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AL · SLP licensure
Everything it takes to get your speech-language pathology license in Alabama — the licensing board and application steps, the required Praxis 5331 exam and its 162 passing score, the Clinical Fellowship, fees, and renewal rules.
Required Praxis test
Praxis 5331 — Speech-Language Pathology
Passing score
162 (out of 200)
Format
132 multiple-choice questions · 150 minutes · computer-based
Registration
Register through ETS · $146 test fee · offered year-round
Every US state — including Alabama — accepts the Praxis 5331 at the ASHA-set 162 cut score for SLP licensure. There is no separate state-specific SLP Praxis exam.
Licensing board
Alabama licenses SLPs through ABESPA and honors the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) as the primary pathway. Candidates typically apply for a full license after completing the Clinical Fellowship and passing the Praxis 5331 at 162 or higher.
Authoritative reference: ASHA state-by-state advocacy page for Alabama →
The Alabama SLP market
Alabama licenses Speech-Language Pathologists through the Alabama Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (BESLPA), a small board that processes applications relatively quickly compared to larger states. Alabama's SLP market is concentrated around Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile, with steady rural demand in the Black Belt region and along the Wiregrass. Praxis 5331 at the ASHA-set 162 cut score is the exam every Alabama SLP candidate must pass, and the state does not layer on any additional exam requirement.
BLS OES, Alabama statewide (approximate range)
Passing score note: Alabama accepts the standard ASHA 162 passing score on Praxis 5331. BESLPA does not require a higher or state-specific cut score.
BESLPA issues the state SLP license after review of your CAA-accredited transcript, supervised clinical hours, and Praxis 5331 score. Working in an Alabama K-12 public school additionally requires a Class B or A Professional Educator Certificate in Speech-Language Pathology through the Alabama State Department of Education, which is a separate application from the BESLPA license even though both rely on the same graduate coursework.
The 162 Praxis 5331 score satisfies the exam requirement for both the BESLPA license and the state education certificate — you don't sit for a second test. Most candidates apply for both credentials around the same time so school employment isn't delayed by a missing piece of paperwork.
Alabama issues a temporary license that allows a new graduate to begin the 36-week Clinical Fellowship (CF) under a BESLPA-licensed supervisor immediately after passing Praxis 5331 and completing the graduate program. The supervision ratio and reporting requirements mirror ASHA's CF standards, so a CF completed in Alabama also satisfies ASHA certification requirements.
BESLPA reviews the temporary license application within a few weeks of receiving transcripts, Praxis scores, and fingerprint clearance, and most CFs starting in Alabama do not experience long gaps between graduation and their first paycheck. Once the CF year and CF-2 form are complete, the temporary license converts to a full, unrestricted license.
The majority of Alabama SLPs work in K-12 public schools, particularly in the Birmingham City, Huntsville City, and Mobile County school systems, with additional demand from hospital systems like UAB Medicine and Huntsville Hospital. Rural counties across the Black Belt frequently struggle to fill SLP positions and often advertise loan-repayment or stipend incentives to attract candidates.
Outside of schools, home-health and skilled-nursing settings are growing quickly given Alabama's aging rural population, and private outpatient pediatric clinics in the Birmingham metro area hire steadily for early-intervention and articulation caseloads. Bilingual Spanish-speaking SLPs are in short supply statewide, especially in Huntsville's growing immigrant community.
BESLPA licenses renew biennially, and license holders must complete continuing education hours during each renewal cycle, tracked through documentation the board can request during audit. Coursework must be relevant to speech-language pathology practice and can include ASHA-approved CEUs, university coursework, or approved conference sessions.
SLPs who also hold the Alabama teaching certificate must separately track renewal requirements through the State Department of Education, which follows its own certificate-renewal cycle distinct from BESLPA's. Keeping both credentials on the same personal renewal calendar avoids the common mistake of letting one lapse while the other stays current.
A partial list of larger CAA-accredited programs. All programs listed prepare graduates to sit for Praxis 5331.
What Praxis score does Alabama require for SLP licensure?
Alabama requires the standard ASHA-set passing score of 162 on Praxis 5331. There is no separate Alabama-specific SLP exam.
Do Alabama school SLPs need a teaching certificate in addition to the BESLPA license?
Yes. Working in an Alabama public school requires a Professional Educator Certificate in Speech-Language Pathology from the State Department of Education on top of the BESLPA license, though both use the same graduate coursework and Praxis score.
Can I start my Clinical Fellowship in Alabama right after graduating?
Yes, once you pass Praxis 5331 and BESLPA issues your temporary license, you can begin the supervised CF year immediately under a BESLPA-licensed CCC-SLP supervisor.
Which Alabama cities have the strongest SLP job markets?
Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile have the deepest job markets, while rural Black Belt and Wiregrass counties often carry unfilled openings with added incentives.
Earn a master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology
Complete a graduate program accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) — the near-universal requirement across US jurisdictions.
Pass the Praxis 5331 with a score of 162 or higher
The Speech-Language Pathology Praxis (5331) is the single national exam accepted by all state boards. 162 is the ASHA-set passing score and every state uses that same cut score.
Complete a Clinical Fellowship (CF)
A 36-week (9-month full-time equivalent) mentored clinical experience under a licensed CCC-SLP. Some states use their own name for it (California calls it the RPE) but the requirement is functionally equivalent.
Submit fingerprints and a background check
Standard across all state boards. Processing typically takes 2–6 weeks and must be completed before the license is issued.
Apply to the state licensing board
Send your Praxis score (ETS score report), transcripts, CF verification, and background clearance to the state board. Some states also require a jurisprudence exam on state SLP practice law.
For the complete list of Praxis tests accepted in Alabama (including elementary, secondary, and content-area exams), see the official ETS state page.
** New Elementary Education Fundamentals Tests:** Buy any 3 Elementary Education Fundamentals tests (8002–8005) in a single order for $149.49 (save $87), or 4 in a single order for $199.52 (save $116). Discount applied in cart. # Alabama Certifying State or National Agency Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Alberta College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists American Speech-Language-Hearing Association College of Health and Care Professionals of British Columbia Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) National Association of School Psychologists Educator Preparation Program Requirement [GO](https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/alabama-tests.html) - [Required Tests](https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/alabama-tests.html) - [Overview](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Page-Show?cid=alabama-overview) ## Licensure requirements Choose one of these certification approaches for specific testing requirements. Foreign Credentials Approach Additional Teaching Field (CBT) Approach Alabama Educator Preparation Program Approach (TEP) Interim Employment Certificate (IEC) Approach Provisional Certificate in a Teaching Field (PCTF) Approach Conditional Certificate in a Teaching Field (CCTF) Career and Technical Certificate to Professional Educator Certificate Approach (CTC to PEC) Provisional Certificate in Library Media and School Counseling (PCLS) and the Business and Industry to Educational Administrator (BIEA) Approaches Temporary Special Education Certificate (TSEC) Approach Licensure Approach Early Childhood Development Approach Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) Accredited School Counseling Program Military Veterans Temporary Teaching Certificate (MTV) Approach [GO](https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/alabama-tests.html)  Select an approach to find the specific testing requirements Find your certification area below to determine which test(s) you need to take. For test preparation materials, select the “View test details” link. If you are ready to register, you may add up to 4 tests to your cart before continuing on to scheduling. ### Tests required for all licensure areas ### Tests required for specific certification areas ### See also links to other Praxis web pages and resources - [The Praxis® Tests Information Bulletin (PDF)](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-ets-praxisLibrary/default/dw4d1182d7/pdfs/praxis-information-bulletin.pdf) - [Find Tests & Prep](https://praxis.ets.org/storehome.html) - [Schedule Your Test](https://praxis.ets.org/test-taker/register-process.html) - [Accommodations for Test Takers with Disabilities or Health-related Needs](https://praxis.ets.org/test-takers/disability-accommodations.html) - [Need Assistance](https://praxis.ets.org/contact.html)  For more information about educator requirements in Alabama: - Alabama: [Certification website](https://www.alabamaachieves.org/teacher-center/teacher-certification/) ## Want to compare scores across states? [View scores requirements](https://praxis.ets.org/scores)   Anita     Need Praxis Help? **Hi, I'm Anita your virtual assistant**. How can I help you today?   Email FormClose