National Speech-Language Pathology Examination

The National Speech-Language Pathology Examination™ is an integral component of ASHA certification standards. ASHA's Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC) appoints subject matter experts and makes a final determination for the passing score.

Through December 26, 2026, candidates may take the Praxis Examination in Speech-Language Pathology (5331) administered by ETS. Beginning January 11, 2027, the national examination program will transition to PSI. Registration and scheduling for 2027 testing is available on PSI's website. The examination content, format, and passing standards will remain unchanged.

The current passing score for purposes of ASHA certification is 162 (on a 100–200 scale).

The National Examination as a Requirement

The examination is used as a requirement for one or more of the following:

• ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology
• State Professional Licensure

The National Examination and State Credentials

Each state determines its passing score for professional licensure and teacher credentialing. Most states adopt the same score as required for ASHA certification, but in some states the examination score for licensure or teacher credentialing may be higher or lower than the ASHA passing score. The passing score adopted by a state is based on a review of ASHA's standard-setting study and/or an independent standard-setting study commissioned by the state or state agency.

The National Examination and ASHA Certification

Individuals are eligible to apply for certification once they have completed all graduate-level academic course work and clinical practicum and been judged by the graduate program as having acquired all of the knowledge and skills mandated by the current standards. Once certification has been applied for, applicants have 2 years in which to complete the certification process, which includes passing the examination. The CFCC requires that all applicants must pass the national examination in the area for which the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) is sought.

Standard VI: Assessment of the 2020 Speech-Language Pathology Certification Standards states: The applicant must have passed the national examination adopted by ASHA for purposes of certification in speech-language pathology.

Examination Acceptability

Results of the Praxis Examination in Speech-Language Pathology submitted for initial certification must come directly to ASHA from ETS. Results of the National Speech-Language Pathology Examination must come directly to ASHA from PSI.

For either examination, results submitted for initial certification 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. Applicants who fail the examination may retake it; however, if the exam is not successfully passed within the 2-year application period, the applicant's certification file will be closed. If the exam is passed at a later date, the individual will have to reapply for certification under the standards in effect at that time.

When to Take the Examination

It is recommended that individuals take the examination no earlier than the completion of their graduate coursework and graduate clinical practicum or during their first year of clinical practice following graduation.

• Candidates testing through December 31, 2026, should register for the Praxis Examination in Speech-Language Pathology through ETS.
• Candidates planning to test beginning January 11, 2027, can register and schedule the National Speech-Language Pathology Examination through PSI beginning November 3, 2026.

Candidates applying to take the National Speech-Language Pathology Examination must provide proof of current enrollment in or graduation from a graduate or doctoral program in speech-language pathology. Learn more about documentation requirements.

Applicants should take into consideration any state licensing requirements regarding completion of the exam.

Examination Development

Approximately every 5–8 years, ASHA commissions a vendor to conduct an independent skills validation (practice analysis) study for audiology. An speech-language pathology 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., scope 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 the CFCC.

The blueprint for the speech-language pathology Praxis exam is derived from the ASHA speech-language pathology certification standards, which are reflective of the results of the comprehensive practice analysis study. The blueprint for the National Speech-Language Pathology Examination will continue to be derived from ASHA speech-language pathology certification standards and from the results of ASHA practice analysis studies.

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. An external vendor 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.

ASHA nominates subject matter experts to serve on Praxis committees who work with ETS to develop the examinations. With the transition to PSI, ASHA-appointed subject matter experts will continue to play a central role in examination development, review, and standard-setting activities. Subject matter experts are ASHA-certified individuals from both academic and clinical backgrounds. The speech-language pathology exam is developed by speech-language pathologists along with audiologists who write questions about hearing and hearing science.

Examination Content

The content for speech-language pathology Praxis examination is comprehensive and, as a result, test-takers will need to synthesize information they have learned from many sources and understand the subject as a whole. The content covered on the National Speech-Language Pathology Examination will remain the same following the transition to PSI. To assist, test-takers can obtain free test prep materials prior to the taking the examination.