Get 25% off on lifetime Praxis 5331 prep with code PASS25
MA · SLP licensure
Everything it takes to get your speech-language pathology license in Massachusetts — 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 Massachusetts — 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
Massachusetts's board sits within the Division of Occupational Licensure and issues a provisional license for Clinical Fellows. Praxis 5331 at 162 is required, and school-based SLPs also hold DESE licensure as a Speech, Language and Hearing Disorders specialist.
Authoritative reference: ASHA state-by-state advocacy page for Massachusetts →
The Massachusetts SLP market
Massachusetts licenses Speech-Language Pathologists through the Board of Registration in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, part of the Division of Occupational Licensure. The state has one of the densest concentrations of hospitals, teaching hospitals, and CAA-accredited graduate programs in the country, which keeps both new-grad and experienced SLP demand strong in the Boston metro. Massachusetts also requires a separate Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) license for school-based practice, on top of the Division of Occupational Licensure credential.
BLS OES, Massachusetts statewide (approximate range)
Passing score note: Massachusetts accepts the ASHA-set 162 passing score on Praxis 5331, with no state-specific cut score or alternate exam.
The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology issues the clinical license required to practice in hospitals, clinics, and private practice statewide. Applicants submit transcripts, verify a CAA-accredited graduate degree, and document supervised clinical hours before the board will issue a full license.
SLPs who want to work in Massachusetts public schools also need a Speech-Language Pathologist license issued by DESE, which is separate from the clinical license. DESE reviews the same graduate coursework and Praxis 5331 score, but requires its own application and fee, so school-bound candidates should plan for two parallel licensing tracks.
Massachusetts issues a temporary license that allows a new graduate to complete the nine-month Clinical Fellowship under a licensed CCC-SLP supervisor. The temporary license is tied to the CF placement and must be renewed if the fellowship extends beyond the standard timeframe.
Once the CF is complete and the CF-2 form is submitted, the board upgrades the candidate to a full, unrestricted license. Massachusetts's board processing is generally efficient, but candidates should still allow several weeks between submitting fingerprinting and CORI background-check paperwork and receiving the temporary license.
Massachusetts's teaching-hospital density — Massachusetts General, Brigham and Women's, Boston Children's, UMass Memorial — supports a large medical SLP workforce focused on dysphagia, voice, and pediatric feeding. Boston-area rehab hospitals such as Spaulding also draw SLPs specializing in acquired brain injury and stroke recovery.
Outside the medical sector, Boston Public Schools and suburban districts across Middlesex and Norfolk counties are steady school-based employers, and private pediatric practices in Cambridge, Newton, and Worcester round out the market. Early intervention programs under the state's Department of Public Health also hire SLPs for birth-to-three services.
Massachusetts SLP licenses renew on a two-year cycle set by the Division of Occupational Licensure. Renewal requires continuing education hours documented through ASHA CEUs or board-approved coursework, along with the renewal fee.
SLPs holding the separate DESE school license must also track continuing education toward that credential's renewal, which follows the state's educator licensure recertification cycle rather than the clinical board's timeline. Keeping both certificates active requires SLPs working in schools to log CE hours against two separate requirements.
A partial list of larger CAA-accredited programs. All programs listed prepare graduates to sit for Praxis 5331.
Do Massachusetts SLPs need a different Praxis score?
No. Massachusetts accepts the standard ASHA 162 passing score on Praxis 5331; there is no state-specific version of the exam.
Do I need two licenses to work in a Massachusetts public school?
Yes — you need the Division of Occupational Licensure clinical license plus a separate DESE Speech-Language Pathologist license to work in K-12 public schools. Hospitals and private practices only require the clinical license.
How does the Massachusetts CF year work?
You apply for a temporary license after graduation and passing Praxis 5331, complete the nine-month Clinical Fellowship under a licensed supervisor, then submit the CF-2 form to upgrade to a full license.
Is Massachusetts a good state for medical SLP jobs?
Yes — the concentration of major teaching hospitals in Boston creates strong demand for medical SLPs, particularly in dysphagia, voice, and neurorehabilitation.
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 8/30/2026
Massachusetts also uses Praxis for other educator licenses. Speech- Language Pathologists only need 5331 — the full ETS list is included for reference.
** 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. # Massachusetts 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/massachusetts-tests.html) - [Required Tests](https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/massachusetts-tests.html) - [Overview](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Page-Show?cid=massachusetts-overview) ## Tests Required by Massachusetts State Agency Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Massachusetts School Psychologist Certification Program 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 Areas To be certified in: All Areas You need to take...  Communication and Literacy: Reading (5714)$90.00 Qualifying score: 156 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5714) Add to Cart Added and  Communication and Literacy: Writing (5724)$90.00 Qualifying score: 162 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5724) Add to Cart Added or  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 ## Academic PreK-12 Licenses To be certified in: English as a Second Language (PreK-6, 5-12) You need to take...  English to Speakers of Other Languages (5362)$130.00 Qualifying score: 155 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5362) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Physical Education (PreK-8, 5-12) 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 ## Arts To be certified in: Music, All 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: Theater, All You need to take...  Theatre (5641)$130.00 Qualifying score: 154 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5641) Add to Cart Added ## Secondary To be certified in: Biology, 8-12 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, 8-12 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: Physics, 8-12 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: Technology/Engineering, 5-12 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 ### 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 Massachusetts: - Massachusetts: [Certification website](https://www.doe.mass.edu/licensure/) Other Programs used in Massachusetts [Previous](https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/massachusetts-tests.html#carousel-0b0f08fa36890365c59e7c8ea2) ## 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/massachusetts-tests.html#carousel-0b0f08fa36890365c59e7c8ea2) ## 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