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CA · SLP licensure
Everything you need to pass the California Praxis test and become a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist in California — the exam (Praxis 5331), the passing score, the Clinical Fellowship, and the state-specific licensing board.
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 California — 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
California uses the Required Professional Experience (RPE) rather than ASHA's Clinical Fellowship term, but the Praxis 5331 at 162 satisfies the state exam requirement. School-based SLPs additionally hold the CTC Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential issued by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
Authoritative reference: ASHA state-by-state advocacy page for California →
The California SLP market
California is the largest SLP job market in the country, with more than 18,000 licensed Speech-Language Pathologists working across schools, hospitals, private practice, and skilled nursing facilities. Because the state has its own credentialing wrinkles (RPE instead of ASHA's Clinical Fellowship, a separate school-services credential through the CTC), California candidates need to plan the licensure sequence a little more carefully than in most states — but the Praxis 5331 requirement is the same.
BLS OES May 2024, California statewide
Passing score note: California accepts the ASHA-set 162 passing score on Praxis 5331. The state board does not use a higher cut score, and there is no California-specific version of the exam.
California uses the Required Professional Experience (RPE) — a 36-week, full-time mentored clinical experience under a California-licensed SLP. The hour count, supervision ratio, and outcome expectations mirror the ASHA CF, and completing an RPE that also meets ASHA's CF standards counts for both. Most new grads plan their placement so it satisfies both at once.
If you complete an ASHA CF in another state and then move to California, the SLPAHADB will accept it toward the RPE requirement as long as the documentation matches California's supervision format. Save your CF-2 form and your supervisor's ASHA number — California will ask for both.
California is one of a small number of states where school-based SLPs need a separate credential on top of the state license. The Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) issues the Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential, which is required to work in K-12 public schools.
The 162 Praxis 5331 satisfies the exam requirement for both the SLPAHADB license and the CTC credential — you don't take a separate test. But you do file two applications and pay two sets of fees. Budget an extra 6-8 weeks for the CTC application on top of the state license timeline.
Roughly 55% of California SLPs work in K-12 schools, 20% in hospitals and skilled nursing, 15% in private practice or contract-therapy companies (PresenceLearning, EBS, ProCare), and 10% in early-intervention and Regional Center settings. Bilingual Spanish/English SLPs are in critical shortage across the Central Valley and Los Angeles County — many districts pay bilingual differentials of $5,000-$10,000/year.
Los Angeles Unified, San Diego Unified, and the Fresno County Office of Education are the largest single employers, but the highest per-hour rates are in private-practice pediatric clinics in Marin, Palo Alto, and Orange County ($90-$130/hour for licensed SLPs with 2+ years experience).
A partial list of larger CAA-accredited programs. All programs listed prepare graduates to sit for Praxis 5331.
Do I need a different Praxis test for California?
No. California accepts Praxis 5331 at the standard 162 passing score. There is no California-specific SLP Praxis exam.
Can I start working in a California school before finishing my RPE?
Yes — with a Clinical Rehabilitative Services Credential with an Internship, or a district-sponsored waiver. You still must complete the RPE and pass Praxis 5331 within the internship period to convert to the full credential.
How long does California SLP licensure take end to end?
From graduation to full SLPAHADB license: typically 10-14 months. That includes the RPE (9 months minimum), Praxis 5331 (schedule ~6 weeks out), fingerprinting (2-4 weeks), and board processing (6-10 weeks).
Is the California SLP salary really higher than other states?
Yes — California is consistently the #1 or #2 state for SLP salaries in BLS data, largely driven by school district pay scales in the Bay Area and Southern California. Cost of living offsets a lot of it, but nominal SLP pay in California runs 20-30% above the national median.
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 California (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. # California 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/california-tests.html) - [Required Tests](https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/california-tests.html) - [Overview](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Page-Show?cid=california-overview) ## Tests Required by California State Agency California Commission on Teacher Credentialing California Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board 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. ### Speech-Language Pathology Assembly Bill 2837 (Baca, Chapter 581, Statute of 2006) requires candidates for the clear Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential to pass the Praxis Speech-Language Pathology test. To review [requirements needed for both the preliminary and clear Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential](https://www.ctc.ca.gov/docs/default-source/leaflets/cl879.pdf?sfvrsn=6), visit the CTC website. ## Speech Language Pathology To be certified in: Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential You need to take...  Speech-Language Pathology (5331)$146.00 Qualifying score: 162 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5331) Add to Cart Added ### 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 California: - California: [Certification website](https://www.ctc.ca.gov/) Other Programs used in California [Previous](https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/california-tests.html#carousel-f7ae2e4c67805c6207262c5bd4) ## 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/california-tests.html#carousel-f7ae2e4c67805c6207262c5bd4) ## 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