How to Apply for a New Speech-Language Pathology License
If you currently hold a valid intern in speech-language pathology license, please see the Intern Upgrade to Speech-Language Pathologist License page.
Application and Fee
To apply for a new speech-language pathology license, submit the online application along with the $150 application fee (includes two-year initial license) and required documents.
You will have one year from the date the application was submitted to complete all licensing requirements. If you have not met all licensing requirements within the one-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 with a major in communicative sciences or disorders. This degree must be completed at a college or university with a program accredited by a national organization that is both approved by the Department and recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. §1001, et seq.).
Transcripts
A copy of the transcript(s), which shows all relevant course work, and which shows the applicant possesses a minimum of a master's degree with a major in one of the areas of communicative sciences or disorders. Electronic transcript(s) will be accepted if sent from the university’s secure site to cs.transcript@tdlr.texas.gov.
Foreign Universities
If you graduated from a foreign university or your transcript is in a language other than English, you must submit an evaluation from an ASHA-approved transcript evaluation service with your application.
The evaluation must confirm that your degree is equivalent to a master’s degree or higher, with a major in a communicative sciences and disorders field.
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, a verification from ASHA must be included with your application, stating the Council for Clinical Certification has accepted the coursework and clinical experience.
Degrees Earned More than 10 Years Ago
If the master’s 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: completing 10 hours of continuing education or other courses in the last year; holding a current license in another state; or taking and passing the written examination in the last year.
Master's Degree in Audiology
An applicant who possesses a master's 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 which has a program accredited by a national accrediting organization that is approved by the department and recognized by the United States Secretary of Education under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. §1001, et seq.)stating that the individual completed enough hours to establish a graduate-level major in speech-language pathology.
Clinical Experience Requirements
An applicant must have completed at least 25 clock hours of supervised observation before completing the following hours of supervised clinical direct client contact, which may be referred to as clinical practicum, with individuals who present a variety of communication disorders within an educational institution or in one of its cooperating programs:
- 275 clock hours if the master's degree was earned prior to November 10, 1993; or
- 350 clock hours if the master's degree was earned between November 10, 1993 and December 31, 2004; or
- 400 clock hours if the master's degree was earned on or after January 1, 2005
Internship Requirements
A Report of Completed Speech-Language Pathology Internship Form (PDF) must be completed by your supervisor and signed by both you and your supervisor, indicating that all requirements of the internship have been completed. The form must be submitted within 30 days of completion of the internship.
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.
Out-of-State Internships
If the internship was completed out of state, you must submit a copy of the supervisor’s valid license to practice in that state.
If the state where the internship was completed does not require licensure, you must instead submit a letter from ASHA verifying that the supervisor held the Certificate of Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) at the time the internship was completed.
Examination Requirements
Applicants must pass both the national Praxis Exam as well as the Texas Jurisprudence Examination. Please see the Exam Information page for more details on how to register for these exams.
ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence
The department may waive the internship and written examination (Praxis) requirements for applicants who currently hold or have previously held the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC).
Applicants must submit verification from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) confirming current or previous certification. This certification demonstrates that the applicant has met the education, experience, and examination requirements.
If the ASHA CCC has expired, you must submit proof of current knowledge. This may include completing at least 10 hours of continuing education within the past year, completing relevant coursework, or holding a current license in another state.
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 or a Texas intern in speech-language pathology 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.
Dual Licensure in Audiology
Dual licensure means that an individual is licensed to practice as both a speech-language pathologist and as an audiologist. The speech-language pathologist and audiologist licenses are separate license types, and they will each require separate applications.
Please see the How to Apply for a New Audiology License page for complete details on how to apply.
