To practice as a speech-language pathologist in New York, you need a license from the New York State Education Department (NYSED). The New York SLP license requirements are a qualifying master’s degree, at least 400 hours of supervised graduate practicum, 36 weeks of post-graduate supervised professional experience, a passing score on the national Praxis exam, and a completed application with a $294 fee. One quirk to know up front: the license itself never expires, but the registration attached to it does, and you renew that every three years with 30 hours of continuing competency.
Education
You need at least a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from a program accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) or an equivalent body recognized by NYSED. A bachelor’s degree does not qualify.1New York State Senate. New York Education Law EDN 8206 – Requirements for a Professional License
Your program must include at least 75 semester hours, with a minimum of 36 at the graduate level, distributed across three categories:2New York State Education Department Office of the Professions. License Requirements for Speech-Language Pathology
- 12 semester hours in human communication processes and sciences, covering anatomy and physiology of speech and swallowing, cognitive and linguistic foundations of language, and the neural bases of speech, hearing, language, and swallowing.
- 36 semester hours in professional practice areas, including assessment and treatment of articulation, fluency, voice and resonance, receptive and expressive language, literacy, hearing, and swallowing disorders, plus multicultural issues.
- 27 additional semester hours in topics such as audiology and aural rehabilitation, augmentative and alternative communication, research methodology, counseling, professional ethics, and infection control as it relates to communication disorders.
You also need a one-time, two-hour training in child abuse identification and reporting from an NYSED-approved provider. Proof goes in with your license application.3New York State Education Department. Child Abuse Prevention Training
Clinical Experience
Graduate Practicum
Your graduate program must build in a supervised clinical practicum of at least 400 clock hours. The supervising clinician must be a licensed SLP or hold ASHA’s Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP).2New York State Education Department Office of the Professions. License Requirements for Speech-Language Pathology
Supervised Professional Experience
After graduation, you complete at least 36 weeks of supervised professional experience. NYSED defines a qualifying week as no fewer than 35 clock hours, which puts the total at 1,260 hours or more. All 36 weeks must be finished within four years of completing your educational program.4Office of the Professions, New York State Education Department. Part 75, Speech-Language Pathology – Section 75.2 Experience in Speech-Language Pathology
Your supervisor has to hold a current New York SLP license for the entire period. Hours logged under a lapsed license will not count. The supervisor verifies your competency at the end, and mismatched or incomplete documentation is one of the most common reasons applications stall.
Limited License While You Finish Your Experience
You do not have to wait until every requirement is done to see clients. If you have finished your graduate program but are still working through your 36 weeks, you can apply for a limited license, which lets you practice under supervision while you log qualifying hours. It was authorized under Chapter 202 of the Laws of 2017.5New York State Education Department Office of the Professions. Limited License in Speech-Language Pathology
The limited license does not shorten the experience requirement. Once you complete the 36 weeks and pass the Praxis exam, you apply for your full license.
Praxis Examination
You must pass the Praxis Speech-Language Pathology exam, test code 5331, administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). It contains 132 selected-response questions over 150 minutes and costs $146.6Educational Testing Service. Speech-Language Pathology (5331)
Questions cover assessment and treatment of communication disorders, professional ethics, and service delivery. NYSED requires a passing score of 162, matching the standard set by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). The exam is computer-based, available at testing centers or by remote proctor, and you can direct scores to NYSED during registration. If you don’t pass, you register and pay again.
Application and Fees
Once your education, supervised experience, and Praxis are complete, you submit your application to NYSED’s Office of the Professions. The total initial cost is $294: a $115 non-refundable application fee and $179 for the first three-year registration.7The University of the State of New York The State Education Department. Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Form 1 Application for Licensure
Three forms have to reach NYSED, each from a different party:
- Form 1 comes from you. It covers personal details, educational history, and disclosures about criminal convictions or prior disciplinary actions. You can file it online through NYSED’s portal.8Office of the Professions. Online Form 1 – Application for Licensure Speech-Language Pathologists
- Form 2 comes from your graduate institution, certifying your professional education.
- Form 4 comes from your supervisor, confirming your supervised hours.
NYSED does not process partial applications. Coordinate with your program and supervisor early so nothing is left waiting on someone else.
Registration Renewal and Continuing Competency
Your New York SLP license never expires. Your registration does, and you need a current registration to legally practice. The registration period is three years, and the renewal fee is $179.9New York State Education Department. Fees – Office of the Professions
To reregister, you must complete 30 hours of continuing competency during each three-year cycle. The requirement sits in Section 8209 of the Education Law and applies to every actively practicing licensed SLP.10New York State Education Department Office of the Professions. Continuing Education for Speech-Language Pathology
Practicing without a current registration can lead to penalties. A short lapse is usually resolved by paying outstanding fees and confirming continuing competency. Longer gaps may require evidence of recent professional activity, additional supervised work, or in some cases retaking the Praxis.
The CCC-SLP Is Separate From Your State License
New York’s license and ASHA’s CCC-SLP are two different credentials. The state license is what the law requires. The CCC-SLP is voluntary, but many employers, insurance panels, and school districts require or strongly prefer it.
The requirements overlap heavily. ASHA also expects a graduate degree from a CAA-accredited program, at least 36 weeks and 1,260 hours of clinical fellowship experience, and a Praxis score of 162. If you have met New York’s requirements, you have likely satisfied most of ASHA’s.11American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. A Guide to the ASHA Clinical Fellowship Experience
Maintenance is where they diverge. ASHA requires its own 30 professional development hours every three years to keep the CCC-SLP active, separate from state continuing competency, and extra hours do not carry over between cycles.12American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Professional Development Requirements for ASHA Certification Maintenance and Reinstatement Applications
Interstate Compact Status
The Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC) lets licensed SLPs practice across state lines without a separate license in each state. As of 2025, 37 states had enacted the compact, with several issuing compact privileges.13ASLPCompact. Compact Map
New York has not enacted the compact. Legislation was introduced in 2025. Until it passes, a New York SLP cannot use compact privileges elsewhere, and an out-of-state SLP cannot use a compact privilege to practice in New York.