How to Apply for a New Intern in Speech-Language Pathology License

The purpose of an intern in speech-language pathology license is to complete the necessary supervised professional experience requirements to obtain a speech-language pathology license.

Application and Fee

To apply for a new intern in speech-language pathology license, submit the online application along with the $75 application fee (includes one-year initial license).

You will have 1 year from the date the application was submitted to complete all licensing requirements. If you have not met all licensing requirements within the 1 year period, you will be required to submit a new application and all required materials in addition to paying a new application fee.

Educational Requirements

You must hold a master's degree (or higher) from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the areas of communicative sciences or disorders to apply for an intern in speech-language pathology license.

You must submit an original or certified copy of your transcript or the Course Work and Clinical Experience form with your application. The transcript cannot be faxed. Electronic transcript(s) will be accepted if sent from the university’s secure site to cs.transcript@tdlr.texas.gov. We do not accept electronic transcripts from the applicant.

If an applicant is applying before their master’s degree is conferred, the applicant must submit an Intern in Speech-Language Pathology Course Work and Clinical Experience Form. The Intern in Speech-Language Pathology Course Work and Clinical Experience Form (PDF) must be completed by the university program director or designee, which verifies the applicant has met all academic and clinical requirements for the graduate degree.

If the masters degree was earned more than 10 years ago, you must submit proof Of current knowledge the practice speech-language pathology. Proof of current knowledge may include: recently completing continuing education or other courses; holding a current license in another state; holding a current ASHA certification; or retaking and passing the written examination.

Non-Accredited Colleges or Universities

If you graduated from a college or university with a program that was not accredited by the ASHA Council on Academic Accreditation, an original signed letter from ASHA must be included with your application, stating the Council for Clinical Certification has accepted the coursework and clinical experience.

Foreign Universities

If you graduated from a foreign university or have a transcript in a language other than English, an original evaluation form from an approved transcript evaluation service must be submitted with your application. The transcript evaluation service must determine that your degree is a master’s degree or higher with a major in one of the areas of communicative sciences or disorders.

Graduate Degree in Audiology

An applicant who possesses a graduate degree with a major in audiology and is pursuing a license in speech-language pathology may apply if TDLR has an original transcript showing completion of a master's degree with a major in audiology on file and a letter from the program director or designee of the college or university stating that the individual completed enough hours to establish a graduate-level major in speech-language pathology and would meet the academic and clinical experience requirements for a license as a speech-language pathologist.

Supervisory Requirements

An intern in speech-language pathology must work with a licensed speech-language pathologist who agrees to assume responsibility for all services provided by the intern.

Internship Supervision

An applicant for an intern in speech-language pathology license must submit a Speech-Language Pathology Intern Plan and Agreement of Supervision Form (PDF) which is completed by the supervisor and signed by both the applicant and the supervisor. The internship cannot begin until the intern license has been issued and the intern is listed on the supervisor's license.

Internships must consist of at least 36 weeks of full-time (35 hours per week) supervised professional experience (or its part-time equivalent of supervised professional experience) totaling a minimum of 1,260 hours. Part-time work can be completed, as long as the intern works no less than 5 hours per week. Working more than 35 hours per week will not shorten the minimum requirement of 36 weeks.

• The internship shall primarily consist of clinical activities such as assessment, diagnosis, evaluation, screening, treatment, report writing, family/client consultation, and/or counseling related to the management process of individuals who exhibit communication disabilities
• The Internship shall be divided into three segments with no fewer than 36 clock hours of supervisory activities, including 6 hours per segment of direct supervision of the intern’s contact with clients and 6 hours per segment of indirect supervision.

Your supervisor must have at least two years of professional experience in providing direct client services, which may include an internship year (clinical fellowship) year. Your supervisor may not supervise more than a total of four interns and/or assistants at one time, and they must not be your parent or child.

If multiple supervisors will share responsibility for the intern, each supervisor must complete and sign a separate Speech-Language Pathology Intern Plan and Agreement of Supervision Form (PDF).

Add, Delete, or Change Internship Supervisor

Submit a completed Report of Completed Internship Form to TDLR within 30 days of terminated supervision. Both the intern and supervisor must complete and sign this form. The Report of Completed Internship Form must be completed for each portion of the internship completed under a supervisor. If no hours were earned under a supervisor, a signed statement must be submitted to TDLR stating that no hours were earned.

If you are continuing your internship under a new supervisor, your new proposed supervisor must submit a new Intern Plan and Agreement of Supervision form, using either the online system or the Speech-Language Pathology Intern Plan and Agreement of Supervision Form (PDF). Supervisors must be approved by the department prior to supervising interns.

Examination Requirements

Applicants must provide proof of successfully completing the Texas Jurisprudence Examination when submitting an application.

Clinical Fellowship

In order to complete the required 36-week internship in Texas, an Intern in Speech-Language Pathology license is required. An intern may pursue the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Clinical Fellowship Year (ASHA CFY) simultaneously however, approval from ASHA to begin the CFY is not a license to practice in Texas.

Criminal History Evaluation

All new applicants must submit fingerprints for a national criminal history record review. Once your completed application is received by TDLR, instructions on how to schedule an appointment to be fingerprinted will be emailed to you. If you previously submitted fingerprints for a Texas speech-language pathology assistant license, you do not need to submit fingerprints again.

Having a criminal conviction does not necessarily disqualify you from licensure. Texas allows you to have your criminal history evaluated before submitting your application and non-refundable fees. Please see Guidelines for License Applicants with Criminal Convictions for further information.

Upgrade to Speech-Language Pathologist

Interns in speech-language pathology are eligible to upgrade their license type to speech-language pathologist when they have met the 1,260-hour internship requirement and passed the Praxis exam.

Please see the Intern Upgrade to Speech-Language Pathologist License page for complete details on the application process.