ASHA Membership
Members, members of national NSSLHA, and consumers and nonprofessional caregivers can join a Special Interest Division!
ASHA Certification
What Does it Mean to Be Certified?
Being "certified" means holding the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC), a nationally recognized professional credential that represents a level of excellence in the field of Audiology (CCC-A) or Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). Those who have achieved the CCC—ASHA certification—have voluntarily met rigorous academic and professional standards, typically going beyond the minimum requirements for state licensure. They have the knowledge, skills, and expertise to provide high quality clinical services, and they actively engage in ongoing professional development to keep their certification current. The standards for certification for audiology and speech-language pathology are established by audiologists and speech-language pathologists, respectively, who are members of ASHA's Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC); certificate holders are expected to uphold these standards and abide by ASHA's Code of Ethics.
Benefits of Certification
To the Certificate Holder
Holding ASHA Certification offers increased opportunities for employment, mobility, career advancement, professional credibility, and more, because it is recognized by nearly every state's regulatory agency. Read all of ASHA's certification benefits.
To Others
The CCC validates and provides assurance to consumers and clients; other health care professionals; and employers, state licensure boards, and third-party payers, that through participation in continuous professional development activities they can be confident certificate holders are keeping up with rapid changes in the professions' scopes of practice.
How to Apply for Certification
Review and download the certification standards, implementation guidelines, and application materials for speech-language pathology (CCC-SLP) and audiology (CCC-A).
Attention Audiologists:
New standards for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A) went into effect on January 1, 2007. Applications received on or after January 1, 2008, will be evaluated against the 2007 audiology certification standards.
Praxis Exam Acceptability
Effective January 1, 2005, acceptable Praxis exam results are those submitted for initial certification in either speech-language pathology or audiology that have been obtained no more than 5 years prior to the submission of the certification application.
Information on maintenance intervals and the continuing education requirements for maintaining your certification in audiology (CCC-A) and speech-language pathology (CCC-SLP). You can find additional information in the FAQs about certification maintenance.
Certification Reinstatement Policies
More Certification Information
Certification Verification
How to request a letter to verify your certification.
ASHA Policy on Pay for Practicum
Read more about the policy on pay for practicum for students.
Credential Evaluation Services Agencies
Individuals educated in foreign countries will need to go through a different credential evaluation process.
Candidacy Programs and Student Eligibility for the CCC
The CFCC will apply certain policies when considering students for the CCC who were enrolled in a graduate program while it held candidacy program status.
State Licensure
Mutual Recognition Agreements
For individuals holding certification by the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists (CASLPA), the Royal College of Speech Therapists (RCSLT) in the United Kingdom, or the Speech Pathology Association of Australia Limited (Speech Pathology Australia) who are applying for ASHA certification under the terms of the Quadrilateral Mutual Recognition Agreement [PDF].
Clinical Specialty Recognition
Learn about Specialty Recognition, how the Council for Clinical Specialty Recognition (CCSR) establishes Specialty Boards in specific areas of practice, and the process for granting qualified persons holding the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence the status of Board Recognized Specialist (BRS).
SLP Assistants
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