Logistics · 7 min read
Praxis 5342 Audiology Guide: The Adjacent Exam to the SLP Praxis
The Praxis 5342 is the audiology counterpart to the SLP Praxis. Here's what the exam looks like and why it matters for SLPs.
Cross-checked against the current ETS Praxis 5331 Speech-Language Pathology Test at a Glance and ASHA CCC-SLP standards.
Quick answer
The Praxis 5342 Audiology: Content Knowledge exam is a 120-question, 2-hour test used for audiology licensure. It covers foundations, hearing assessment, hearing disorders, and management. SLPs do not need it for CCC-SLP certification, but understanding its content helps with the audiology section of the 5331.
- 120 selected-response questions, 2 hours
- Covers foundations, assessment, disorders, and intervention
- Not required for the CCC-SLP
- Helps SLPs understand hearing science tested on the 5331
The Praxis 5342, also called the Audiology: Content Knowledge exam, is the sister test to the Praxis 5331 Speech-Language Pathology exam. While most SLPs focus on the 5331, understanding the 5342 helps you make sense of the hearing science questions that appear on your own exam and prepares you for future specialty work.
What is the Praxis 5342?
The Praxis 5342 Audiology: Content Knowledge is an ETS exam used for state audiology licensure and certification by some doctoral programs. It covers the breadth of audiology practice, including anatomy and physiology of the auditory system, hearing assessment, hearing disorders, and intervention.
Who takes it?
The primary audience is AuD students and candidates for state audiology licensure. Some SLPs with dual interests in hearing science, vestibular disorders, or amplification may also sit for it, but the standard CCC-SLP does not require the 5342.
Exam format
- 120 selected-response questions
- 2 hours testing time
- Computer-delivered at test centers or at home through ProctorU
- Scored on a 100-200 scale
As with the 5331, some questions are unscored pretest items mixed among the scored questions.
Content categories
| Category | Approximate focus |
|---|---|
| Foundations of audiology | Anatomy, physiology, physics of sound, ethics |
| Assessment and diagnosis | Pure tone, speech audiometry, immittance, OAEs, ABR, site of lesion |
| Management and intervention | Hearing aids, cochlear implants, aural rehab, vestibular care |
Why SLPs should care about the 5342
You do not need to pass the 5342 to become an SLP, but hearing science makes up a meaningful slice of the Praxis 5331. The better you understand audiology basics, the stronger your 5331 score will be. Cross-training also improves collaboration with audiologists in schools, hospitals, and cochlear implant centers.
Key audiology concepts for SLPs
- Conduction, sensorineural, and mixed hearing loss
- Interpreting the audiogram and speech banana
- Tympanogram types and what they mean
- Otoacoustic emissions and newborn hearing screening
- Hearing aid basics and cochlear implant candidacy
- Aural rehabilitation and communication strategies
How the 5342 differs from the 5331
The 5331 is broader and samples nine practice areas across the lifespan. The 5342 is narrower and deeper, focused entirely on hearing and balance. The 5331 asks about hearing screening and referral; the 5342 asks about diagnostic procedures, amplification, and vestibular assessment.
Study resources
Standard audiology textbooks, ETS study companions, and audiology exam prep courses are the best starting points. If you are an SLP brushing up for the 5331, focus on the assessment and hearing loss chapters rather than the full 5342 breadth.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Praxis 5342?
- The Praxis 5342 Audiology: Content Knowledge is an ETS exam used for audiology licensure and some doctoral program certification. It tests audiology foundations, assessment, disorders, and management.
- Do SLPs need to take the Praxis 5342?
- No. SLPs take the Praxis 5331. The 5342 is for audiologists and AuD students.
- How does the 5342 differ from the 5331?
- The 5331 is broader and covers nine SLP practice areas. The 5342 is focused entirely on hearing, balance, and audiology intervention.
- Why should SLPs study the 5342 content?
- Hearing science appears on the 5331, and SLPs often collaborate with audiologists. Studying the 5342 makes the 5331 hearing section easier.
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