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MS · SLP licensure
Everything it takes to get your speech-language pathology license in Mississippi — 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 Mississippi — 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
Mississippi's SLP council operates under the State Department of Health and enforces the 162 Praxis 5331 minimum. Applicants with the ASHA CCC-SLP use the endorsement pathway, and school-based SLPs coordinate with the Mississippi Department of Education for a Class A educator license.
Authoritative reference: ASHA state-by-state advocacy page for Mississippi →
The Mississippi SLP market
Mississippi licenses Speech-Language Pathologists through the Mississippi Department of Health's Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Interboard, which coordinates with the Mississippi Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. The state has a smaller number of CAA-accredited graduate programs than most neighboring states, so many working SLPs in Mississippi trained out of state before returning or relocating for jobs. School districts and rural hospitals across the Delta and Gulf Coast report persistent SLP shortages.
BLS OES, Mississippi statewide (approximate range)
Passing score note: Mississippi accepts the ASHA-set 162 passing score on Praxis 5331; the state does not require a higher or alternate cut score.
The Mississippi Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology issues the clinical license required to practice in hospitals, clinics, and private practice throughout the state. Applicants must verify a CAA-accredited graduate degree, supervised clinical hours, and a passing Praxis 5331 score.
SLPs working in Mississippi public schools also need a license or endorsement from the Mississippi Department of Education, which reviews similar academic requirements but issues its own credential tied to educator licensure. Because of the shortage of in-state graduate programs, many school districts actively recruit SLPs trained in neighboring states like Alabama, Tennessee, and Louisiana.
New graduates apply for a temporary or provisional Mississippi license to begin the Clinical Fellowship under a licensed CCC-SLP supervisor. The CF follows the standard nine-month, ASHA-aligned structure, and supervisors must hold an active, unrestricted Mississippi license.
Given the smaller pool of supervising SLPs in rural parts of the state, some Clinical Fellows use telepractice supervision arrangements, which Mississippi permits under specific documentation requirements. After completing the CF and filing the CF-2 form, the board issues a full license.
The majority of Mississippi SLPs work in public school districts, where shortages are especially acute in the Delta region and rural counties, often leading districts to offer contracted or telepractice-based services to fill gaps. The University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson is the state's largest academic medical employer of hospital-based SLPs.
Gulf Coast hospital systems around Gulfport and Biloxi, along with skilled nursing facilities statewide, provide steady adult-focused SLP employment. Private practice options are more limited than in larger states but are growing in the Jackson and Hattiesburg metro areas.
Mississippi SLP licenses renew on a biennial cycle, with continuing education hours required through ASHA-approved coursework or board-recognized activities. The state board periodically audits continuing education documentation at renewal.
School-based SLPs holding a Department of Education credential must also satisfy that board's separate professional development requirements, which run on Mississippi's educator licensure renewal schedule rather than the health board's cycle.
A partial list of larger CAA-accredited programs. All programs listed prepare graduates to sit for Praxis 5331.
What is the Praxis passing score for Mississippi SLP licensure?
Mississippi requires the standard ASHA-set 162 passing score on Praxis 5331, the same threshold used nationwide.
Are there enough graduate programs in Mississippi for SLP students?
Mississippi has a limited number of CAA-accredited programs, so many practicing SLPs in the state complete graduate school in neighboring states before working in Mississippi.
Does Mississippi allow telepractice supervision for Clinical Fellows?
Yes — given supervisor shortages in rural areas, Mississippi permits telepractice-based CF supervision under specific documentation requirements set by the licensing board.
Where is SLP demand highest in Mississippi?
School districts in the Delta region and other rural counties report the most persistent shortages, alongside steady demand at hospital systems in Jackson and along the Gulf Coast.
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 Mississippi (including elementary, secondary, and content-area exams), see the official ETS state page.
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