey of exceptional student education
- Three semester hours in school organization or general curriculum that includes the elementary and secondary instructional levels
*****Indiana has additional educational requirements:
- Child suicide prevention training certificate
******Maryland has additional educational requirements:
- Implicit bias training course approved by the MD Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities
*******New York has additional educational requirements:
- NYS Teacher Certification Exam - Educating All Students Test (EAS)
- Complete 4 NY state-approved workshops in Child Abuse Identification, School Violence Intervention and Prevention, Autism, and Dignity For All Students Act
The UW Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program meets the educational licensing requirements across all states, districts and territories in all but one territory; we do not meet the non-school (health care/medical) setting licensure requirements for Northern Mariana Islands.
Find current requirements to practice in any state on ASHA's state-by-state licensure page.
| State or Territory |
Yes |
No |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama |
X |
|
| Alaska |
X |
|
| Arizona |
X |
|
| Arkansas |
X |
|
| California |
X |
|
| Colorado |
X |
|
| Connecticut |
X |
|
| Delaware |
X |
|
| District of Columbia |
X |
|
| Florida |
X |
|
| Georgia |
X |
|
| Hawaii |
X |
|
| Idaho |
X |
|
| Illinois |
X |
|
| Indiana |
X |
|
| Iowa |
X |
|
| Kansas |
X |
|
| Kentucky |
X |
|
| Louisiana |
X |
|
| Maine |
X |
|
| Maryland |
X |
|
| Massachusetts |
X |
|
| Michigan |
X |
|
| Minnesota |
X |
|
| Mississippi |
X |
|
| Missouri |
X |
|
| Montana |
X |
|
| Nebraska |
X |
|
| Nevada |
X |
|
| New Hampshire |
X |
|
| New Jersey |
X |
|
| New Mexico |
X |
|
| New York |
X |
|
| North Carolina |
X |
|
| North Dakota |
X |
|
| Ohio |
X |
|
| Oklahoma |
X |
|
| Oregon |
X |
|
| Pennsylvania |
X |
|
| Rhode Island |
X |
|
| South Carolina |
X |
|
| South Dakota |
X |
|
| Tennessee |
X |
|
| Texas |
X |
|
| Utah |
X |
|
| Vermont |
X |
|
| Virginia |
X |
|
| Washington |
X |
|
| West Virginia |
X |
|
| Wisconsin |
X |
|
| Wyoming |
X |
|
| U.S. Virgin Islands |
X |
|
| Guam |
X |
|
| Northern Mariana Islands* |
X |
|
| Puerto Rico |
X |
Yes = program meets the requirements; No = program does not meet the requirements
*Northern Mariana Islands has additional educational requirements:
- One hour of HIV/AIDS training
- Two hours in the Prevention of Medical Errors workshop or seminar
The UW Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program meets the educational licensure requirements for practice in early intervention settings in all but three states; we do not meet the school setting licensure requirements for Arizona, California or Virginia.
Find current requirements to practice in any state on ASHA's state-by-state licensure page.
| State or Territory |
Yes |
No |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama |
X |
|
| Alaska |
X |
|
| Arizona* |
X |
|
| Arkansas |
X |
|
| California** |
X |
|
| Colorado |
X |
|
| Connecticut |
X |
|
| Delaware |
X |
|
| District of Columbia |
X |
|
| Florida |
X |
|
| Georgia |
X |
|
| Hawaii |
X |
|
| Idaho |
X |
|
| Illinois |
X |
|
| Indiana |
X |
|
| Iowa |
X |
|
| Kansas |
X |
|
| Kentucky |
X |
|
| Louisiana |
X |
|
| Maine |
X |
|
| Maryland |
X |
|
| Massachusetts |
X |
|
| Michigan |
X |
|
| Minnesota |
X |
|
| Mississippi |
X |
|
| Missouri |
X |
|
| Montana |
X |
|
| Nebraska |
X |
|
| Nevada |
X |
|
| New Hampshire |
X |
|
| New Jersey |
X |
|
| New Mexico |
X |
|
| New York |
X |
|
| North Carolina |
X |
|
| North Dakota |
X |
|
| Ohio |
X |
|
| Oklahoma |
X |
|
| Oregon |
X |
|
| Pennsylvania |
X |
|
| Rhode Island |
X |
|
| South Carolina |
X |
|
| South Dakota |
X |
|
| Tennessee |
X |
|
| Texas |
X |
|
| Utah |
X |
|
| Vermont |
X |
|
| Virginia*** |
X |
|
| Washington |
X |
|
| West Virginia |
X |
|
| Wisconsin |
X |
|
| Wyoming |
X |
|
| U.S. Virgin Islands |
X |
|
| Guam |
X |
|
| Puerto Rico |
X |
Yes = program meets the requirements; No = program does not meet the requirements
*Arizona has additional educational requirements:
- Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) Standards of Practice course
**California has additional educational requirements:
- Obtain a PK-3 Early Childhood Education Specialist Instruction Credential for Teachers. This requires completion of an approved PK-3 Childhood Educational Specialist preparation program and coursework in the US Constitution.
***Virginia has additional educational requirements:
- Obtain Early Intervention Professional certification through the VA Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. This requires completion of Early Intervention Certification courses.