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Tennessee Speech-Language Pathology — Requirements & Free Practice

US-TN · License preparation

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Clinical Fellow Provisional License

Provisional licensure for supervised postgraduate clinical fellowship; CCC-SLP is not a statutory eligibility requirement.

Licensing authority: Tennessee Board of Communication Disorders and Sciences · Application information

Initial provisional licensure as a clinical fellow
Application
Submit completed truthful application, fees, certified birth certificate, recent passport photograph, criminal-background check and required disclosures; arrange direct institutional transcripts and verification of every license held.
Ccc Not Required
Public Chapter 796 prohibits imposing CCC as provisional eligibility.
Education
At least a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from an accredited institution.
Legal Presence
Verify United States citizenship or lawful presence.
Minimum Age
At least 18 years old under Rule 1370-01-.04(1)(a).
Moral Character
Good moral character, with a recent original professional recommendation on letterhead.
Practicum
Document 400 supervised clinical practicum hours and an official graduate transcript.
Provisional Period
Rule 1370-01-.10(3) adopts the ASHA fellowship period, revised January 1, 2023.
Specific And General Requirements
Section 63-17-110(c)(1) and Rule 1370-01-.10(2) state provisional education and documentation eligibility without naming examinations. Rule 1370-01-.08 broadly requires Praxis for persons intending speech-language pathology licensure and jurisprudence before licensure. Retain both identified examinations under that general rule; the provisional-specific documentation and timing remain applicant conditions.
Supervisor
Work under a Tennessee-licensed or ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist and register the supervisor before or within ten days of retaining the supervisor.
Reinstatement within provisional effectiveness
Tennessee Jurisprudence Examination (Communication Disorders and Sciences)
Period
Clinical fellowship provisional effectiveness remains subject to Rule 1370-01-.10(3).
Reinstatement Application
Submit reinstatement application, required disclosures, license verifications and fees; do not practice until authorization is reinstated.
Replacement Education
Document education for each retired or expired year, capped at 100 replacement hours; those hours do not count toward the next renewal cycle.
Renewal during provisional effectiveness
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing Education
Document 20 hours for speech-language pathologists or 10 hours for assistants over the applicable two-calendar-year cycle; renewal attestation and retained records are required. Board hardship waivers are conditions under Rule 1370-01-.12.
Fees And Form
Submit renewal form and applicable fees by the renewal due date.
Period
Renewal does not extend the adopted clinical fellowship period of provisional effectiveness.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Tennessee Speech-Language Pathology Compact Privilege

Tennessee authorization to practice under an eligible home-state license through the ASLP-IC; application is processed by Compact Connect.

Licensing authority: Tennessee Board of Communication Disorders and Sciences · Application information

Tennessee compact privilege application
Tennessee Jurisprudence Examination (Communication Disorders and Sciences)
Application
Pass Tennessee jurisprudence and receive the Board’s email notification before applying through Compact Connect; after authorization submit the mandatory practitioner profile.
Criminal History
Meet compact criminal-background-check requirements and absence of a practice-related felony.
Discipline
No encumbrance on any state license and no adverse action against any license or compact privilege within the previous two years.
Education
Meet the compact’s accredited master’s program or reviewed foreign-program equivalence requirement.
Fees And Notification
Notify the Commission, pay applicable fees and report adverse action from a nonmember jurisdiction within 30 days.
Home License
Hold an active, unencumbered home-state license and reside in a compact member state.
Identifier
Have a valid United States Social Security or National Practitioner Identification number.
National Examination Slot
Section 63-17-302, compact section 3(F)(4), requires having passed a national examination approved by the Commission. The obtained Tennessee statutory and compact instruction texts do not identify a named examination for this slot; it remains an applicant condition under the contract’s unnamed-slot rule.
Practicum
Complete supervised clinical practicum and supervised postgraduate experience as required by the Commission.

Inactive License - Pro Bono Services Category (Speech Language Pathology)

Inactive volunteer license allowing uncompensated services exclusively to patients of a qualified tax-exempt organization.

Licensing authority: Tennessee Board of Communication Disorders and Sciences · Application information

Conversion of current Tennessee license to pro bono status
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Current License
Hold current Tennessee license in good standing and retire it under Rule 1370-01-.11.
Organization
Qualified organization sends proof of section 501(c)(3) exemption directly to the Board.
Practice Restriction
Certify practice exclusively on the organization’s patients without compensation.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Pro bono licensure without a current Tennessee license by ccc
Application
Submit completed truthful application, fees, certified birth certificate, recent passport photograph, criminal-background check and required disclosures; arrange direct institutional transcripts and verification of every license held.
Application Checklist Difference
The PH-3556 checklist separately requests Praxis scores for Criteria applicants and requests CCC verification for CCC applicants. Rule 1370-01-.08 nevertheless identifies Praxis for all speech-language pathology licensure applicants; retain the exam while displaying the credentials pathway.
Clinical Competence
Possess current ASHA CCC-SLP and arrange direct verification from ASHA.
Education
At least a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from an accredited institution.
Legal Presence
Verify United States citizenship or lawful presence.
Minimum Age
At least 18 years old under Rule 1370-01-.04(1)(a).
Moral Character
Good moral character, with a recent original professional recommendation on letterhead.
Volunteer Restriction
Exclusively uncompensated services to patients of a section 501(c)(3) organization; comply with all initial requirements in Rules 1370-01-.04 and .05.
Pro bono licensure without a current Tennessee license by criteria
Application
Submit completed truthful application, fees, certified birth certificate, recent passport photograph, criminal-background check and required disclosures; arrange direct institutional transcripts and verification of every license held.
Clinical Fellowship
Document successful completion of the speech-language pathology clinical fellowship under Rule 1370-01-.10.
Education
At least a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from an accredited institution.
Exam Timing
Praxis must have been passed before the full-license application; documentation is sent directly by the examining agency. A prior passing score remains an examination requirement, not a separate route.
Legal Presence
Verify United States citizenship or lawful presence.
Minimum Age
At least 18 years old under Rule 1370-01-.04(1)(a).
Moral Character
Good moral character, with a recent original professional recommendation on letterhead.
Practicum
Document at least 400 clock hours of supervised clinical practicum through an accredited institution.
Volunteer Restriction
Exclusively uncompensated services to patients of a section 501(c)(3) organization; comply with all initial requirements in Rules 1370-01-.04 and .05.
Pro bono licensure without a current Tennessee license by reciprocity
Application
Submit completed truthful application, fees, certified birth certificate, recent passport photograph, criminal-background check and required disclosures; arrange direct institutional transcripts and verification of every license held.
Education
At least a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from an accredited institution.
Equivalence
The Board must find those standards at least equivalent to or exceeding current Tennessee requirements.
Legal Presence
Verify United States citizenship or lawful presence.
License Elsewhere
Hold current licensure elsewhere; obtain official status and the standards under which that license was issued.
Minimum Age
At least 18 years old under Rule 1370-01-.04(1)(a).
Moral Character
Good moral character, with a recent original professional recommendation on letterhead.
Past Exam Or Waiver
The licensed applicant’s original qualifying examination and any Board acceptance of equivalent qualifications are applicant circumstances. Rule 1370-01-.08 identifies the current Praxis examination and Tennessee jurisprudence examination for Tennessee licensure.
Volunteer Restriction
Exclusively uncompensated services to patients of a section 501(c)(3) organization; comply with all initial requirements in Rules 1370-01-.04 and .05.
Reactivation of retired license into pro bono status
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Reinstatement Application
Submit reinstatement application, required disclosures, license verifications and fees; do not practice until authorization is reinstated.
Replacement Education
Document education for each retired or expired year, capped at 100 replacement hours; those hours do not count toward the next renewal cycle.
Volunteer Restriction
Meet Rule 1370-01-.03(2) organization, good-standing and uncompensated-practice conditions.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Pro bono reinstatement after expiration of five years or less
Tennessee Jurisprudence Examination (Communication Disorders and Sciences)
Expired Interval
Expired five years or less; retain qualified volunteer practice restriction.
Reinstatement Application
Submit reinstatement application, required disclosures, license verifications and fees; do not practice until authorization is reinstated.
Replacement Education
Document education for each retired or expired year, capped at 100 replacement hours; those hours do not count toward the next renewal cycle.
Pro bono reapplication after expiration of more than five years
Application
Submit completed truthful application, fees, certified birth certificate, recent passport photograph, criminal-background check and required disclosures; arrange direct institutional transcripts and verification of every license held.
Application Checklist Difference
The PH-3556 checklist separately requests Praxis scores for Criteria applicants and requests CCC verification for CCC applicants. Rule 1370-01-.08 nevertheless identifies Praxis for all speech-language pathology licensure applicants; retain the exam while displaying the credentials pathway.
Clinical Competence
Possess current ASHA CCC-SLP and arrange direct verification from ASHA.
Education
At least a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from an accredited institution.
Expired Interval
Expired more than five years; current ASHA certification or equivalent and new licensing application required.
Legal Presence
Verify United States citizenship or lawful presence.
Minimum Age
At least 18 years old under Rule 1370-01-.04(1)(a).
Moral Character
Good moral character, with a recent original professional recommendation on letterhead.
Reinstatement Application
Submit reinstatement application, required disclosures, license verifications and fees; do not practice until authorization is reinstated.
Replacement Education
Document education for each retired or expired year, capped at 100 replacement hours; those hours do not count toward the next renewal cycle.
Volunteer Restriction
Exclusively uncompensated services to patients of a qualified organization.
Renewal of pro bono license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing Education
Document 20 hours for speech-language pathologists or 10 hours for assistants over the applicable two-calendar-year cycle; renewal attestation and retained records are required. Board hardship waivers are conditions under Rule 1370-01-.12.
Fees And Form
Submit renewal form and applicable fees by the renewal due date.
Volunteer Restriction
Continue uncompensated practice only for the qualified organization.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Speech Language Pathologist License

Single-state license to practice speech-language pathology.

Licensing authority: Tennessee Board of Communication Disorders and Sciences · Application information

Initial licensure by Certificate of Clinical Competence
Application
Submit completed truthful application, fees, certified birth certificate, recent passport photograph, criminal-background check and required disclosures; arrange direct institutional transcripts and verification of every license held.
Application Checklist Difference
The PH-3556 checklist separately requests Praxis scores for Criteria applicants and requests CCC verification for CCC applicants. Rule 1370-01-.08 nevertheless identifies Praxis for all speech-language pathology licensure applicants; retain the exam while displaying the credentials pathway.
Clinical Competence
Possess current ASHA CCC-SLP and arrange direct verification from ASHA.
Education
At least a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from an accredited institution.
Legal Presence
Verify United States citizenship or lawful presence.
Minimum Age
At least 18 years old under Rule 1370-01-.04(1)(a).
Moral Character
Good moral character, with a recent original professional recommendation on letterhead.
Initial licensure by criteria
Application
Submit completed truthful application, fees, certified birth certificate, recent passport photograph, criminal-background check and required disclosures; arrange direct institutional transcripts and verification of every license held.
Clinical Fellowship
Document successful completion of the speech-language pathology clinical fellowship under Rule 1370-01-.10.
Education
At least a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from an accredited institution.
Exam Timing
Praxis must have been passed before the full-license application; documentation is sent directly by the examining agency. A prior passing score remains an examination requirement, not a separate route.
Legal Presence
Verify United States citizenship or lawful presence.
Minimum Age
At least 18 years old under Rule 1370-01-.04(1)(a).
Moral Character
Good moral character, with a recent original professional recommendation on letterhead.
Practicum
Document at least 400 clock hours of supervised clinical practicum through an accredited institution.
Reactivation of retired license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Reinstatement Application
Submit reinstatement application, required disclosures, license verifications and fees; do not practice until authorization is reinstated.
Replacement Education
Document education for each retired or expired year, capped at 100 replacement hours; those hours do not count toward the next renewal cycle.
Retired Status
Hold a retired license; submit written request and renewal/regulatory fees. Rule 1370-01-.11(3)-(4) specifies the reactivation requirements and application review without prescribing an examination.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Licensure by reciprocity
Application
Submit completed truthful application, fees, certified birth certificate, recent passport photograph, criminal-background check and required disclosures; arrange direct institutional transcripts and verification of every license held.
Education
At least a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from an accredited institution.
Equivalence
The Board must find those standards at least equivalent to or exceeding current Tennessee requirements.
Legal Presence
Verify United States citizenship or lawful presence.
License Elsewhere
Hold current licensure elsewhere; obtain official status and the standards under which that license was issued.
Minimum Age
At least 18 years old under Rule 1370-01-.04(1)(a).
Moral Character
Good moral character, with a recent original professional recommendation on letterhead.
Past Exam Or Waiver
The licensed applicant’s original qualifying examination and any Board acceptance of equivalent qualifications are applicant circumstances. Rule 1370-01-.08 identifies the current Praxis examination and Tennessee jurisprudence examination for Tennessee licensure.
Reinstatement after expiration of five years or less
Tennessee Jurisprudence Examination (Communication Disorders and Sciences)
Exam Timing
Rule 1370-01-.08(5) explicitly requires jurisprudence before reinstatement.
Expired Interval
Expired for five years or less; pay renewal, regulatory and late renewal fees; Board review treats this as an application.
Reinstatement Application
Submit reinstatement application, required disclosures, license verifications and fees; do not practice until authorization is reinstated.
Replacement Education
Document education for each retired or expired year, capped at 100 replacement hours; those hours do not count toward the next renewal cycle.
Reapplication after expiration of more than five years
Application
Submit completed truthful application, fees, certified birth certificate, recent passport photograph, criminal-background check and required disclosures; arrange direct institutional transcripts and verification of every license held.
Application Checklist Difference
The PH-3556 checklist separately requests Praxis scores for Criteria applicants and requests CCC verification for CCC applicants. Rule 1370-01-.08 nevertheless identifies Praxis for all speech-language pathology licensure applicants; retain the exam while displaying the credentials pathway.
Clinical Competence
Possess current ASHA CCC-SLP and arrange direct verification from ASHA.
Education
At least a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from an accredited institution.
Expired Interval
Expired for more than five years; reapply under applicable licensing laws and rules and document current ASHA certification or equivalent.
Legal Presence
Verify United States citizenship or lawful presence.
Minimum Age
At least 18 years old under Rule 1370-01-.04(1)(a).
Moral Character
Good moral character, with a recent original professional recommendation on letterhead.
Reinstatement Application
Submit reinstatement application, required disclosures, license verifications and fees; do not practice until authorization is reinstated.
Replacement Education
Document education for each retired or expired year, capped at 100 replacement hours; those hours do not count toward the next renewal cycle.
Biennial renewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing Education
Document 20 hours for speech-language pathologists or 10 hours for assistants over the applicable two-calendar-year cycle; renewal attestation and retained records are required. Board hardship waivers are conditions under Rule 1370-01-.12.
Fees And Form
Submit renewal form and applicable fees by the renewal due date.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reapplication following revocation
Application
Submit completed truthful application, fees, certified birth certificate, recent passport photograph, criminal-background check and required disclosures; arrange direct institutional transcripts and verification of every license held.
Clinical Fellowship
Document successful completion of the speech-language pathology clinical fellowship under Rule 1370-01-.10.
Disciplinary Order
Treat as a new application; not considered for at least one year unless the revocation order states otherwise. All order conditions must be met.
Education
At least a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from an accredited institution.
Exam Timing
Praxis must have been passed before the full-license application; documentation is sent directly by the examining agency. A prior passing score remains an examination requirement, not a separate route.
Legal Presence
Verify United States citizenship or lawful presence.
Minimum Age
At least 18 years old under Rule 1370-01-.04(1)(a).
Moral Character
Good moral character, with a recent original professional recommendation on letterhead.
Practicum
Document at least 400 clock hours of supervised clinical practicum through an accredited institution.
Upgrade from clinical fellow by CCC SLP
Application
Submit completed truthful application, fees, certified birth certificate, recent passport photograph, criminal-background check and required disclosures; arrange direct institutional transcripts and verification of every license held.
Application Checklist Difference
The PH-3556 checklist separately requests Praxis scores for Criteria applicants and requests CCC verification for CCC applicants. Rule 1370-01-.08 nevertheless identifies Praxis for all speech-language pathology licensure applicants; retain the exam while displaying the credentials pathway.
Clinical Competence
Possess current ASHA CCC-SLP and arrange direct verification from ASHA.
Education
At least a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from an accredited institution.
Existing Status
Hold a clinical fellow provisional license; Rule 1370-01-.05(12)(c) requires all licensure examinations.
Legal Presence
Verify United States citizenship or lawful presence.
Minimum Age
At least 18 years old under Rule 1370-01-.04(1)(a).
Moral Character
Good moral character, with a recent original professional recommendation on letterhead.
Upgrade from clinical fellow by clinical fellowship completion
Application
Submit completed truthful application, fees, certified birth certificate, recent passport photograph, criminal-background check and required disclosures; arrange direct institutional transcripts and verification of every license held.
Clinical Fellowship
Document successful completion of the speech-language pathology clinical fellowship under Rule 1370-01-.10.
Education
At least a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from an accredited institution.
Exam Timing
Praxis must have been passed before the full-license application; documentation is sent directly by the examining agency. A prior passing score remains an examination requirement, not a separate route.
Legal Presence
Verify United States citizenship or lawful presence.
Minimum Age
At least 18 years old under Rule 1370-01-.04(1)(a).
Moral Character
Good moral character, with a recent original professional recommendation on letterhead.
Practicum
Document at least 400 clock hours of supervised clinical practicum through an accredited institution.
Supervisor Letter
An original supervisor letter dated within the preceding twelve months must document successful fellowship completion.

Tennessee Jurisprudence Examination (Communication Disorders and Sciences)

Provider
Tennessee Board of Communication Disorders and Sciences
Format
Written questions; complete examination and notarized affidavit, submit to Board administrator
Passing score
80%
Examination outline
  • Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, Chapter 1 — Division of Health Related Boards
  • Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 63, Chapter 17 — Licensure Act for Communication Disorders and Sciences
  • Chapter 1370-01 — Rules for Speech Pathology and Audiology
Examination sources

Speech-Language Pathology (5331)

Provider
Educational Testing Service (ETS); computer delivered at a test center or at home (online); ASHA announces a transition to PSI, a wholly owned ETS subsidiary, on January 11, 2027, with availability through ETS and Prometric through December 31, 2026
Format
Computer-delivered selected-response questions; the test may contain some questions that do not count toward the score; the score is based on the number of questions answered correctly
Exam questions
132 selected-response questions (approximately 44 in each of the three content categories)
Time limit
150 minutes
Passing score
States, institutions, and associations that require the test set their own passing scores; the passing score for purposes of ASHA certification is 162 on a 100-200 scale
Exam fee
$146.00
Examination outline
  • I. Foundations and Professional Practice (approximately 44 questions; approximately 33% of examination). Speech-language pathologists must have strong foundational knowledge about typical communication development, as well as common characteristics of communication and swallowing disorders and potential factors impacting communication. SLPs must also understand the professional practice requirements that support the provision of services. Knowledge about these requirements ensures that ethical, culturally competent services are provided within the framework of legislative and regulatory requirements and are founded in research.
    • A. Foundations — 1. Typical development and performance across the lifespan: a. developmental norms; b. speech sound and phonology; c. receptive and expressive language (–– syntax and morphology; –– semantics; –– pragmatics/social language); d. fluency; e. voice, resonance, and motor speech; f. feeding and swallowing; g. cognition; h. processing; i. motor and linguistic processes
    • A. Foundations — 2. Factors that influence communication, feeding, and swallowing: a. medical; b. cultural and ethnic; c. linguistic; d. psychological; e. anatomy/physiology; f. environmental; g. genetics; h. auditory
    • A. Foundations — 3. Epidemiology and characteristics of common communication and swallowing disorders: a. speech sound and phonology; b. syntax and morphology; c. semantics; d. pragmatics; e. fluency; f. voice, resonance, and motor speech; g. feeding and swallowing; h. cognition; i. processing
    • B. Professional Practice — 1. Wellness and prevention: a. prevention terminology, practices, and public education; b. risk factors for communication disorders
    • B. Professional Practice — 2. Culturally and linguistically appropriate service delivery: a. understanding, respecting, and responding to explicit and implicit cultural factors that influence communication; b. identifying the impact of assimilation and acculturation on communication patterns; c. communication differences between speakers of the same language
    • B. Professional Practice — 3. Counseling, collaboration, and teaming: a. interpersonal communication and counseling techniques; b. integration of other professionals into the assessment and treatment process; c. communication with patient/client/student, families, and other professionals
    • B. Professional Practice — 4. Documentation: a. legal and regulatory requirements; b. purposes of documentation; c. privacy requirements; d. official records
    • B. Professional Practice — 5. Ethics: a. standards of ethical practice (–– permissions, referrals, and record keeping; –– client/patient/student privacy; –– supervisory requirements; –– conflicts of interest; –– professional competence)
    • B. Professional Practice — 6. Legislation and client advocacy: a. federal laws and regulations impacting delivery of services; b. reporting requirements of governmental agencies; c. licensing requirements and standards
    • B. Professional Practice — 7. Research methodology and evidence-based practice: a. criterion for test selection; b. determining reliability of assessment procedures; c. models of research design; d. test construction principles; e. tenets of evidence-based practice
  • II. Screening, Assessment, Evaluation, and Diagnosis (approximately 44 questions; approximately 33% of examination). Speech-language pathologists use a variety of tools and strategies to gather information about clients with communication and swallowing disorders. They must synthesize and analyze the information to develop appropriate management plans. This section will focus on screening, assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis of communication and swallowing disorders. Topics include how SLPs use and interpret various screening and assessment tools to determine whether additional formal evaluation is indicated, as well as issues related to the selection of appropriate tools and approaches for screening, assessment, and evaluation. Identification of relevant factors from the case history, determining an appropriate assessment protocol, and interpretation of findings to determine a diagnosis and formulate recommendations are covered in this section of the exam, as well.
    • A. Screening — 1. Communication disorders: a. role of the SLP in screening for speech, language, and hearing disorders; b. screening procedures and approaches; c. identification of clients/patients and characteristics requiring further evaluation; d. knowledge of populations at risk for communication disorders
    • A. Screening — 2. Feeding and swallowing disorders: a. role of the SLP in screening for feeding and swallowing disorders; b. screening procedures and approaches; c. identification of clients/patients and characteristics which require further evaluation; d. knowledge of factors leading to increased risk of swallowing and feeding disorders in various populations
    • B. Approaches to Assessment and Evaluation — 1. Developing case histories: a. reviewing records for pertinent information; b. interviewing techniques to obtain pertinent information; c. integrating critical factors identified in the case history
    • B. Approaches to Assessment and Evaluation — 2. Selecting appropriate assessment instruments, procedures, and materials: a. identifying factors that influence test/procedure selection; b. identifying factors that require adaptation of traditional assessment procedures, instruments, and materials; c. selecting instrumental approaches that can be utilized to evaluate various communication and swallowing disorders (e.g., imaging, acoustic, aerodynamic, etc.)
    • B. Approaches to Assessment and Evaluation — 3. Assessing factors that influence communication and swallowing disorders: a. cultural and ethnic factors; b. linguistic factors; c. medical factors (e.g., stable versus progressive conditions, early versus late onset, etc.); d. developmental and cognitive factors; e. psychological factors; f. environmental factors
    • B. Approaches to Assessment and Evaluation — 4. Assessment of anatomy and physiology: a. assessment of pertinent anatomy, physiology, and neural substrates for: –– respiration; –– phonation; –– speech sound production; –– resonance; –– speech/language perception and processing; –– feeding and swallowing
    • C. Assessment Procedures and Assessment — 1. Speech sound production: a. standard and nonstandard assessment procedures; b. parameters of assessment of speech sound production; c. instrumental assessment of speech sound production; d. differential diagnosis of speech sound disorders; e. interpretation of assessment data
    • C. Assessment Procedures and Assessment — 2. Fluency: a. standard and nonstandard assessment procedures; b. parameters of assessment of fluency; c. instrumental assessment of fluency disorders; d. differential diagnosis of fluency disorders (e.g., stuttering versus cluttering); e. interpretation of assessment data
    • C. Assessment Procedures and Assessment — 3. Voice, resonance, and motor speech: a. standard and nonstandard assessment procedures; b. parameters of assessment of voice, resonance, and motor speech disorders; c. instrumental assessment of voice, resonance, and motor speech disorders; d. differential diagnosis of voice, resonance, and motor speech disorders; e. interpretation of assessment data
    • C. Assessment Procedures and Assessment — 4. Receptive and expressive language: a. standard and nonstandard assessment procedures; b. parameters of assessment of receptive and expressive language disorders; c. instrumental assessment of language disorders; d. differential diagnosis of language disorders; e. interpretation of assessment data
    • C. Assessment Procedures and Assessment — 5. Social aspects of communication, including pragmatics: a. standard and nonstandard assessment procedures; b. parameters of assessment of social aspects of communication, including pragmatics; c. differential diagnosis of social communication disorders and pragmatic disorders; d. interpretation of assessment data
    • C. Assessment Procedures and Assessment — 6. Cognitive aspects of communication: a. standard and nonstandard assessment procedures; b. parameters of assessment of cognitive communication disorders; c. differential diagnosis of cognitive communication disorders; d. interpretation of assessment data
    • C. Assessment Procedures and Assessment — 7. Augmentative and alternative communication: a. standard and nonstandard assessment procedures; b. low tech and high tech instrumental assessment procedures; c. parameters of assessment for augmentative and alternative communication; d. interpretation of assessment data
    • C. Assessment Procedures and Assessment — 8. Hearing: a. assessment approaches; b. considerations related to age, developmental status, medical condition, etc.; c. interpretation of assessment (e.g., audiograms and tympanograms) and identification of indicators for referral
    • C. Assessment Procedures and Assessment — 9. Feeding and swallowing: a. instrumental and noninstrumental assessment procedures; b. considerations related to age, developmental status, medical/surgical history, etc.; c. differential diagnosis of feeding and swallowing disorders; d. interpretation of assessment data and indications for referral
    • D. Etiology — 1. Genetic: a. modes of inheritance; b. genetic conditions associated with communication disorders and feeding/swallowing disorders, including common syndromes; c. features of common syndromes and their impact on communication and feeding/swallowing (e.g., Trisomy 21, 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, etc.)
    • D. Etiology — 2. Developmental: a. developmental delay; b. congenital and acquired conditions associated with developmental communication and feeding/swallowing disorders
    • D. Etiology — 3. Disease processes: a. childhood (e.g., congenital vocal fold paralysis, cystic fibrosis); b. acquired (e.g., Bell’s palsy, iatrogenic); c. progressive (e.g., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myopathy)
    • D. Etiology — 4. Auditory problems: a. congenital and childhood hearing loss; b. acquired hearing loss
    • D. Etiology — 5. Neurological: a. congenital (e.g., cerebral palsy); b. acquired (e.g., TBI, neoplasms, stroke)
    • D. Etiology — 6. Structural and functional: a. congenital (e.g., craniofacial anomalies); b. acquired (e.g., head and neck surgery, trauma, and iatrogenic causes); c. functional causes (e.g., velopharyngeal mislearning, vocal misuse)
    • D. Etiology — 7. Psychogenic
  • III. Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation of Treatment (approximately 44 questions; approximately 33% of examination). Speech-language pathologists are responsible for designing and implementing evidence-based treatments to help clients maximize their functioning in communication and/or swallowing. Consequently, the test includes a range of items that pertain to treatment planning, implementation, and evaluation. This topic area includes issues related to the development and evaluation of treatment plans, as well as evidence-based principles and procedures associated with specific communication and swallowing disorders.
    • A. Treatment Planning — 1. Evaluating factors that can affect treatment: a. evaluating the evidence base associated with a particular treatment strategy or approach; b. evaluating the role of client factors such as age, disorder type, disorder severity, concomitant disorders, personal goals/aspirations, and sociocultural background when planning and implementing treatment goals; c. evaluating the role of external factors such as caregivers’ interactions with the client, school or workplace policies, public laws, medications and iatrogenic, and societal stereotypes when planning and implementing treatment goals
    • A. Treatment Planning — 2. Initiating and prioritizing treatment and developing goals: a. processes and procedures for developing comprehensive, appropriate treatment goals; b. processes and procedures associated with integrating assessment results, caregiver or client/patient/student preferences, and treatment outcomes research; c. factors that affect when to begin, modify, or terminate a treatment plan; d. factors that affect the order in which treatment goals are addressed
    • A. Treatment Planning — 3. Determining appropriate treatment details: a. factors related to treatment scheduling (e.g., number and duration of sessions, time and location of sessions); b. factors related to treatment delivery (e.g., individual versus group sessions, sequential or simultaneous targeting of goals); c. personnel requirements (e.g., extent to which caregivers, teachers, peers, etc., are involved with treatment); d. training requirements (e.g., extent to which caregivers, teachers, peers, etc., need to be trained prior to participating in treatment or implementing generalization activities)
    • A. Treatment Planning — 4. Generating a prognosis: a. considering/accounting for client/patient/student factors (e.g., age, motivation, nature of disorder) that can affect treatment outcome; b. considering/accounting for external factors (e.g., family support, availability of services) that can affect treatment outcome
    • A. Treatment Planning — 5. Communicating recommendations: a. procedures, requirements, and best practices for communicating treatment-related recommendations to clients/patients/students and (when appropriate) their family members; b. procedures, requirements, and best practices for communicating treatment-related recommendations to other professionals who are involved in the client/patient/student’s treatment plan; c. principles of interprofessional practice
    • A. Treatment Planning — 6. General treatment principles and procedures: a. general principles and procedures to consider when selecting a treatment (e.g., age, disorder, sociocultural background, severity of impairment, nature of disability)
    • B. Treatment Evaluation — 1. Establishing methods for monitoring treatment progress and outcomes to evaluate assessment and/or treatment plans: a. procedures associated with identifying appropriate measures of treatment progress and treatment outcomes; b. methods associated with measuring baseline performance; c. methods associated with measuring progress while treatment is ongoing; d. procedures associated with modifying progress measures, if necessary, while treatment is ongoing; e. methods associated with evaluating performance when treatment concludes (e.g., short- and long-term outcomes); f. methods associated with determining the social validity of treatment outcomes and the impact of treatment outcomes on a client/patient’s quality of life
    • B. Treatment Evaluation — 2. Follow-up on post-treatment referrals and recommendations
    • C. Treatment — 1. Speech sound production: a. principles and characteristics of interventions used in the treatment of disorders that affect speech sound production; b. strategies for preventing, reducing, or eliminating communicative and/or related (e.g., educational, occupational) disability associated with speech sound production disorders or differences
    • C. Treatment — 2. Fluency: a. principles and characteristics of interventions used in the treatment of fluency disorders; b. strategies for preventing, reducing, or eliminating communicative and/or related (e.g., educational, occupational) disability associated with fluency disorders
    • C. Treatment — 3. Voice, resonance, and motor speech: a. voice (–– principles and characteristics of interventions used in the treatment of voice disorders; –– strategies and procedures for preventing, reducing, or eliminating communicative and/or related (e.g., educational, occupational) disability associated with voice disorders); b. resonance (–– principles and characteristics of interventions used in the treatment of resonance disorders; –– strategies for preventing, reducing, or eliminating communicative and/or related (e.g., educational, occupational) disability associated with resonance disorders); c. motor speech (–– principles and characteristics of interventions used in the treatment of motor speech disorders; –– strategies for preventing, reducing, or eliminating communicative and/or related (e.g., educational, occupational) disability associated with motor speech disorder)
    • C. Treatment — 4. Receptive and expressive language: a. principles and characteristics of interventions used in the treatment of receptive and expressive disorders; b. strategies for preventing, reducing, or eliminating communicative and/or related (e.g., educational, occupational) disabilities associated with receptive and expressive language functioning
    • C. Treatment — 5. Social aspects of communication, including pragmatics: a. principles and characteristics of interventions used to treat social aspects of communication, including pragmatics; b. strategies for preventing, reducing, or eliminating communicative and/or related (e.g., educational, occupational) disability associated with social aspects of communication
    • C. Treatment — 6. Communication impairments related to cognition: a. principles and characteristics of interventions used to treat communication impairments that are related to cognitive functioning; b. srategies for preventing, reducing, or eliminating communicative and/or related (e.g., educational, occupational) disability associated with cognitively based communication impairments
    • C. Treatment — 7. Treatment involving augmentative and alternative communication: a. factors involved in determining candidacy for AAC approaches; b. factors involved in selecting an appropriate AAC approach; c. principles and characteristics of AAC options/strategies; strategies for preventing, reducing, or eliminating communicative and/or related (e.g., educational, occupational) disability in those who use AAC
    • C. Treatment — 8. Hearing and aural rehabilitation: a. principles and characteristics of interventions used in the treatment of hearing loss; b. strategies for preventing, reducing, or eliminating speech-language and/or related (e.g., educational, occupational) disability associated with hearing impairment
    • C. Treatment — 9. Swallowing and feeding: a. rationale for selection of interventions used in the treatment of swallowing and feeding disorders based on evaluation data; b. other factors (outside of evaluation data) affecting the likelihood of success for a given treatment for feeding/swallowing disorders; c. strategies for preventing, reducing, or eliminating swallowing and feeding disorders; d. strategies for reducing the common health-related adverse consequences of swallowing and feeding disorders
Examination sources