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PA · SLP licensure
Everything it takes to get your speech-language pathology license in Pennsylvania — 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 Pennsylvania — 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
Pennsylvania's board operates under the Department of State Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs. The 162 Praxis 5331 minimum is required, and school-based SLPs additionally hold a PDE Speech and Language Impaired PK-12 certificate.
Authoritative reference: ASHA state-by-state advocacy page for Pennsylvania →
The Pennsylvania SLP market
Pennsylvania combines two very different SLP job markets: a dense medical corridor in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh built around major teaching hospitals, and a large rural school system spanning the center of the state. Licensure is issued by the Pennsylvania State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language and Hearing, and school employment requires a separate Educational Specialist certificate from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
BLS OES, Pennsylvania statewide (approximate range)
Passing score note: Pennsylvania requires the ASHA-aligned 162 passing score on Praxis 5331. There is no Pennsylvania-specific exam and no higher state cut score.
The State Board license authorizes clinical practice in Pennsylvania. Public school work requires the Educational Specialist I certificate in Speech and Language Impaired from PDE, which is issued through the TIMS portal and requires clearances in addition to your Praxis score.
Pennsylvania clearances are their own project: PA State Police criminal history, Child Abuse History via the Department of Human Services, and an FBI fingerprint check. They expire, districts re-verify them, and slow clearance processing is a more common cause of delayed start dates than the license itself. Start clearances before you finish your degree.
Pennsylvania issues a provisional license that permits supervised practice during the Clinical Fellowship. The fellowship follows ASHA's national standard of 1,260 hours across a minimum of 36 weeks, with at least 80 percent of the time in direct clinical contact and structured mentoring in three segments.
Fellows in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh hospital systems typically rotate through acute care and inpatient rehab, which is valuable if you want medical SLP work long-term. School-based fellows should confirm mentor availability early, since rural districts sometimes rely on itinerant supervisors covering several buildings.
Pennsylvania has an unusually high concentration of academic medical centers and rehabilitation hospitals for its population, which makes it one of the better states in which to build a medical SLP career without relocating. Specialty roles in dysphagia, head and neck cancer, voice, trach and vent management, and neurorehabilitation exist at scale in both metros.
Those roles reward instrumental competencies. Clinicians with MBSS and FEES experience, and with documented competency in tracheostomy management, move up substantially faster in both markets.
The clinical license renews on a two-year cycle with continuing education, and ASHA CEUs generally count. School-based clinicians holding a PDE certificate also fall under Act 48, which requires continuing professional education hours logged with PDE on its own schedule.
As in Illinois, the practical risk is tracking two systems. Many courses satisfy both, but only if you record them in both places. Keep certificates for the full renewal period in case of audit.
A partial list of larger CAA-accredited programs. All programs listed prepare graduates to sit for Praxis 5331.
What Praxis score does Pennsylvania require for SLP licensure?
162 on Praxis 5331, matching the ASHA national standard.
Do Pennsylvania school SLPs need a teaching certificate?
They need the PDE Educational Specialist I certificate in Speech and Language Impaired, plus current state, child abuse, and FBI clearances — in addition to the state clinical license.
How long do Pennsylvania clearances take?
State police and child abuse checks are often returned within days to a couple of weeks; FBI fingerprint results vary. Because districts will not start you without them, begin the process well before your target start date.
Can I complete my Clinical Fellowship in Pennsylvania on a provisional license?
Yes. The provisional license exists for exactly that purpose and converts to a full license once the fellowship is complete and documented.
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 9/3/2026
Pennsylvania 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. # Pennsylvania 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/pennsylvania-tests.html) - [Required Tests](https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/pennsylvania-tests.html) - [Overview](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Page-Show?cid=pennsylvania-overview) ## Tests Required by Pennsylvania State Agency Pennsylvania Department of Education Pennsylvania State Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology 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 specific licensure areas ## Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators (Core) To be certified in: Career and Technical Instructional II You need to take...  Core Academic Skills For Educators: Mathematics (5733)$90.00 Qualifying score: 142 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5733) Add to Cart Added Chapter 354 provides an alternative to the 3.0 GPA program entrance requirement by passing the Basic Skills tests ## Middle Level (Grades 4-8) To be certified in: All Middle Level 4-8 You need to take...  Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: Pedagogy, English Language Arts and Social Studies, Mathematics and Science (5152; subtests: 5153, 5154, 5155) (5152)$140.00 Qualifying score: [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5152) Add to Cart Added Or select individual subtests  Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: Pedagogy (5153)$50.00 Qualifying score: 162 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5153) Add to Cart Added  Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: English Language Arts and Social Studies (5154)$50.00 Qualifying score: 152 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5154) Add to Cart Added  Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: Mathematics and Science (5155)$50.00 Qualifying score: 164 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5155) Add to Cart Added Initial Middle Level Grades 4-8 certification (English/Language Arts, Social Studies, Math, Science) requires all Grades 4-8 Core Assessments (Test 5152 or Subtests 5153, 5154, 5155) plus the corresponding Subject Concentration test (5156, 5157, 5158 or 5159). To be certified in: Middle Level English 4-8 You need to take...  Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 Subject Concentration: English Language Arts (5156)$75.00 Qualifying score: 156 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5156) Add to Cart Added If adding a Middle Level Grades 4-8 Subject Area to an existing Middle Level Grades 4-8 certificate, only the corresponding Subject Concentration test is required. To be certified in: Middle Level Mathematics 4-8 You need to take...  Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 Subject Concentration: Mathematics (5158)$75.00 Qualifying score: 173 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5158) Add to Cart Added If adding a Middle Level Grades 4-8 Subject Area to an existing Middle Level Grades 4-8 certificate, only the corresponding Subject Concentration test is required. To be certified in: Middle Level Science 4-8 You need to take...  Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 Subject Concentration: Science (5159)$75.00 Qualifying score: 156 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5159) Add to Cart Added If adding a Middle Level Grades 4-8 Subject Area to an existing Middle Level Grades 4-8 certificate, only the corresponding Subject Concentration test is required. To be certified in: Middle Level Social Studies Education 4-8 You need to take...  Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 Subject Concentration: Social Studies (5157)$75.00 Qualifying score: 150 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5157) Add to Cart Added If adding a Middle Level Grades 4-8 Subject Area to an existing Middle Level Grades 4-8 certificate, only the corresponding Subject Concentration test is required. ## Middle Level (Grades 5-6) To be certified in: Elementary Grades 5-6 You need to take...  Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: English Language Arts and Social Studies (5154)$50.00 Qualifying score: 152 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5154) Add to Cart Added Must already hold Grades PK-4 in order to add on Grades 5-6 certification.  Pennsylvania Grades 4-8 Core Assessment: Mathematics and Science (5155)$50.00 Qualifying score: 164 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5155) Add to Cart Added ## Secondary Education (Grades 7-12) To be certified in: Biology 7-12 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 7-12 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: Citizenship Education 7-12 You need to take...  Citizenship Education: Content Knowledge (5087)$130.00 Qualifying score: 148 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5087) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Communication 7-12 You need to take...  Speech Communication: Content Knowledge (5221)$130.00 Qualifying score: 145 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5221) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Computer Science 7-12 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 and Space Science 7-12 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: English 7-12 You need to take...  English Language Arts: Content Knowledge (5038)$130.00 Qualifying score: 167 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5038) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: General Science 7-12 You need to take...  General Science (5436)$130.00 Qualifying score: 141 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5436) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Mathematics 7-12 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: Physics 7-12 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: Social Studies 7-12 You need to take...  Social Studies (5581)$130.00 Qualifying score: 153 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5581) Add to Cart Added ## PK-12 Areas To be certified in: Agriculture PK-12 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: American Sign Language PK-12 You need to take... See ASLPI page for registration details  ASL PROFICIENCY INTERVIEW (0634)$185.00 Qualifying score: 160 [Continue to website](https://praxis.ets.org/test-takers/register-aslpi.html) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Any PK-12 Area You need to take...  Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (5511)$130.00 Qualifying score: 150 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5511) Add to Cart Added Only required if this is your initial PA certification. If you are coming from another state to PA, check the PDE website for more information regarding this test. To be certified in: Art PK-12 You need to take...  Art: Content Knowledge (5134)$130.00 Qualifying score: 158 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5134) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Business, Computers & Information Technology PK-12 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: Chinese (Mandarin) PK-12 You need to take...  Chinese (Mandarin): World Language (5665)$170.00 Qualifying score: 164 [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: Family and Consumer Sciences PK-12 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: French PK-12 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 PK-12 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: Health & Physical Education PK-12 You need to take...  Health and Physical Education: Content Knowledge (5857)$130.00 Qualifying score: 160 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5857) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Health PK-12 You need to take...  Health Education (5551)$130.00 Qualifying score: 158 [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: Latin PK-12 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: Library Science PK-12 You need to take...  School Librarian (5312)$130.00 Qualifying score: 154 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5312) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Marketing/Distributive Education PK-12 You need to take...  Marketing Education (5561)$130.00 Qualifying score: 144 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5561) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Music PK-12 You need to take...  Music: Content Knowledge (5113)$130.00 Qualifying score: 158 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5113) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Reading Specialist PK-12 You need to take...  Reading Specialist (5302)$156.00 Qualifying score: 164 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5302) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Spanish PK-12 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 To be certified in: Technology Education PK-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 ## Special Education To be certified in: Any Special Education Area You need to take...  Fundamental Subjects: Content Knowledge (5511)$130.00 Qualifying score: 150 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5511) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Special Education PK-12 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 To be certified in: Special Education: Hearing Impaired PK-12 You need to take...  Special Education: Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students (5272)$130.00 Qualifying score: 160 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5272) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Special Education: Speech & Language Impaired PK-12 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 To be certified in: Special Education: Visually Impaired PK-12 You need to take...  Special Education: Teaching Students with Visual Impairments (5282)$130.00 Qualifying score: 163 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5282) Add to Cart Added ## Educational Specialist To be certified in: School Counselor PK-12 You need to take...  School Counselor (5422)$130.00 Qualifying score: 159 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5422) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: School Psychologist PK-12 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 To be certified in: Speech Pathologist PK-12 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 ## Administration To be certified in: Career and Technical Administrative Director 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 To be certified in: Career and Technical Education Supervisor You need to take...  Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision (5412)$130.00 Qualifying score: 146 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5412) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: 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 To be certified in: Superintendent: Letter of Eligibility You need to take... Must use SLS website to register  School Superintendent Assessment (SSA) (6991)$350.00 Qualifying score: 162 [Continue to website](https://www.ets.org/sls/register.html) Add to Cart Added To be certified in: Supervisor You need to take...  Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision (5412)$130.00 Qualifying score: 146 [View test details](https://praxis.ets.org/on/demandware.store/Sites-ETS-Praxis-Site/en_US/Product-Show?pid=5412) 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 Pennsylvania: - Pennsylvania: [Certification website](https://www.education.pa.gov/Educators/Certification/Pages/default.aspx) Other Programs used in Pennsylvania [Previous](https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/pennsylvania-tests.html#carousel-bfa1b0a0056049b393812376cd) ## 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) [Next](https://praxis.ets.org/state-requirements/pennsylvania-tests.html#carousel-bfa1b0a0056049b393812376cd) ## Want to compare scores across states? 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