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TX · SLP licensure
Everything you need to pass the Texas Praxis test and become a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist in Texas — the exam (Praxis 5331), the passing score, the Clinical Fellowship, and the state-specific licensing board.
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 Texas — 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
Texas transferred SLP licensure to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) in 2016; the advisory board still oversees rulemaking. Texas issues both an Intern in Speech-Language Pathology license (for the Clinical Fellowship) and a full license, and the 162 Praxis 5331 minimum is enforced. Public-school SLPs additionally hold a TEA Speech and Hearing Therapy certificate.
Authoritative reference: ASHA state-by-state advocacy page for Texas →
The Texas SLP market
Texas is the second-largest SLP job market in the US, with strong demand across major metros (Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio) and steady rural hiring in the Rio Grande Valley and East Texas. Texas licensure is handled by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) after a 2017 transfer from a stand-alone board, and Praxis 5331 at 162 is the required national exam.
BLS OES May 2024, Texas statewide
Passing score note: Texas accepts the ASHA-set 162 passing score on Praxis 5331 with no state-specific modification.
Texas issues two SLP credentials: the Intern SLP license (for the 36-week Clinical Fellowship) and the full SLP license. You apply for the Intern license after passing Praxis 5331 and graduating, work under a Texas-licensed CCC-SLP supervisor for the CF year, and then apply to upgrade to the full license.
TDLR processing has improved significantly since 2022 — most Intern applications clear in 4-6 weeks once fingerprints, transcripts, and Praxis scores are on file. Full license upgrade after CF completion typically takes another 3-4 weeks.
In Texas public schools, SLPs work under the TDLR license — there is no separate Texas Education Agency certification required for the SLP role itself (unlike California's CTC credential). This makes Texas one of the easier states for out-of-state SLPs to transition into K-12 work.
SLPs and Educational Diagnosticians are distinct roles under TEA — an SLP does not need a diagnostician certificate. Some districts hire dual-role staff, but the credentials are separate.
Spanish/English bilingual SLPs are the most sought-after specialty in Texas. Districts in the Rio Grande Valley (Brownsville, McAllen, Edinburg, Laredo) and San Antonio-area districts routinely offer $5,000-$8,000 bilingual stipends on top of base pay, and many contract-therapy companies pay bilingual SLPs $85-$100/hour.
There is no separate Texas Praxis test for bilingual SLPs — the 5331 covers all candidates. Some districts do administer a supplemental Spanish-proficiency evaluation before granting the bilingual stipend.
A partial list of larger CAA-accredited programs. All programs listed prepare graduates to sit for Praxis 5331.
Do I need a Texas-specific Praxis test?
No. Praxis 5331 at 162 is the only exam Texas requires for SLP licensure.
Can I start my CF in Texas while my TDLR application is pending?
No — you must have the Intern SLP license in hand before starting supervised clinical hours that will count toward the CF. Apply as soon as Praxis scores are official and your degree is conferred.
How does Texas SLP salary compare nationally?
Texas is roughly at the national median for SLP pay — lower than California or the Northeast, but the state's low cost of living and no state income tax generally give SLPs stronger take-home purchasing power.
Does Texas offer reciprocity for out-of-state SLPs?
Yes. Texas grants licensure by endorsement to SLPs holding the ASHA CCC-SLP and an active license in good standing from another state.
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 Texas (including elementary, secondary, and content-area exams), see the official ETS state page.
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