Pillar · 7 min read
What Is the Praxis 5331? The SLP Certification Exam Explained
The Praxis 5331 is the single licensure exam standing between you and your CCC-SLP. Here's exactly what it is, who takes it, and how ETS structures the test.
Cross-checked against the current ETS Praxis 5331 Speech-Language Pathology Test at a Glance and ASHA CCC-SLP standards.
Quick answer
The Praxis 5331 is ETS's Speech-Language Pathology exam: 132 selected-response questions in 150 minutes, scored 100-200, with a passing score of 162. Every US state licensure board and the ASHA CCC-SLP require it, and it covers foundations, screening/assessment/diagnosis, planning/treatment, and professional practice.
- 132 questions, 2 hours 30 minutes, computer-delivered
- Passing score is 162 in all 50 states and for ASHA CCC-SLP
- Four content categories, weighted roughly 33% / 33% / 24% / 10%
If you're a graduate student in speech-language pathology, the Praxis 5331 isn't optional — it's the single national exam that ETS administers on behalf of ASHA to prove you have the entry-level clinical knowledge to practice as an SLP. Pass it, and you've cleared the largest single hurdle between your degree and your CCC-SLP credential. Fail it, and your clinical fellowship clock can't even start.
What "Praxis 5331" actually refers to
"Praxis" is a family of teacher and clinician licensure exams produced by ETS. The 4-digit code is what matters: 5331 is the Speech-Language Pathology subject assessment. It is completely separate from the Praxis Core (general academic skills) and from the dozens of K-12 teacher certification subject tests like Elementary Education (5001) or English (5039). If you're an SLP candidate, you only ever need to take 5331.
Who has to take it
- Anyone pursuing the ASHA CCC-SLP. ASHA requires a passing score on the 5331 before they'll award certification.
- Most state licensure boards. Nearly every U.S. state uses the 5331 as part of its SLP licensure requirements, often with the same passing score ASHA uses.
- Many school districts. Even if your state has its own additional requirements, public school SLP positions almost always require Praxis 5331 documentation.
Test format at a glance
- 132 selected-response questions — multiple choice, multiple answer, drag-and-drop, and a small number of audio/video stimulus items.
- 2 hours and 30 minutes total testing time.
- Computer-delivered at a Prometric test center or via at-home proctoring.
- Score scale of 100 to 200, with a passing score of 162 required by ASHA.
What the 5331 actually tests
ETS organizes the question bank into three weighted content categories:
- Foundations and Professional Practice (~44 questions) — anatomy, development, research methods, ethics, scope of practice.
- Screening, Assessment, Evaluation, and Diagnosis (~44 questions) — standardized testing, dynamic assessment, differential diagnosis across the lifespan.
- Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation of Treatment (~44 questions) — evidence-based intervention for speech, language, fluency, voice, swallowing, and AAC.
How it differs from the Praxis Core
This trips up new candidates constantly: the Praxis Core (tests 5713, 5723, 5733) is a basic academic-skills exam for prospective K-12 teachers. It tests reading, writing, and math at roughly a college-entrance level. It has nothing to do with SLP licensure. As an SLP, you do not need to take the Core. You need to take 5331.
The bottom line
The Praxis 5331 is the entry door to your SLP career. It's broad, it's clinically oriented, and it expects you to function as a brand-new clinician on day one — which means dysphagia, AAC, voice, and adult neurogenic disorders show up whether your program emphasized them or not. The good news: it's a known quantity. Once you know the structure, the rest is study planning. Start with our full content-area breakdown, then get an honest read on how hard the 5331 actually is.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the Praxis 5331?
- The Praxis 5331 is the ETS Speech-Language Pathology licensure exam. It has 132 selected-response questions delivered in 150 minutes and is required for ASHA CCC-SLP certification and state SLP licensure.
- Who has to take the Praxis 5331?
- Anyone seeking ASHA CCC-SLP certification or a state SLP license. Most candidates take it during their final year of a master's program or during the clinical fellowship.
- What score do I need on the Praxis 5331?
- 162 on the 100-200 scale. ASHA and every state board use the same cut score.
- Is the Praxis 5331 the same as the SLP Praxis exam?
- Yes. 'SLP Praxis,' 'Praxis II SLP,' and 'Praxis 5331' all refer to the same ETS Speech-Language Pathology test code 5331.
Keep reading
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The 2-page high-yield PDF top-scorers actually use — cranial nerves, aphasia matrix, dysphagia stages, dysarthrias, and Brown's morphemes. Instant download.
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