Welcome to the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board

Right Column

Licensing

Processing time for all applications is 5 weeks.

LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

Individuals wishing to practice speech-language pathology or audiology in the state of California must obtain a license from the Board.

To be eligible for licensure, the applicant shall possess all of the following qualifications:

  • Possess a master's degree or equivalent in speech-language pathology or audiology from an educational institution approved by the Board.
  • Submit transcripts from an educational institution approved by the Board evidencing the successful completion of at least 60 semester units of courses related to the normal development, function, and use of speech, hearing, and language (at least 24 of the required units shall be related to disorders.)
  • Complete 300 hours of supervised clinical practice in three different clinical settings.
  • Complete either thirty-six (36) weeks of full-time supervised experience or seventy-two (72) weeks of part-time supervised experience.
  • Take and pass with a minimum score of 600 the National Examination in Speech-Language Pathology or Audiology administered by the Educational Testing Service

EXAMINATION INFORMATION

The Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board has authorized the Praxis Series Specialty Area Tests in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology as satisfying the California requirement of examination for licensure in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, respectively.

Per Chapter 13.4, Section 1399.152.3 of the Board's regulations, the exam taken to qualify for licensure must not be more than five years old. The minimum acceptable score is 600.

For further information pertaining to examination dates and locations or to obtain a bulletin containing the examination information, call or write:

The Praxis Series
Educational Testing Service
P. O. Box 6051
Princeton, NJ 08541-6051
(609) 771-7395

Be sure to authorize ETS to report your test score to the following address, using Report Code R8544:

Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board
2005 Evergreen, Suite 2100
Sacramento, CA 95815

PREPARATION FOR NATIONAL EXAM

There are resources available to help you prepare for the taking the National Examination. Contact ETS at (800) 537-3161 or on-line @ www.ets.org/praxis to request a copy of "HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE N*E*S*P*A."

**********

A study guide is available from the Praxis Series by calling (800) 537-3161.

INFORMATION COLLECTION AND ACCESS

The Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board's Executive Officer is the person who is responsible for information maintenance. Section 2532 of the Business and Professions Code is the authority which authorizes the maintenance of the information. All information is mandatory. Failure to provide any mandatory information will result in the application being rejected as incomplete. The information provided will be used to determine qualification for licensure. Each individual has the right to review his or her file maintained by the agency subject to the provisions of the California Public Records Act.

REPORTING OF SUSPECTED INSTANCE OF CHILD ABUSE

Section 11166 of the Penal Code requires any child care custodian, medical practitioner, non-medical practitioner, or employee of a child protective agency who has knowledge of or observes a child in his or her professional capacity or within the scope of his or her employment whom he or she knows or reasonably suspects has been the victim of child abuse to report the known or suspected instance of child abuse to a child protective agency immediately or as soon as practically possible by telephone and to prepare and send a written report thereof within 36 hours of receiving the information concerning the incident.

"Child care custodian" includes teachers, administrative officers, supervisors of child welfare and attendance, or certificated pupil personnel employees of any public or private school; administrators of a public or private day camp; licensed day care workers; administrators of community care facilities licensed to care for children; Head Start teachers; licensing workers or licensing evaluators; public assistance workers; employees of a child care institution including, but not limited to, foster parents, group home personnel, and personnel of residential care facilities; and social workers or probation officers.

"Medical practitioner" includes physicians and surgeons, psychiatrists, psychologists, dentists, residents, interns, podiatrists, chiropractors, licensed nurses, dental hygienists, or any other person who is licensed under Division 2 (Commencing with Section 500) of the Business and Professions Code.

"Non-medical practitioner" includes state or county public health employees who treat minors for venereal disease or any other condition; coroners; paramedics; marriage, family or child counselors; and religious practitioners who diagnose, examine or treat children.

Failure to comply with the requirements of Section 11166 of the Penal Code is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail or by a fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by both.

SOCIAL SECURITY DISCLOSURE NOTICE

Disclosure of your Social Security Number (SSN) is mandatory. Section 30 of the Business and Professions Code and Public Law 94-455 (42 USCA 405 (c) (2) C)) authorize collection of your SSN. Your SSN will be used exclusively for tax enforcement purposes, for purposes of compliance with any judgment or order for family support in accordance with Section 11350.6 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, or for verification of licensure or examination status by a licensing or examination entity which utilizes a national examination and where licensure is reciprocal with the requesting state. If you fail to disclose your SSN, you will be reported to the Franchise Tax Board, which may assess a $100 penalty against you.

FEE SCHEDULE

  • Non-refundable application processing fee - $ 35.00
  • License Application fee - $ 25.00
  • Fingerprint fees:
    Department of Justice - $ 32.00
    Federal Bureau of Investigation - $ 19.00
  • Renewal fee - $110.00
  • Delinquency fee - $ 25.00
  • Aide registration fee - $ 10.00
  • Replacement wall license - $ 25.00
  • Replacement renewal license - $ 25.00
  • Temporary License fee - $ 30.00
  • Continuing Professional Development Provider - $200.00
  • Non-refundable SLP Assistant Registration Fee - $ 50.00
  • SLP Assistant renewal fee - $ 75.00
  • Letter of Good Standing - $ 10.00

Forms and Applications

The following manuals, forms and checklists relating to licensure are presented in Adobe Acrobat format to maintain compatible display and print capability on all computer platforms, they require the most current version of Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view properly.