California Speech Pathology License

Working with a speech pathologist and want to confirm their credentials? Or do you plan to become one and want to know the requirements? In either case, learning a bit about a California speech-language pathology license can be helpful.

How Do I Get an SLP License in California?

To get an SLP license in California, you must meet several requirements, including having your fingerprints taken. You must have a Master’s degree or an equivalent degree in speech-language pathology. You also must complete 300 hours of clinical practice that are supervised and in three clinical settings.

You then need to have either 36 weeks full-time or double that (72 weeks) with part-time Required Professional Experience (RPE). To complete that experience, you will need an RPE temporary license.

You will also need to take the national speech-language pathology test that is part of the Educational Testing Service Praxis Series. Your results must be from within the past five years, and you need to score a 162 or better.

How Do I Transfer My SLP to Another State?

If you were previously licensed in another state and want to transfer your SLP license to California, there is an application option. You will still need to submit your degree, transcripts, clinical practicum, and exam results. You can also expect to submit a copy of your license from the other state in question.

How Do I Become a Certified SLPA?

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association offers a Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) Certificate. This requires clinical fieldwork experience of at least 100 hours. It also requires an hour course in each patient’s confidentiality, universal safety precautions, and ethics. You may also need to complete online education modules from ASHA. You will then have to pass the C-SLPA exam with a score of at least 162.

California also outlines the requirements for this certification. You need a sciences or associate’s degree from an accredited speech-language pathology assistant program. You will also need at least 70 hours of clinical or fieldwork experience. A bachelor’s degree is also acceptable.

How Do I Check Counseling Credentials?

You can check counseling credentials by using a lookup service for counselors or therapists, such as the counselor verify system from the National Board for Certified Counselors. You can also ask your counselor for their credentials or check with the California state board.

How Do I Verify a Nursing License in California?

You can easily verify a nursing license in California with a nursing license lookup, such as the official one from the California Board of Registered Nursing.

How Do I Get My SLP License in Another State?

The route to getting your speech-language pathology license will depend on which state you are in. Each state has its requirements, but you can expect them to be very similar to California. You typically have to complete educational requirements, pass a test, and accumulate experience.

Remember that if you already have a license in another state, you can apply for a California speech-language pathology license with fewer requirements than new applicants face.