About the Praxis Exam
The Praxis Examinations in Audiology and Speech-Language
Pathology are integral components of ASHA certification
standards. The development of the exams is commissioned by ASHA
and facilitated by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to
provide a system of thorough, fair, and carefully validated
assessments. The Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Praxis
exams are owned and administered by ETS as part of The
Praxis II
®: Subject Assessments.
Why do I need to take a Praxis exam?
The Praxis exam is used as a requirement for one or more of
the following:
2005 SLP Certification Standard V-B: Summative
Assessment
The applicant must pass the national examination
adopted by ASHA for purposes of certification in
speech-language pathology.
Implementation:
Summative assessment is a comprehensive examination of learning
outcomes at the culmination of professional preparation. Evidence
of a passing score on the ASHA-approved national examination in
Speech-Language Pathology must be submitted to the National
Office by the testing agency administering the examination.
2007 Audiology Certification Standard V-B: Summative
Assessment
The applicant must pass the national examination
adopted by ASHA for purposes of certification in
audiology.
Attention Audiologists:
The 2007
standards for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in
Audiology (CCC-A)
went into effect on January 1, 2007.
Implementation:
The national examination in audiology is designed to assess, in a
comprehensive fashion, the applicant's mastery of knowledge
of professional concepts and issues to which the applicant has
been exposed throughout professional education and clinical
practicum. The applicant must pass the examination in audiology
within 2 years of the date the course work and practicum
submitted by the applicant are approved by ASHA's Council For
Clinical Certification (CFCC). The current passing score is
600.
The Council For Clinical Certification (CFCC) requires
that all applicants must pass the national examination in the
area for which the Certificate is sought.
General Information
All applicants who fail the examination may retake it. If the
examination is not successfully passed within the 2-year period,
the applicant's certification file will be closed. If the
examination is passed at a later date, the individual will have
to reapply for certification under the standards in effect at the
time of reapplication and will be required to pay the appropriate
application fees.
Praxis Examination
Acceptability
The Council for Clinical Certification (CFCC) has ruled that,
effective January 1, 2005, results of the Praxis Examinations in
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology submitted for initial
certification in either speech-language pathology or audiology
must have been obtained no more than 5 years prior to the
submission of the certification application. Scores older than 5
years will not be accepted for certification.
When should I take the exam?
It is recommended that individuals register and take the
Praxis exam
no earlier
than the completion of their graduate coursework and graduate
clinical practicum or during their first year of clinical
practice following graduation. Applicants should take into
consideration any state licensing requirements regarding
completion of the exam.
How are the exams developed?
Approximately every 5-7 years, ASHA commissions a vendor to
conduct an independent skills validation (practice analysis)
study for each profession (audiology and speech-language
pathology). Each practice analysis incorporates a multi-method
approach that involves a number of independent expert panels and
a large-scale survey of practitioners, educators, clinical
supervisors, and clinic directors. This process can take up to 12
months to complete. The results of the practice analysis provide
descriptive information about the tasks performed on the job
and/or the knowledge, skills, and abilities believed necessary to
perform those tasks by new graduates entering independent
professional practice.
The study results, along with a review of practice-specific
literature (e.g., scopes of practice, profession-specific
practice policy guidelines and position statements, preferred
practice patterns, and publications from related professional
organizations) and widespread peer review by state licensure
boards, academic programs, and related professional
organizations, form the basis for an evaluation of current
certification standards and any recommendation for change in the
standards by ASHA's Council For Clinical Certification
(CFCC).
The blueprint for the Praxis exams is derived from the ASHA
certification standards which are reflective of the results of
the comprehensive practice analysis study.
Standard setting studies are also performed periodically to
evaluate each question for its relevance to a newly practicing
clinician and to determine how many questions this individual
must be able to answer correctly to pass the exam. ETS prepares a
report for the CFCC along with a recommendation for a passing
score. The CFCC considers the recommendation and then makes a
final determination for the passing score.
Who writes the questions?
ASHA nominates subject matter experts to serve on Praxis
committees who work with ETS to develop the exams. Subject matter
experts are ASHA certified individuals from both academic and
clinical backgrounds. The Audiology exam is developed by
audiologists. The Speech-Language Pathology exam is developed by
speech-language pathologists along with audiologists who write
questions about hearing and hearing science.