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SLP Credentialing

Initial Postgraduate Employment & Beyond

ASHA Certification     WA State / Non-School     WA State Schools

How do I practice as a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) after graduation?

In order to work as an SLP, you must be appropriately credentialed (e.g., licensed or certified) according to state law. Please note that state regulations regarding credentialing vary across the U.S. and the type of required credential often depend on the setting in which you will work. Many states, however, do use the ASHA Standards for Clinical Competency as a model for their regulatory agency requirements (including Washington).

Please be aware that most states (including Washington) have state oversight and regulation of SLP practitioners. However, there are still a very few number of states that do not oversee or credential our profession.

In Washington state, SLP graduates seeking employment must be credentialed by the following agencies:

If Working in a Non-School Setting

Graduates must be credentialed by the WA State Department of Health (DOH) which establishes licensing requirements for professionals in non-school settings (e.g., hospitals, outpatient clinics, private practices, skilled nursing facilities, birth-to-three facilities, etc.) Practitioners are awarded permits or licenses by the DOH to work.

If Working in a School Setting

Graduates must be credentialed by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) which establishes “teacher requirements” for professionals working in WA schools. Practitioners are awarded Educational Staff Associate Certification (ESA) by OSPI to work.

After Graduation – Voluntary Professional Certification With ASHA

After completing their graduate program, we strongly encourage all students to complete the requirements for ASHA certification. 

What is the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP)?

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is the professional, scientific and credentialing association for speech-language pathologists, audiologists and speech, language and hearing scientists. ASHA oversees the credentialing of academic programs, clinical certification, continuing education and clinical specialty recognition.

  • The Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP), granted by ASHA, is an internationally recognized professional credential for speech-language pathologists. While the certification process is voluntary, ASHA certification verifies to the public, employers, regulatory bodies, insurance companies and colleagues that professionals with a CCC-SLP have met rigorous standards in terms of preparation and training and ongoing continuing education and professional development.
     
  • The Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC) is the credentialing body of ASHA. The CFCC defines the standards for clinical certification (CCC-SLP); applies those standards in granting certification to individuals; and administers the certification maintenance program. Importantly, the standards they set outline the specific knowledge and skill requirements for the profession, which includes both undergraduate and graduate-level coursework.

Almost all non-school employment settings require SLP practitioners to be certified by ASHA for billing, reimbursement, and professional liability insurance reasons. 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. If you relocate to another state to practice, ASHA certification also provides easy online verification of certification to state regulatory agencies and eliminating the need for you to provide copies of test scores, academic degree, or supervised clinical experiences.

Many school employment settings do not require ASHA certification. However, a number of school districts across the country offer salary supplements to ASHA-certified speech-language pathologists. In addition, others are starting to pay for individual SLP licenses through the WA Department of Health and ASHA certification to ensure reimbursement for diagnostics and/or treatment services provided to school children covered by Medicaid.

What are the ASHA Certification Requirements?

Effective January 1 2020 all applicants for ASHA’s Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) will be evaluated according to the 2020 Speech Language Pathology Certification Standards in speech-language pathology.

To apply for ASHA certification, Speech-Language Pathology graduates must provide documentation that they have completed the following:

  1. Master’s degree in speech-language pathology that meets all ASHA knowledge and skill requirements
  2. Passing score on the national Praxis exam in speech-language pathology
  3. Mentored Clinical Fellowship with an ASHA-certified professional (36 weeks, full-time employment)

1. Master’s Degree

The Master of Science program at the University of Washington is accredited by ASHA’s Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA). For that reason, students completing the Core Speech-Language Pathology program meet all ASHA standards for master’s level education in speech-language pathology and are eligible to apply for ASHA’s Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC).

2. National Praxis Exam

The national Praxis Exam is administered through the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and measures knowledge important for beginning, independent speech-language pathology practitioners in all primary employment settings, including schools, hospitals, clinics, and private practice, among others. A passing score of 162 or greater is required by ASHA for certification. The exam is typically taken by students who have completed or are at the end of their master’s degree program, once foundational didactic and clinical coursework requirements are met. A summary of our graduate student performance on the Praxis exam is located on our Student Outcome Data page.

The exam lasts approximately 2 hours. Questions are administered in a multiple-choice format covering the following major content areas:

  • Basic human communication processes
  • Phonological and language disorders
  • Speech disorders
  • Neurogenic disorders
  • Audiology/hearing
  • Clinical management
  • Professional / Ethical issues
  • Research methodology / Psychometrics

3. Clinical Fellowship

ASHA maintains that academic and practicum experiences alone are not sufficient preparation for an individual to function as an independent, competent professional providing high-quality care in speech-language pathology. Therefore, after graduation all Core Speech-Language Pathology Master of Science degree recipients are required to successfully complete a mentored Clinical Fellowship in order to apply for and receive ASHA’s Certificate of Clinical Competence.

The Clinical Fellowship is considered an important transitional phase between supervised graduate-level practica and the independent delivery of services. Clinical fellows work as employees under the supervision of an ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist and mentor. By ASHA requirements, during the Clinical Fellowship year individuals will focus on:

  • integration and application of the theoretical and practical knowledge from academic training
  • evaluation of individual strengths and limitations
  • development and refinement of clinical skills consistent with the SLP Scope of Practice

All Core Speech-Language Pathology graduates intending to apply to ASHA for the Certificate of Clinical Competence should plan to complete a post-graduate Clinical Fellowship experience totaling 1260 hours over a minimum of 36 weeks. In preparation, students should familiarize themselves with ASHA’s requirements and certification process.

Students should be aware that many states require clinical fellows to register with their state licensing agency, obtain a provisional or temporary license or permit, and/or file a clinical fellowship plan. The addresses and phone numbers of the state regulatory agencies are on ASHA's Website. Completing the Clinical Fellowship without also meeting the state requirements may jeopardize one’s ability to practice as a speech-language pathologist.

Students in our Speech-Language Pathology graduate program receive general information about ASHA’s Clinical Fellowship requirement prior to graduation. Through the SPHSC 565 Professional Seminar course, the faculty provides information and instruction regarding resumes, cover letters and interviewing for the Clinical Fellowship. Importantly, students receive specific information about transitioning from graduate school to the working world, including state licensure and credentialing requirements for Clinical Fellowship employment and how to identify an appropriate Clinical Fellowship supervisor.

WA State / Non-School Licensure Requirements

If you are planning to pursue employment, state licensure or certification in any settings outside of Washington State, it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate licensing entity in the state for which you are seeking employment to obtain information and guidance regarding their requirements before beginning an academic program.  Given that state requirements for licensure or certification vary and may change over time, it is also strongly recommended that you review licensing or certification requirements as you get closer to seeking licensure or certification. You are encouraged to review our department's professional licensure disclosures as well as ASHA’s online state licensure requirements website, which summarizes licensure requirements for all states and territories. You are also encouraged to confirm state licensing requirements directly with the state in which you are interested in seeking licensure or certification. You should initiate your research as far in advance as possible to identify and evaluate individual state requirements, fees, and application procedures. It’s critical to first understand the credentialing requirements and costs in another state before accepting an offer of employment.

After Graduation - WA State Licensure Requirements

Non-School Employment Settings

Postgraduate Employment Requirements

  1. Postgraduate Professional Work Experience - The state of WA’s Department of Health (DOH) requires new SLP graduates to complete a 36 week full-time (or part-time equivalent) postgraduate professional work experience, under the supervision of licensed SLP professional.
  2. Clinical Fellowship - New M.S.-SLP graduates seeking ASHA certification must also complete a 36 week, full-time Clinical Fellowship (CF) experience (or its part-time equivalent) in order to receive their Certificate of Clinical Competency (CCCs) from ASHA.

    Students who are set on pursuing a Clinical Fellowship experience in a hospital setting are advised to read this article published by ASHA.

Students can meet both requirements simultaneously in WA. See the DOH’s specific requirements below.

WA State Department of Health (DOH) Credentialing
Speech-Language Pathologist Licensure

Anyone who wishes to work in non-school settings must be credentialed by the DOH and obtain a license. New graduates looking to obtain a CF in a non-school setting will:

  1. Find an employer willing to hire/mentor an SLP Clinical Fellow
  2. Identify a WA state licensed and ASHA certified SLP who will officially mentor, supervise, and evaluate them according to the state’s and ASHA’s requirements.
  3. Apply for temporary credentials in WA under the name/license of their identified clinical mentor.

Qualified applicants for licensure in Speech-Language Pathology can anticipate two levels of licensure during their careers in non-school environments; 1) Interim Permit and 2) License.

  1. Interim Permit – all new graduates hired into postgraduate professional work experiences in non-school settings must first obtain an interim permit from the WA DOH in order to practice clinically. The interim permit period must consist of at least 36 weeks of full-time professional work experience or its part-time equivalent. Interim permits are effective for one year but may be extended upon request. To apply for the Interim Permit students must complete and provide:
    • The name and license # of the WA state licensed professional (and ASHA certified speech-language pathologist) who will supervise your postgraduate professional work experience. This person will also complete the “Professional Reference” and “Acknowledgement of Responsibility forms which are part of your DOH interim permit application.
    • Proof that you have passed the national SLP Praxis Exam.
    • Successful completion of the online Jurisprudence examination; an open book, multiple-choice exam on acts, laws, and regulations for the practice of speech-language pathology in Washington.
    • Official academic transcripts as proof that you completed all coursework for the Master’s/SLP degree. Transcripts must come directly from the UW and show the degree and date of conferral (no unofficial transcripts)
    • Payment of the application fee
    • A DOH Licensure Application
  2. License – Once the 36 week postgraduate professional work experience is complete, SLP professionals can apply for permanent licensure in the state. The SLP license requirements are available on the WA State DOH website.
    Once a license (and ASHA CCCs) are granted, professionals must also meet both WA state’s and ASHA’s requirements for continuing education.

Both entities require a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education across a 3 year maintenance interval.

SPHSC Department / Program Verification Letters for DOH
SLP Interim Permit Facilitation

Each graduating MS student intending to work in a non-school setting will be given a “Program Verification Letter” by the SPHSC department at the end of their program. The letter will be distributed the Wednesday immediately following the last day of the quarter in which any student graduates. The letter attests that the student has completed all the didactic and clinical requirements for the Master of Science degree in speech-language pathology and confirms the degree conferral date.

The letter is a stop-gap measure for students who have secured employment and wish to immediately apply for an interim permit through the DOH, but do not yet have access to their final transcripts from the UW (official transcripts are not typically available until 2-3 weeks following graduation). With the Program Verification Letter, students with secured employment can initiate their interim permit application and then mail DOH their final transcripts once they become available.

Please note: Letters can only be provided once students have completed all their MS degree requirements and grades have been submitted and verified. Please do not request “early” letters, as we cannot provide them. If you secure employment prior to graduation, please realize you are ineligible to obtain an interim permit until you have completed your MS degree. Please be sure your employer knows this.

WA State / School Employment Certification

If you are planning to pursue employment, state licensure or certification in any settings outside of Washington State, it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate licensing entity in the state for which you are seeking employment to obtain information and guidance regarding their requirements before beginning an academic program.  Given that state requirements for licensure or certification vary and may change over time, it is also strongly recommended that you review licensing or certification requirements as you get closer to seeking licensure or certification. You are encouraged to review our department's professional licensure disclosures as well as ASHA’s online state licensure requirements website, which summarizes licensure requirements for all states and territories. You are also encouraged to confirm state licensing requirements directly with the state in which you are interested in seeking licensure or certification. You should initiate your research as far in advance as possible to identify and evaluate individual state requirements, fees, and application procedures. It’s critical to first understand the credentialing requirements and costs in another state before accepting an offer of employment.

After Graduation - WA State Certification Requirements

School Employment Settings

Postgraduate Employment Requirements

  1. Postgraduate Professional Work Experience - OPSI requires new SLP graduates to complete a minimum of 180 days of full-time postgraduate professional work experience, under the supervision of an Educational Staff Associate (ESA) credentialed SLP professional.
  2. Clinical Fellowship - New M.S.-SLP graduates seeking ASHA certification must also complete a 36 week, full-time Clinical Fellowship (CF) experience (or its part-time equivalent) in order to receive their Certificate of Clinical Competency (CCCs) from ASHA.

Students can meet both requirements simultaneously. See OSPI’s specific requirements below.

Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) Credentialing
Educational Staff Associates (ESA) Certification

For School Counselors, Psychologists, Social Workers, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Audiologists.

Anyone who wishes to work in schools must be credentialed by OSPI and obtain an Educational Staff Associate (ESA) certificate. New graduates looking to obtain a CF in a school setting will:

  1. Find an employer willing to hire/mentor an SLP Clinical Fellow
  2. Identify an ESA credentialed (and ASHA certified SLP if pursuing ASHA certification) who will officially mentor, supervise, and evaluate them according to OSPI’s (and ASHA’s) requirements
  3. Apply for temporary ESA credentials in WA

Qualified applicants for an ESA certificate can typically anticipate two levels of certification during their career in the schools; 1) Initial ESA Certificate and 2) Continuing ESA Certificate.

  1. Initial ESA Certificate - this is the first level, regular ESA certificate that the majority of applicants receive in the role of School Speech Language Pathologist. Graduating students will apply for this certificate as they near the end of their final quarter in the program or after graduation, depending on when they secure employment. To apply for your Initial ESA Certificate, students must complete and provide:
    • A completed Initial ESA application
    • Payment of the application & processing fee
    • Completed fingerprinting background check/clearance
    • Academic Transcripts as proof that you completed all coursework for the SLP degree. Provide:
      • An unofficial transcript with your completed coursework and grades recorded AND a program verification letter provided by the department (typically available the Wednesday after finals week) OR
      • An official transcript with degree conferral date
    • Proof that you have taken and received credit for SPHSC 550, a required 30-hour course approved by the Professional Educator Standards Boards. (This will be on your transcript)
    • Proof that you have passed the national SLP Praxis Exam. OSPI cannot receive score reports directly from ETS, so you must provide a copy in your application.
  2. Continuing ESA Certificate - this is the advanced level, regular certificate available in the role of School Speech Language Pathologist. Most applicants receive this certificate after holding an initial certificate and working in the WA schools for at least 180 days of full-time service.

Once a Continuing ESA (and ASHA CCCs as applicable) are granted, professionals must meet both ASHA’s and OSPI’s requirements for continuing education.

  • OSPI requires a minimum of 150 clock hours and/or equivalent academic credit (15 quarter or 10 semester credit hours) over a 5 year maintenance interval.
  • ASHA requires a minimum of 30 hours of continuing education across a 3 year maintenance interval.

Conditional Educational Staff Associates (ESA) Certification

Please be aware that some districts may not be willing to wait for your transcripts/degree completion and your interim permit to be processed. In these situations, some school districts may require graduating students to obtain a Conditional ESA Certificate (instead of an Initial ESA Certificate) if:

  • They will be hired or be under contract prior to receiving their Master’ Degree. OR
  • If there is not enough time to process an Initial ESA application for a graduate before an employment start date.

In this instance, the graduate’s hiring school district would facilitate the application for a Conditional ESA. Once the degree is granted, then the new graduate would move to apply for an Initial ESA. Information on the Conditional ESA Certificate and the application form can be found here. The Conditional ESA Certificate application requires you to submit a Verification of Master's Degree Program Enrollment form (Form 4025E-1). Please complete Section A of Form 4025E-1 and email the form to Student Services so we can complete Section B. 

SPHSC Department / Program Verification Letters for OSPI
SLP Interim ESA Credential Facilitation

Each graduating MS student intending to work in a school setting will be given a “Program Verification Letter” by the SPHSC department at the end of their program. The letter will be distributed the Wednesday immediately following the last day of the quarter in which any student graduates. The letter attests that the student has completed all the didactic and clinical requirements for the Master of Science degree in speech-language pathology (confirming the degree conferral date), including the 3 credit / 30 hour Public School Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology course required by OSPI.

The letter is a stop-gap measure for students who have secured employment and wish to immediately apply for an initial ESA certificate through OSPI, but do not yet have access to their transcripts from the UW with final grades recorded and/or degree posted (official transcripts are not typically available until 2-3 weeks following graduation). With the Program Verification Letter, students with secured employment can initiate their initial ESA application and then mail OSPI their transcripts once they become available.

Please note: Letters can only be provided once students have completed all their MS degree requirements and grades have been submitted and verified. Please do not request “early” letters, as we cannot provide them. If you secure employment prior to graduation, please realize you are ineligible to obtain an Initial ESA credential until you have completed your MS degree. Please be sure your employer knows this.