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AR · SLP licensure
Everything it takes to get your speech-language pathology license in Arkansas — 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 Arkansas — 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
The Arkansas board issues both a provisional (Clinical Fellowship) license and a full license after the CF is complete. Arkansas accepts the Praxis 5331 as the required national examination and grants reciprocity to CCC-SLP holders from other states.
Authoritative reference: ASHA state-by-state advocacy page for Arkansas →
The Arkansas SLP market
Arkansas licenses Speech-Language Pathologists through the Arkansas Department of Health, Speech Pathology and Audiology Licensing Board. The state's SLP job market centers on Little Rock, Northwest Arkansas (Fayetteville, Bentonville, Rogers), and Fort Smith, with pronounced shortages in the Arkansas Delta and other rural counties. Arkansas requires the same Praxis 5331 exam and 162 passing score as every other state, with no additional test.
BLS OES, Arkansas statewide (approximate range)
Passing score note: Arkansas accepts the ASHA-set 162 passing score on Praxis 5331. The licensing board does not require a higher or different cut score.
The Speech Pathology and Audiology Licensing Board reviews SLP applications for CAA-accredited graduate work, supervised clinical hours, and a passing Praxis 5331 score. School-based SLPs additionally need a license through the Arkansas Department of Education's Educator Licensure system, which functions as a separate credential from the health department license even though the underlying graduate training is the same.
Because both credentials draw on the same Praxis score and coursework, most Arkansas graduates file both applications around graduation, though the education department's processing can run on a different timeline than the health department's licensing board, so it pays to start both early.
Arkansas issues a temporary or provisional license allowing new graduates to complete the 36-week Clinical Fellowship under a board-licensed supervisor, following ASHA's standard CF structure. Applicants who have passed Praxis 5331 and finished their graduate program can typically start the temporary license process immediately, with the board processing applications within a few weeks of receiving complete documentation.
Given the shortage of supervisors in rural parts of the state, some CF placements in the Delta or rural southern Arkansas rely on supervision arrangements that combine on-site and remote oversight, which the board evaluates case by case to ensure they meet supervision-ratio requirements.
K-12 public schools employ the largest share of Arkansas SLPs, with sizable districts in Little Rock, Fayetteville, Bentonville, and Springdale, alongside hospital systems such as Arkansas Children's and Baptist Health. Northwest Arkansas has grown quickly alongside the region's broader economic expansion, creating new demand in both schools and outpatient pediatric clinics.
Rural counties in the Arkansas Delta and south Arkansas consistently struggle to recruit SLPs, and some districts and rural hospitals offer signing bonuses or loan-assistance incentives. Home-health and skilled-nursing settings are a growing area of demand given the state's older, more rural population outside the Northwest Arkansas corridor.
Arkansas SLP licenses renew annually, with continuing education hours required each cycle and subject to board audit. Acceptable coursework includes ASHA-approved CEUs, relevant university coursework, and approved conference sessions.
SLPs holding the Department of Education school license track a separate renewal cycle through the state's educator licensure system, which does not automatically align with the health department's annual renewal. Arkansas SLPs frequently combine in-state conferences hosted by the Arkansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association with online CEU providers to meet requirements each year.
A partial list of larger CAA-accredited programs. All programs listed prepare graduates to sit for Praxis 5331.
What Praxis score does Arkansas require for SLP licensure?
Arkansas requires the standard ASHA-set passing score of 162 on Praxis 5331, the same as every other state.
Do Arkansas school SLPs need a separate credential from the health department license?
Yes. School-based SLPs need an Educator Licensure credential from the Arkansas Department of Education in addition to the health department's SLP license.
How does the Clinical Fellowship work in Arkansas?
New graduates apply for a temporary license after passing Praxis 5331 and can begin the 36-week CF under a board-licensed supervisor, following the standard ASHA CF structure.
Which parts of Arkansas have the most severe SLP shortages?
The Arkansas Delta and other rural areas in south Arkansas consistently have the hardest time recruiting SLPs, and some employers there offer signing bonuses or loan assistance.
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 Arkansas (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. # Arkansas 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/arkansas-tests.html) - [Required Tests](https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/arkansas-tests.html) - [Overview](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Page-Show?cid=arkansas-overview) ## Licensure requirements [Choose](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.static/-/Library-Sites-ets-praxisLibrary/default/dwe9b415d0/test.pdf) one of these certification approaches for specific testing requirements. Test Requirements Arkansas Qualified Teachers [GO](https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/arkansas-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 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/dwce037ad4/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 Arkansas: - Arkansas: [Certification website](https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/educator-effectiveness/licensure) Other Programs used in Arkansas [Previous](https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/arkansas-tests.html#carousel-c9ce7f471d834f9d8b45f18ee3) ## School Leadership Series Assess your knowledge for certification in school and district leadership [Learn more](https://www.ets.org/sls.html) ## ParaPro Assessment Demonstrate your knowledge and skills for classroom assistance [Learn more](https://www.ets.org/parapro.html) [Next](https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/arkansas-tests.html#carousel-c9ce7f471d834f9d8b45f18ee3) ## Want to compare scores across states? [View scores requirements](https://praxis.ets.org/scores) 