How to Verify a Speech-Language Pathologist License

SLP vs. audiologist: different credential paths

The field of communication sciences and disorders includes two related but distinct professions, each with its own certification and licensure pathway:

• Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) — hold a master's degree (MS, MA, or MEd) in communication sciences and disorders from a CAA-accredited program. The national credential is the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). State licensure is required in all 50 states and DC.
• Audiologists (AuD) — since 2012, the entry-level degree for audiology has been the Doctor of Audiology (AuD). The national credential is the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology (CCC-A). State licensure is required in all 50 states and DC. Note: some audiologists also hold the ABA (American Board of Audiology) certification as an alternative or supplemental credential.
• Speech-Language Pathology Assistants (SLPA) — work under SLP supervision. SLPAs require an associate's or bachelor's degree and state authorization; many states require SLPAs to hold a separate SLPA license or registration. Verify SLPA credentials through the state SLP licensing board.

Step 1: Verify ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC)

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) awards the CCC-SLP and CCC-A credentials to practitioners who complete the required education, clinical experience, and national examination. The CCC is the de facto national credential for SLPs and audiologists — most states require it for initial licensure or accept it as a basis for licensure by endorsement.

Using ASHA's verification portal

ASHA offers a public certification verification tool at asha.org/certification/verify-certification. You can search by name to confirm:

• Whether the individual holds an active CCC-SLP or CCC-A
• Certification status (certified, not certified)
• Whether any disciplinary actions have been taken by ASHA

ASHA CCC maintenance requirements

ASHA CCCs are renewed in three-year cycles through continuing education (30 hours per renewal period). A CCC that has lapsed due to failure to complete continuing education requirements shows as "not certified" in ASHA's database. Many states allow a grace period but require active CCC for full practice authorization — confirm the certificate is currently active, not just that it was obtained at some point.

Step 2: Verify the state SLP or audiology license

All 50 states and the District of Columbia require SLPs and audiologists to hold a state license. State licensure and ASHA CCC are separate credentials — both must be verified independently. An active ASHA CCC does not guarantee an active state license, and vice versa.

Finding the state SLP licensing board

ASHA maintains a state licensing agency directory at asha.org/advocacy/state/state-regulation-of-audiologists-and-slps. Alternatively, search "[state name] speech-language pathology licensing board" to reach the state portal. Most states offer free public license lookup by name or license number.

What to confirm in the state board lookup

1. License status is active, not expired, suspended, or revoked
2. License type matches role (SLP vs. audiologist vs. SLPA — each requires a separate license)
3. License expiration date is current
4. No conditions, supervisory requirements, or disciplinary actions on the license
5. License number matches documentation provided by the candidate

Multi-state practice: SLP Compact

The SLP Compact allows SLPs licensed in member states to practice in other Compact member states without obtaining additional licensure. As of early 2026, the SLP Compact has been enacted in over 30 states. If an SLP claims to practice across state lines under Compact privileges, verify their home state license is active and that both states are Compact members. The Compact does not replace the home state license — if the home state license lapses, Compact privileges are automatically suspended.

Step 3: Verify CAA program accreditation

The Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA), operating under ASHA, is the recognized accreditor for graduate programs in speech-language pathology and audiology. CAA accreditation is required for graduates to be eligible for ASHA CCC certification and, in most states, for state licensure.

Checking CAA accreditation

Search the CAA-accredited program directory at asha.org/caa/accredited-programs. Confirm:

• The program holds current CAA accreditation or held it at the candidate's graduation date
• The program type matches (SLP master's vs. audiology AuD)
• Accreditation status is "accredited" — not "probation" or "withdrawn"

A degree from a program that was not CAA-accredited at graduation does not qualify the holder for ASHA CCC certification or, in most states, for state licensure. This is a hard disqualifier in most credentialing contexts.

Degree conferral verification

Confirm the master's or doctoral degree was actually conferred via the National Student Clearinghouse DegreeVerify or directly with the university registrar. CAA accreditation confirms the program; degree conferral confirms the individual completed it.

Step 4: Verifying SLPs in K-12 school settings

SLPs employed in public K-12 schools often hold a second credential in addition to or instead of the ASHA CCC: the state education department's school speech-language pathologist credential or certificate. These credentialing requirements vary by state:

• Some states require the ASHA CCC for school SLPs in addition to the state SLP license or a school credential.
• Other states issue a separate "school speech-language pathologist" certificate through the state department of education, which may have different education or examination requirements than the clinical SLP license.
• Some states allow clinical SLP licensees to work in schools under their clinical license without a separate school credential.

Verify both the applicable state SLP license and any state education department credential required for the school setting. ASHA maintains a state-by-state school credentialing overview at asha.org/slp/schools.

7 red flags in SLP and audiologist credentials

1. CCC-SLP not found in ASHA's verification portal — an SLP who cannot be verified through ASHA's public portal either does not hold the CCC or the name does not match. Follow up with the candidate to resolve the discrepancy; do not accept the claimed credential without verification.
2. State license expired, suspended, or revoked — an expired state SLP license prohibits clinical practice in that state, regardless of ASHA CCC status. Always verify the expiration date from the state board record.
3. Degree from a program not found in CAA's accredited database — a degree from a program that was never CAA-accredited is incompatible with ASHA CCC certification in most circumstances. Investigate further; the program may be foreign or the degree claim may be fabricated.
4. ASHA disciplinary action or ethics violation — ASHA can revoke or suspend CCC credentials for ethics code violations. ASHA's verification portal indicates disciplinary actions. Any sanction should be escalated to compliance.
5. SLPA working beyond scope of supervision — SLPAs must practice under SLP supervision. An SLPA working without documented supervision or performing tasks beyond SLPA scope is a compliance and liability issue. Verify both the SLPA's credential and the supervising SLP's license.
6. Claimed Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY) that cannot be documented — new graduates with a master's degree must complete a clinical fellowship year (CFY) under ASHA CCC-SLP supervision before receiving the CCC. An SLP claiming the CCC credential without completing the CFY has not met certification requirements. ASHA's records reflect CFY completion.
7. AuD degree claimed for graduation year before AuD programs existed — the first AuD programs were established in the early 1990s; the AuD became the entry-level requirement as of 2012. An audiologist claiming an AuD with a graduation year in the 1980s cannot have earned the AuD degree — they may hold an MS or PhD in audiology, which is still valid, but the degree claim should match the credential.

Verification resources at a glance

SLP and audiologist credential verification checklist