State Teacher Credentialing Requirements

(last updated September 2009)

At the present time there are 14 states in which individuals must hold a state license in speech-language pathology to work in any setting, including schools. States with comprehensive licensure (only state licensure required) include Delaware, Hawaii, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, and Texas. In the remaining states, individuals must obtain a separate credential issued by each state's department of education to provide services in the public schools. In many cases, audiologists in the public schools are contract employees and do not fall under the purview of the state department of education. State licensure is then typically required for practice.

Looking for details in each state? Visit the State-By-State page, select a state and find more details on teacher requirements.

Overview of School Speech-Language Pathology Requirements for Initial Employment

Comprehensive Licensure (8 States)

1. Delaware
2. Hawaii
3. Kansas
4. Maryland
5. Michigan (Beginning 1/2011)
6. Montana
7. New Mexico
8. Texas

State Licensure Plus Additional Requirements (6 States)

1. Connecticut
2. Indiana
3. Louisiana
4. Massachusetts
5. Ohio
6. Vermont

Master's Degree Required for Teaching License (27 States + DC)

1. Alabama
2. Alaska
3. Arkansas
4. California
5. Colorado
6. District of Columbia
7. Idaho
8. Iowa
9. Kentucky
10. Minnesota
11. Mississippi
12. Missouri
13. Nebraska
14. New Hampshire
15. New Jersey
16. North Carolina
17. North Dakota
18. Oklahoma
19. Rhode Island
20. South Carolina
21. South Dakota
22. Tennessee
23. Utah
24. Virginia
25. Washington
26. West Virginia
27. Wisconsin
28. Wyoming  

Provisional Teaching License with a Bachelor's Degree (4 States)

(Master's must be attained within three to five years)

1. Florida
2. Georgia
3. Maine
4. New York

Full Teaching License with a Bachelor's Degree (3 States)

1. Arizona
2. Oregon
3. Nevada

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Overview of School Audiology Requirements for Initial Employment

Note: States marked with an asterisk (*) indicate states in which there are several possible routes to obtaining a department of education licensure. These states may appear in more than one category.

No Provision or Only State Licensure Required (33 States)

1. Alabama
2. Arizona
3. Arkansas
4. Connecticut
5. Delaware
6. Florida
7. Georgia*
8. Hawaii
9. Illinois
10. Indiana
11. Iowa*
12. Kansas
13. Kentucky
14. Maine
15. Maryland
16. Massachusetts
17. Minnesota
18. Missouri
19. Montana
20. New Hampshire
21. New Jersey
22. New Mexico
23. New York
24. North Carolina*
25. Oklahoma
26. Oregon
27. Pennsylvania
28. Rhode Island
29. South Carolina
30. Texas
31. Virginia
32. West Virginia
33. Wyoming*

State Licensure Plus Additional Requirements (3 States)

1. Louisiana
2. Ohio
3. Vermont

ASHA Certification (5 States)

1. Georgia*
2. Michigan
3. Nevada*
4. North Carolina*
5. Tennessee*

Teaching License Required (Includes Master's degree) (13 States + DC)

1. Alaska
2. California
3. Colorado
4. District of Columbia
5. Idaho
6. Iowa*
7. Mississippi
8. Nebraska
9. North Carolina*
10. North Dakota
11. South Dakota
12. Utah
13. Washington
14. Wisconsin

Master's Degree Only—No licensure requirement (4 States)

1. Wyoming*
2. Nevada*
3. North Carolina*
4. Tennessee*

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