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MD · SLP licensure
Everything it takes to get your speech-language pathology license in Maryland — 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 Maryland — 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
Maryland's combined health-professions board oversees SLP licensure statewide. Praxis 5331 at 162 is required, and Maryland is common as a second-state license for clinicians practicing across the DMV area.
Authoritative reference: ASHA state-by-state advocacy page for Maryland →
The Maryland SLP market
Maryland licenses Speech-Language Pathologists through the Maryland Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, and Speech-Language Pathologists, under the Maryland Department of Health. Maryland's SLP job market benefits from proximity to Washington, D.C. and Baltimore's major hospital systems, creating strong demand in both medical and school settings. Maryland accepts Praxis 5331 at the ASHA-aligned 162 cut score.
BLS OES, Maryland statewide (approximate range)
Passing score note: Maryland accepts the standard ASHA 162 passing score on Praxis 5331, with no additional state-specific exam requirement.
The Maryland Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, and Speech-Language Pathologists issues the state license required for clinical, hospital, and private-practice work, based on review of a CAA-accredited graduate degree, verified clinical hours, and an official Praxis 5331 score report. Applications go through the Maryland Department of Health's licensing division.
SLPs working in Maryland public schools also need certification from the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE), issued as a Speech-Language Pathologist certificate that functions like an educator credential. The 162 Praxis 5331 score satisfies the exam requirement for both the board license and the MSDE certificate, but each requires a separate application and fee.
Maryland issues a temporary or provisional license allowing new graduates to complete the nine-month Clinical Fellowship under a board-licensed CCC-SLP supervisor. Common CF placements include Baltimore hospital systems (Johns Hopkins Hospital, University of Maryland Medical Center, MedStar) and county school systems in Montgomery, Anne Arundel, and Baltimore counties.
Once the CF and CF-2 documentation are submitted, the board typically converts the temporary license to a full license within a matter of weeks, and MSDE-certified school SLPs complete a parallel conversion with the state education department.
Maryland SLPs work extensively in public schools across the state's large, well-funded county systems (Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Baltimore County), as well as in major academic medical centers concentrated in Baltimore. The Washington, D.C. suburbs also support a dense private-practice pediatric market, with clinics serving federal-employee families and offering competitive hourly rates.
Rural and Eastern Shore counties (Dorchester, Somerset, Caroline) face more persistent SLP shortages than the D.C.-Baltimore corridor, and school systems there sometimes offer recruitment incentives or rely on contract and telepractice SLPs to fill vacancies.
Maryland SLP licenses renew every two years, with continuing education requirements aligned to ASHA-approved coursework and tracked through the Department of Health's licensing portal. MSDE-certified school SLPs renew their educator certificate on the standard educator renewal cycle, which runs separately from the health board license.
License holders are responsible for maintaining CE certificates for possible audit, and Maryland's proximity to Washington, D.C. gives SLPs easy access to in-person ASHA-approved continuing education events in addition to standard online coursework.
A partial list of larger CAA-accredited programs. All programs listed prepare graduates to sit for Praxis 5331.
What Praxis score does Maryland require for SLP licensure?
Maryland requires the standard ASHA-aligned 162 passing score on Praxis 5331, consistent with the national requirement.
Do Maryland school SLPs need certification beyond the state board license?
Yes. School-based SLPs need a Speech-Language Pathologist certificate from the Maryland State Department of Education in addition to the license from the Maryland Board of Examiners.
Is Maryland a strong market for private-practice pediatric SLPs?
Yes, particularly in the Washington, D.C. suburbs of Montgomery and Prince George's counties, where dense private-practice clinics serve a large pediatric caseload and offer competitive hourly rates.
Are there SLP shortages in Maryland?
Yes. Rural Eastern Shore counties such as Dorchester, Somerset, and Caroline face more persistent shortages than the Baltimore-Washington corridor, and some districts rely on contract or telepractice SLPs to fill gaps.
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.
ETS updated 9/4/2026
Maryland also uses Praxis for other educator licenses. Speech- Language Pathologists only need 5331 — the full ETS list is included for reference.
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Discount applied in cart. # Maryland 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/maryland-tests.html) - [Required Tests](https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/maryland-tests.html) - [Overview](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Page-Show?cid=maryland-overview) ## Tests Required by Maryland State Agency Maryland Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers & Speech-Language Pathologists Maryland Department of Education Please visit the Maryland State Department of Education website for further information about licensure assessments at [mdcert.org](https://marylandpublicschools.org/about/Pages/DEE/Certification/index.aspx) 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 All teacher licensure applicants who do not have a GPA of 3.0 on their most recently earned degree must present qualifying scores on the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) Reading (5713) and Writing (5723) subtests or one of the alternative assessments listed below. Scores on the prior version of the Core Academic Skills for Educators (5712, 5722) will be accepted as long as the tests were taken on or before June 30, 2020. In place of the Core tests, Maryland will accept the following options from candidates: - The PPST taken prior to September 2014: combined math, reading and writing score of 527 - The SAT taken after January 1, 2019: Evidence-Based Reading & Writing and Math score of 1180. - The SAT taken after April 1995 through December 31. 2018: combined math and verbal (critical reading) score of 1100 - The SAT taken prior to April 1995: math and verbal (critical reading) score of 1000 - The ACT composite score of 24 (ACT composite score is the average of the tests) - The GRE General Test: composite of the combined verbal and quantitative score of 297. Candidates who took the GRE test prior to September 2011 will use the old composite score of 1000. ## Tests Required for All Teacher Licensure Areas To be certified in: All Areas You need to take...  Core Academic Skills For Educators: Reading (5713)$90.00 Qualifying score: 156 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5713) Add to Cart Added and  Core Academic Skills For Educators: Writing (5723)$90.00 Qualifying score: 162 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5723) Add to Cart Added ## Tests required for specific licensure areas ## Early Childhood (PreK-3) To be certified in: Early Childhood Education You need to take...  Early Childhood Education (5025)$130.00 Qualifying score: 156 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5025) Add to Cart Added and  Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205)$156.00 Qualifying score: 159 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5205) Add to Cart Added ## Elementary Education (1-6) To be certified in: Elementary Education You need to take...  Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205)$156.00 Qualifying score: 159 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5205) Add to Cart Added and  Elementary Education: Content Knowledge for Teaching (7811; subtests 7812, 7813, 7814, 7815) (7811)$209.00 Qualifying score: [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=7811) Add to Cart Added Or select individual subtests  Elementary Education: Reading and Language Arts CKT (7812)$78.00 Qualifying score: 161 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=7812) Add to Cart Added  Elementary Education: Mathematics CKT (7813)$78.00 Qualifying score: 150 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=7813) Add to Cart Added  Elementary Education: Science—CKT (7814)$64.00 Qualifying score: 154 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=7814) Add to Cart Added  Elementary Education: Social Studies—CKT (7815)$64.00 Qualifying score: 161 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=7815) Add to Cart Added ## Middle School Education (4-9) To be certified in: Middle School English You need to take...  Middle School English Language Arts (5047)$156.00 Qualifying score: 164 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5047) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Middle School Mathematics You need to take...  Middle School Mathematics (5164)$130.00 Qualifying score: 157 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5164) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Middle School Science You need to take...  Middle School Science (5442)$130.00 Qualifying score: 152 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5442) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Middle School Social Studies You need to take...  Middle School Social Studies (5589)$130.00 Qualifying score: 149 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5589) Add to Cart Added or  Middle School Social Studies (5089)$156.00 Qualifying score: 154 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5089) Add to Cart Added ## Secondary Education (7-12) To be certified in: Agriculture You need to take...  Agriculture (5701)$130.00 Qualifying score: 147 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5701) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Biology You need to take...  Biology (5236)$130.00 Qualifying score: 154 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5236) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Chemistry You need to take...  Chemistry (5246)$130.00 Qualifying score: 146 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5246) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Computer Science You need to take...  Computer Science (5652)$130.00 Qualifying score: 149 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5652) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Earth/Space Science You need to take...  Earth and Space Sciences (5572)$130.00 Qualifying score: 154 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5572) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Economics You need to take...  Economics (5911)$130.00 Qualifying score: 150 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5911) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: English You need to take...  English Language Arts: Content and Analysis (5039)$156.00 Qualifying score: 168 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5039) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Geography You need to take...  Geography (5921)$130.00 Qualifying score: 168 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5921) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: History You need to take...  World and U.S. History: Content Knowledge (5941)$130.00 Qualifying score: 160 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5941) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Mathematics You need to take...  Mathematics (5165)$130.00 Qualifying score: 159 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5165) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Physical Science You need to take...  Physical Science (5485)$130.00 Qualifying score: 157 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5485) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Physics You need to take...  Physics (5266)$130.00 Qualifying score: 145 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5266) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Political Science You need to take...  Government/Political Science (5931)$130.00 Qualifying score: 149 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5931) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Social Studies You need to take...  Social Studies: Content and Interpretation (5086)$156.00 Qualifying score: 153 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5086) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Theatre You need to take...  Theatre (5641)$130.00 Qualifying score: 151 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5641) Add to Cart Added ## All Grades (PreK-12) To be certified in: Art You need to take...  Art: Content and Analysis (5135)$156.00 Qualifying score: 161 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5135) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: English to Speakers of Other Languages You need to take...  English to Speakers of Other Languages (5362)$130.00 Qualifying score: 163 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5362) Add to Cart Added and  Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205)$156.00 Qualifying score: 159 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5205) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Health You need to take...  Health Education (5551)$130.00 Qualifying score: 155 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5551) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Music You need to take...  Music: Content and Instruction (5114)$156.00 Qualifying score: 162 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5114) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Physical Education You need to take...  Physical Education: Content and Design (5095)$156.00 Qualifying score: 169 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5095) Add to Cart Added ## Montessori Professional Certificate To be certified in: Montessori Professional Certificate You need to take...  Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205)$156.00 Qualifying score: 159 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5205) Add to Cart Added ## World Languages (PreK-12) To be certified in: Chinese You need to take...  Chinese (Mandarin): World Language (5665)$170.00 Qualifying score: 165 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5665) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: French You need to take...  French: World Language (5174)$170.00 Qualifying score: 162 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5174) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: German You need to take...  German: World Language (5183)$170.00 Qualifying score: 163 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5183) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Latin You need to take...  Latin (5601)$130.00 Qualifying score: 152 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5601) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Spanish You need to take...  Spanish: World Language (5195)$170.00 Qualifying score: 168 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5195) Add to Cart Added ## Administrator To be certified in: Supervisor of Instruction, Assistant Principal, Principal You need to take... Must use SLS website to register  School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA) (6990)$425.00 Qualifying score: 151 [Continue to website](https://www.ets.org/sls/register.html) Add to Cart Added Experienced administrators with at least 5 years of experience and completers of Maryland approved administrator licensure programs are not required to take SLLA. ## Special Education (All certification levels must take the same test.) To be certified in: Special Education You need to take...  Special Education: Foundational Knowledge (5355)$130.00 Qualifying score: 145 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5355) Add to Cart Added and  Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205)$156.00 Qualifying score: 159 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5205) Add to Cart Added ## Career & Technical Education (7-12) To be certified in: Business Education You need to take...  Business Education: Content Knowledge (5101)$130.00 Qualifying score: 154 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5101) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Family and Consumer Sciences You need to take...  Family and Consumer Sciences (5123)$130.00 Qualifying score: 151 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5123) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Technology Education You need to take...  Technology and Engineering Education (5053)$130.00 Qualifying score: 157 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5053) Add to Cart Added ## Specialist To be certified in: School Psychologist You need to take...  School Psychologist (5403)$156.00 Qualifying score: 155 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5403) Add to Cart Added ## Reading Option To be certified in: Reading You need to take...  Teaching Reading: Elementary (5205)$156.00 Qualifying score: 159 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5205) 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 Maryland: - Maryland [Certification website](https://marylandpublicschools.org/about/Pages/DEE/index.aspx) Other Programs used in Maryland [Previous](https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/maryland-tests.html#carousel-474141ea6882fa373680b807bc) ## 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) ## PPAT Measure your application of skills and knowledge in the classroom [Learn more](https://www.ets.org/ppat.html) [Next](https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/maryland-tests.html#carousel-474141ea6882fa373680b807bc) ## Want to compare scores across states? 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