The six steps to become a speech pathologist
All states require speech-language pathologists to be licensed, and most licenses and school-district jobs follow ASHA's Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) requirements.[ooh_slp][asha_ccc]
- Earn a bachelor's degree. Check the prerequisite courses each program lists; programs are competitive: ASHA counted 52,830 applications to SLP master's programs in 2024–25.[asha_survey]
- Complete a CAA-accredited master's. ASHA requires a master's, doctoral or other recognized post-baccalaureate degree, and at least 325 of the 400 clinical hours must be earned in a CAA-accredited graduate program.[asha_ccc]
- Log 400 supervised clinical clock hours. Twenty-five of them are guided observation and at least 250 must be in-person direct client contact.[asha_ccc]
- Pass the national SLP exam. The ETS Praxis 5331 costs $146 through December 26, 2026; from January 11, 2027 the exam moves to PSI. The passing score stays at 162.[ets_praxis][asha_exam]
- Complete the Clinical Fellowship. At least 36 weeks of full-time (35 h/week) mentored work, a minimum of 1,260 hours.[asha_ccc]
- Apply for the CCC-SLP and a state license. ASHA's application costs $490 with membership or $446 without; each state board sets its own license fee.[asha_fee][ooh_slp]
| Step | Requirement | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate degree | Master’s from a CAA-accredited program; at least 325 of the 400 clinical hours earned in it | Program tuition |
| National exam | Praxis 5331 (ETS) through Dec 26, 2026; PSI exam from Jan 11, 2027; passing score 162 | $146 (ETS) |
| Clinical Fellowship | 36 weeks full time (35 h/week), at least 1,260 hours, mentored | — |
| ASHA CCC-SLP | Application after the fellowship | $490 with ASHA membership, $446 without |
| State license | All states license SLPs; rules and fees vary by board | Varies by state |
How many years it takes to become a speech pathologist
About seven years: four for the bachelor's, about two for the master's, and roughly nine months or more for the Clinical Fellowship.[asha_ccc][ooh_slp] A master's at Fort Hays State University is 54 credits and at Idaho State about 60.[s_fhsu_slp][s_isu_slp]
| Stage | Typical length | What you finish with |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | About 4 years | Graduate program eligibility |
| SLP master’s (CAA) | About 2 years (54–60 credits) | 400 clinical hours, exam eligibility |
| National exam | Weeks | Score of 162 or higher |
| Clinical Fellowship | At least 36 weeks full time | CCC-SLP eligibility |
| State license | Varies by board | License to practice |
What SLP graduate school costs
Tuition varies more than fivefold among public programs. Fort Hays State charges Kansas residents about $19,587 in tuition for its 54-credit master's, while Idaho State's campus rate of $859 a credit comes to about $51,540 for 60 credits.[s_fhsu_slp][s_isu_slp] SLP is not on the federal professional-degree list, so graduate loans are capped at $20,500 a year and $100,000 in total since July 2026.[fr_therapy] Admission rates, program counts and a debt-to-salary calculator for SLP students are on speech pathology graduate programs; pay by state is on speech pathologist salary.
Licensing across state lines
The Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact has been enacted by 37 jurisdictions, and practitioners licensed in Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and West Virginia can already register for compact privileges.[aslp] Elsewhere, apply to each state board where you will practice; all states license SLPs.[ooh_slp]
What speech pathologists earn
New SLPs usually start near $62,900 to $77,730 (10th to 25th percentile), or $30.24 to $37.37 an hour, against a median of $97,870.[onet_slp] BLS counted 183,390 SLP jobs in May 2025 and projects 17% growth from 2025 to 2035. California pays the most ($118,970 median).[oews_api][ooh_slp][onet_slp] Other therapy careers and their paths are on therapist salary and how to become an occupational therapist.
Frequently asked questions
How many years does it take to become a speech pathologist?
About seven: a four-year bachelor’s, a roughly two-year master’s, then a Clinical Fellowship of at least 36 weeks full time.
What score do you need on the Praxis SLP exam?
162, for ASHA certification. The ETS Praxis 5331 costs $146 through December 26, 2026; from January 11, 2027 the exam is given by PSI with the same passing score.
How many clinical hours do speech pathologists need?
400 supervised clinical clock hours, including 25 hours of guided observation; at least 325 must be earned in graduate school.
Can you become a speech pathologist with a bachelor’s degree?
No. ASHA certification and state licenses require a master’s or other recognized post-baccalaureate degree.
Sources
- Occupational Outlook Handbook: Speech-Language Pathologists
- 2020 Standards for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology
- Apply for SLP certification (application fees $490 / $446)
- Speech-Language Pathology (5331) test page ($146)
- National examination in speech-language pathology (ETS through Dec 26, 2026; PSI from Jan 11, 2027) and passing score 162
- CSD Education Survey 2024-25: Data at a Glance (SLP master’s programs, applications, enrollment)
- Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact: status and privilege registration
- MS Speech-Language Pathology graduate tuition breakdown 2026-27 (54 credits, $19,587.42 resident)
- MS in SLP program costs ($859 per credit, about 60 credits)
- Federal Student Loan Program Final Regulations: professional degree list and preamble on PT, OT, SLP and audiology (91 FR 23768)
- Local Wages: 29-1127.00 Speech-Language Pathologists (state and metro percentiles)
- OEWS May 2025 employment and median wage series (OEUN/OEUS), Public Data API v2