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DC · SLP licensure
Everything it takes to get your speech-language pathology license in District of Columbia — 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 District of Columbia — 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 District's SLP license is administered by DC Health and is a common secondary license for clinicians practicing across the DC-Maryland-Virginia (DMV) region. Praxis 5331 at 162 is accepted and reciprocity is available for CCC-SLP holders licensed in another jurisdiction.
Authoritative reference: ASHA state-by-state advocacy page for District of Columbia →
The District of Columbia SLP market
The District of Columbia licenses Speech-Language Pathologists through the DC Health Board of Speech-Language Pathology, part of the Department of Health's Health Regulation and Licensing Administration. DC's SLP market is unusually rich in specialized settings given the concentration of federal research institutions, major teaching hospitals, and a robust independent-school and charter-school sector citywide. Praxis 5331 at the ASHA-standard 162 cut score is the required exam, with no DC-specific adjustment.
BLS OES, District of Columbia (approximate range)
Passing score note: The District of Columbia accepts the standard ASHA 162 passing score on Praxis 5331, with no DC-specific modification.
DC Health's Board of Speech-Language Pathology reviews license applications for CAA-accredited graduate coursework, supervised clinical hours, and a passing Praxis 5331 score. SLPs working in DC Public Schools or DC Public Charter Schools additionally need certification through the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), which is a separate credentialing process from the DC Health professional license.
The 162 Praxis 5331 score satisfies the exam requirement for both the DC Health license and the OSSE credential. Because DC's charter school sector is unusually large relative to the district's size, candidates should confirm which certification pathway a given charter network expects, as requirements can vary slightly by school type.
DC Health issues a temporary license allowing new graduates to complete the 36-week Clinical Fellowship under a DC-licensed supervisor, following the standard ASHA CF structure for hours and supervision. Applicants typically apply as soon as Praxis 5331 scores are official and the degree is conferred, and given DC's dense concentration of hospitals and university clinics, finding a qualified CF supervisor is usually straightforward compared to more rural states.
Many DC-area CFs are completed at major teaching hospitals such as MedStar Georgetown University Hospital or Children's National Hospital, where supervision structures are well established and where CF placements sometimes convert directly into full-time positions.
DC Public Schools and the district's large network of public charter schools employ a significant share of DC's SLPs, alongside major medical centers including MedStar Georgetown, Children's National Hospital, and George Washington University Hospital. The presence of federal research institutions and university-affiliated clinics also creates niche opportunities in research-adjacent clinical roles not common in most states.
Because DC is geographically small, many SLPs who work in the district commute from Maryland or Virginia suburbs, and DC employers often compete directly with nearby Montgomery County, Fairfax County, and Arlington employers for the same regional talent pool. Bilingual Spanish-speaking SLPs are in strong demand given DC's sizable Latino population in neighborhoods like Columbia Heights and Mount Pleasant.
DC Health SLP licenses renew on a biennial cycle, with continuing education requirements documented for audit, including ASHA-approved CEUs and relevant coursework. DC's renewal system is managed through the same online portal used for other DC Health-regulated professions.
SLPs holding OSSE school certification must track a separate renewal cycle through that office, distinct from the DC Health license cycle. Given the concentration of national professional organizations and university programs in the DC area, clinicians have unusually convenient access to in-person CEU conferences without needing to travel far.
A partial list of larger CAA-accredited programs. All programs listed prepare graduates to sit for Praxis 5331.
What Praxis score does DC require for SLP licensure?
The District of Columbia requires the standard ASHA-set passing score of 162 on Praxis 5331, the same as every state.
Do DC school SLPs need a certificate beyond the DC Health license?
Yes. SLPs working in DC Public Schools or DC Public Charter Schools need certification through the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) in addition to the DC Health professional license.
Are there CAA-accredited graduate programs located in DC itself?
Yes, Gallaudet University and Howard University both operate CAA-accredited graduate programs located within the District of Columbia.
Do many DC-area SLPs commute from Maryland or Virginia?
Yes, because the district is geographically small, a large share of the workforce commutes from Maryland or Virginia suburbs, and DC employers compete directly with nearby county employers for the same regional talent pool.
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.