California Characteristics of State Teacher Requirements

Last updated April 2008

Audiologist or Speech-Language Pathologist

The information below has been collected by researching individual state department of education regulations and policy documents, state administrative code provisions and by contacting each state department of education. Please be advised that regulations and policy may change at any time, so always check with your state department of education for the most up-to-date information.

Audiologist

Clinical or Rehabilitative Services Credential for Audiologists

Requirements for the Clear Credential – Individuals Prepared in California

1. For the audiology authorization only, a master's degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university.
   
   a.The Orientation and Mobility Authorization requires to at least one year of applicable graduate-level course work.
   
2. Basic Skills Requirement
3. A Commission-approved specialized professional preparation program resulting in formal recommendation for the credential by the college or university through which the program was completed

Requirements for the Clear Credential – Individuals Prepared Out-of-State

Individuals must satisfy one or the following options:

1. Those who completed an out-of-state program on or after January 1, 1997 from a state with equivalent standards must satisfy all the following requirements:
   
   a. Audiology authorization only – master's or higher from a regionally accredited college or university (At least one year of applicable graduate-level course work or the Orientation and Mobility Authorization)
   
   b. On or after January 1, 1997, complete a professional preparation program from a state with equivalent standards, verified by the institution or state agency responsible for issuing the certificate
   
   c.Basic Skills Requirement
   
2. Applicants who do not meet equivalency standards must meet the requirements above,
   and
   submit official transcripts verifying that the program included a practicum with school-age children and obtained a grade of "C" or better, or received a "pass", "credit", or "satisfactory" grade equivalent to a "C" or better.

Continuing Education Requirement

150 clock hours of planned and approved professional growth activities every five years and the equivalent of full-time service for one-half of one school year are required.

Speech-Language Pathologist

Speech-Language Pathologist Services Credential

California has a two-tier credential structure, which the holder is given up to two years to complete. The two-year preliminary credential is the first document issued after an individual meets basic credential requirements. Second, the clear credential is issued once all credential requirements have been completed. If requirements for the clear credential are not completed before the expiration of the preliminary, the holder may not serve in California's public schools until those requirements are met and the document renewed.

An individual may also obtain a Special Class Authorization, which authorizes the holder to teach individuals with a primary disability of speech and language impairment or autism. The candidate must complete course work in aphasia and in the methods of teaching school subjects, in addition to the course work for the Language, Speech, and Hearing Authorization.

Requirements for the Two-Year Preliminary Credential – For Individuals Prepared in California

1. A Commission-approved specialized preparation program resulting formal recommendation by the college or university where the program was completed*
2. Basic Skills Requirement
3. Official transcripts showing a master's degree in speech-language pathology from a regionally-accredited college or university
4. An application must be submitted online by the recommending institution.

* The institution of higher education may recommend the California-prepared candidate for a clear credential instead of a preliminary if the candidate meets all of the requirements for both the preliminary and the clear credential.

Requirements for the Clear Credential – For Individuals Prepared in California

1. Passing score of 600 on the Educational Testing Services (ETS) Praxis II Speech-Language Pathology Test
2. A 36-week, full-time, mentored clinical experience or equivalent supervised practicum (Clinical Fellowship Year), verified by the California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board or ASHA

Requirements for the Two-Year Preliminary Credential – For Individuals Prepared Out-of-State

1. Official transcripts showing a master's degree in speech-language pathology from a regionally-accredited college or university*
2. Basic Skills Requirement. A One-Year Nonrenewable credential may be issued at the request of a California employing agency pending the basic skills requirement.
3. One of the following:
   a. Complete, on or after January 1, 1997, a preparation program from a state determined to have equivalent standards to the California Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential;
   or
   b. Hold or verify eligibility for an out-of-state speech-language pathology certificate authorizing service in the K-12 public schools of the state in which the program was completed, verified by either a copy of the certificate or an eligibility letter from the institution where program was completed or the state agency responsible for issuing the certificate. Individuals qualifying by Option 2 must submit official transcripts verifying that the program included a practicum with school-age children and obtained a grade of "C" or better, or received a "pass", "credit", or "satisfactory" grade equivalent to a "C" or better.

* If all requirements for the preliminary and clear credential are met with the initial application, the individual will be issued the clear credential and not the preliminary.

Requirements for the Clear Credential – For Individuals Prepared Out-of-State

1. Passing score of 600 on the Praxis II Speech-Language Pathology Test
2. A 36-week, full-time, mentored clinical experience or equivalent supervised practicum (Clinical Fellowship Year), verified by the California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board or ASHA

Note:
1999 A.B. 466 authorizes the governing boards of school districts to contract with or employ individuals holding a license issued by the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board and having an earned master's degree in communications disorders and passage of the California Basic Education Skills Test.

Upgrading a Clinical or Rehabilitative Services Credential to a Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential

Individuals who hold a Clinical or Rehabilitative Services Credential may upgrade to the Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential by submitting all of the following to the Commission office:

1. Passing score of 600 on the Praxis II Speech-Language Pathology Test
2. A 36-week, full-time, mentored clinical experience or equivalent supervised practicum (Clinical Fellowship Year) verified by the California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board or ASHA
3. Official transcripts showing a master's degree in speech-language pathology from a regionally-accredited college or university (required of holders of life Clinical or Rehabilitative Services Credentials only)

Continuing Education Requirement

150 clock hours of planned and approved professional growth activities every five years and the equivalent of full-time service for one-half of one school year

Support Personnel

No specific requirements for SLP paraprofessionals