Individuals will have until December 31, 2005 to submit the application for certification under current (1993) standards. All applications post-marked from January 1, 2006 forward will be assessed under the new speech-language pathology standards.

If the graduate degree was received many years ago but certification was not pursued at that time, under what standards will someone apply?

If the application is post-marked prior to January 1, 2006, the 1993 certification standards can be used to evaluate the application. Applications post-marked after December 31, 2005 will be evaluated under the 2005 speech-language pathology standards.

If the applicant graduated several years ago but doesn't apply prior to January 1, 2006, what will be required for certification?

All individuals applying as of January 1, 2006 will be required to be assessed under the new certification standards. Individuals who apply more than three years after receipt of the graduate degree will be required to submit a completed application for certification which indicates that they have achieved the very specific knowledge and skills required by the certification standards during their educational program. Completion of this application will require the assistance of the graduate program.

Additionally, individuals applying for certification after December 31, 2005 will be required to submit the required Speech Language Pathology Clinical Fellowship (SLPCF) Report and Rating form, an Official Graduate Transcript with degree conferral date, evidence sent by ETS of successful completion of the Praxis series examination in speech-language pathology, and appropriate dues/fees.

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Degree/Accreditation Requirement

What degree is required 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 post-baccalaureate degree.

What about accreditation?

As is currently required, all graduate level academic course work and graduate level clinical practicum 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). (See listing of CAA-Accredited Graduate Education Programs in speech-language pathology.)

Does the graduate degree have to have been awarded in speech-language pathology?

No. The graduate degree may be in any area as long as the applicant has completed a minimum of 75 semester credit hours (36 semester credit hours at the graduate level) in a course of study addressing the knowledge and skills pertinent to the field of speech-language pathology. The program director of the accredited program will be required to "sign-off" on the application indicating that the knowledge and skills have been acquired.

What verification will be required that a graduate degree has been awarded?

All applicants for certification will be required to submit an official graduate transcript that shows the date the degree 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, with at least 36 semester credit hours (47-quarter hours) of the 75 at the graduate level.

What pre-requisite courses are required for certification?

Although there is not a uniform curriculum that all applicants must have taken, 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?

The graduate academic program 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 prerequisite skills and knowledge.

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

Under the 2005 Speech-Language Pathology Certification Standards, the emphasis is on the acquisition of knowledge and skills, not on completion of specific course work. The graduate program is required to periodically assess the student's acquisition of knowledge and skills listed in Standards III and IV.

How will the program director know that a knowledge or skill has been acquired?

Each academic program will have determined the specific student learning outcomes and mechanisms they will use to assess students' acquisition of knowledge and skills. It is expected that programs will use a variety of mechanisms, e.g., performance on exams, submitted papers, performance in clinic, etc., and that the program 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/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. Again, 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 that required for ASHA certification and that is their prerogative. Additionally, individual state licensure boards have requirements that may or may not be the same as the ASHA certification requirements. These differences in requirements may make it necessary for applicants for licensure to be able to provide a breakdown of courses and practicum hours that will satisfy licensure requirements.

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

New speech-language pathology certification standards do not mandate specific course work or clinical practicum in audiology, but do address acquisition of knowledge related to audiology areas. But again, 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 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 standards have been met.

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Clinical Practicum

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

The new speech-language pathology standards mandate completion of a minimum of 400 clock hours of supervised clinical experience in the practice of speech-language pathology. At least twenty-five 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 practicum in speech-language pathology.

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.

What is the breakdown of practicum hours in the various categories?

The new standards do not specify a particular number of hours in different categories. Programs may determine the number of hours that they will require and again, licensure boards may require a requisite number of hours in different categories. Students need to be aware of the various requirements so that they will be able to meet the standards of these different 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 the new standards, 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 clinical practicum?

All observation and clinical practicum hours used to meet Standard IV-C must be supervised by individuals who hold a current CCC in speech-language pathology. 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 in-put of all of these individuals in assessing the student's acquisition of knowledge and skills in particular areas.

What must be included in supervision?

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

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Forms and Documentation

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

Programs may use various mechanisms to document and track student progress in the acquisition of knowledge and skills. 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 that may include submission of the Knowledge and Skills Acquisition (KASA) summary form that identifies how and when these elements were assessed by the program as being met. [For details about who is required to submit a KASA as part of their certification application, please see the question below about application procedures or see the ASHA Certification Handbook section on "Pass-through Applicants."]

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 assure that the student has met all of the knowledge and skills prior to signing the application for ASHA certification.

Whose responsibility is it to keep the KASA?

In most programs, the maintenance of the KASA will be 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. Individuals who apply within three years of receipt of their graduate degree will only be required to submit a brief application for certification which will have as a part, the program director's verification page.

What form will individuals use to apply for ASHA certification under the new standards?

A new application form for the 2005 speech-language pathology standards is available. Application within three years of receipt of the graduate degree will require only a portion of the new form - the background information (sections I and II), and the "Verification by Program Director" page.

If the application is received more than three years after receipt of the graduate degree, a full application will be required. A full application includes completed forms identified above plus the information that is contained on the KASA form that is completed by the graduate program.

What else must be submitted for certification?

As noted earlier, all applicants will be required to submit official graduate transcripts that show the date the graduate degree was awarded. Applicants will also be required to submit the Speech-Language Pathology Clinical Fellowship (SLPCF) Report and Rating form at the conclusion of the CF experience, the Employer's Verification form, verification from ETS of having achieved a passing score on the Praxis examination in speech-language pathology and appropriate dues/fees.

Additionally, those individuals who apply more than three years following receipt of the graduate degree will be required to submit official transcripts from all universities where they acquired course work toward ASHA certification.

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Summative Assessment

What mechanism is used for summative assessment?

The summative assessment that will be 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. The Praxis examination is designed to be taken once all academic course work and clinical practicum required for certification have been completed.

When the exam is taken, the applicant will want to list ASHA as a score recipient so that the results will be sent to the National Office for certification. Additionally, the applicant is encouraged to list her or his graduate program as a score recipient so that the program can report aggregate performance data periodically to the CAA for accreditation purposes.

What is the minimum passing score required for ASHA certification?

The current passing score in speech-language pathology is 600. In order to accept a score for ASHA certification, it must be reported to ASHA by the Educational Testing Service. Score reports from applicants are not sufficient for ASHA certification.

How long do scores remain valid?

Exam results submitted for initial 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 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 week of full-time clinical practice. Full-time practice is defined as a minimum of 35 hours per week in direct patient/client contact, consultations, record keeping, and administrative duties relevant to a bona fide program of clinical work.

What if the fellow works less than 35 hours per week?

If less than full-time employment is used for the CF, the length of the CF must be modified. Professional experience of less than 15 hours per week will not meet the requirement and cannot be counted toward the SLPCF.

NOTE: Doctoral students and university faculty members who have met the academic course work and clinical practicum requirements for certification may use the Procedures for a Modified Clinical Fellowship Experience.

What 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 SLPCF to less than 36 weeks.

The new standards in speech-language pathology use the term "mentoring SLP" rather than supervisor. Is this person one and the same?

They may be but not necessarily. While a 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 that will submitted to the CFCC at the conclusion of the CF experience.

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

The clinical fellow must be observed in the provision of clinical services at least 18 hours throughout the 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.

Supervision will be provided by the employer and will occur as the employer finds necessary.

What else needs to be submitted at the conclusion of the CF?

Along with the completed SLPCF Report and Rating form that the clinical fellow and mentoring SLP submit, the Clinical Fellow must submit the Employer(s) Verification Form. This document must be signed by the employer attesting to the completion of the 36-week full-time SLPCF or its part-time equivalent.

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 Report and Rating form and both the fellow and mentor will sign the form. This meeting will also be an opportunity for a discussion of areas of concern or to highlight accomplishments of the clinical fellow.

At the conclusion of the experience mentor and clinical fellow will complete and submit the completed Report and Rating form to the CFCC for review. 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 on those areas can be performed.

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This page was updated on: 4/30/2008.

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