Praxis 5331 vs. Teacher Certification for School SLPs

School-based SLPs often need two credentials that sound like one: a speech-language pathology license and an educator credential. The Praxis 5331 sits under the first. Knowing which agency wants what saves months of paperwork.

Two agencies, two credentials

• State licensure board (health department or an SLP/audiology board): issues the license that makes practice legal. Requires a CAA-accredited master's, a clinical fellowship, and a Praxis 5331 score of 162.
• State department of education: issues the school services credential or teaching certificate that lets a district put you on its payroll as certificated staff. May require its own test, a background clearance, coursework in education law, or nothing extra at all.

Common configurations

1. License only. Some states let districts hire licensed SLPs with no education credential. Simplest path.
2. License plus a services credential. The department of education issues a credential on the strength of your license and a background check.
3. License plus an educator test. The state adds its own assessment — an NES-series test, a state-built exam, or in a few places edTPA — on top of the 5331.
4. Education-route certification. A minority path where the credential comes through teacher preparation; the 5331 is still required for the license and the CCC.

Check both agencies for your state, not just one. Our state-by-state requirements pages list the licensure side; the district HR office will tell you the education side.

Does a teaching certificate replace the Praxis 5331?

No. An education credential authorizes employment in a school. It does not confer the legal scope of practice or the ASHA certification that Medicaid billing, medical PRN work, and interstate moves depend on. Skipping the 5331 to take a state educator test instead locks you into one state and one setting.

Pay implications

Districts often place SLPs on the teacher salary schedule, where lane advancement is driven by degrees and credits rather than clinical credentials — but many pay a stipend for the CCC-SLP, and some pay more for holding the education credential. See school vs. medical SLP salary for how the two tracks compare once duty days and pensions are normalized.

A clean sequence

1. Pass the Praxis 5331 before graduation.
2. Apply for the provisional / CF license immediately — this is what makes you hireable.
3. Start the district credential application in parallel; background checks and fingerprinting are the slow steps.
4. Convert to full licensure and apply for the CCC when your CF finishes.

Bottom line

The Praxis 5331 is the credential that follows you everywhere; the educator certificate is the one that follows the job. Get the exam done first, then chase the local paperwork.