How to Become a Speech-Language Pathologist in California

In 2013, the California Department of Managed Health Care reached an agreement with UnitedHealthcare of California and U.S. Behavioral Health Plan, California concerning coverage of medically necessary speech therapy. Separately, California continues to show strong projected demand for SLPs.

The California Employment Development Department projects a 27.6% increase in SLP employment from 2022 to 2032, from 17,400 to 22,200 jobs statewide. California also has the highest state median SLP wage in the nation, at $118,970 per year based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data. If you’re considering this rewarding career path in the Golden State, here’s exactly what you need to know.

Step 1: Earn a Master’s Degree in Speech Therapy (Speech-Language Pathology)

To meet California Board requirements, you need a master’s degree or equivalent in speech-language pathology from an accredited educational institution, along with at least 60 semester units of qualifying coursework. California also requires 300 hours of supervised clinical practicum completed in three different clinical settings.

California has multiple CAA-accredited SLP graduate programs at campus locations throughout the state. CAA-accredited online and hybrid programs can also offer a flexible alternative to campus-based study. If you choose an online program, confirm that the degree and clinical placements satisfy California Board requirements and, if you plan to pursue the CCC-SLP, current ASHA certification requirements.

Prerequisites and Admissions Requirements

If you hold a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders or a related discipline, you may already have many of the prerequisite courses required by graduate programs. Applicants with unrelated bachelor’s degrees often complete prerequisite or leveling coursework before beginning graduate SLP study.

Depending on the university, prerequisite coursework may include subjects such as:

• Neuroanatomy and Physiology of Communication
• Phonetics and Phonemics of American English
• Introduction to Audiology
• Speech and Language Development in Children
• Anatomy and Physiology of Speech and Hearing Mechanisms
• Audiology: Intervention Strategies across the Lifespan
• Science of Language

Admissions requirements vary substantially by program. Schools may request transcripts, recommendations, a resume or statement of purpose, and prerequisite coursework. GRE policies, GPA expectations, and expectations for clinical or volunteer experience differ by institution, so applicants should confirm each graduate program’s current requirements.

Coursework and Practicum

A master’s degree in communicative sciences and disorders involves studying linguistics, psychology, physiology, and physical science.

Core courses typically include:

• Speech-Language Screening of Children
• Clinical Processes
• Clinical Issues in Aural Rehabilitation
• Dysphagia
• Research Methods in Communication Sciences and Disorders
• Voice, Resonance, and Fluency Disorders
• Phonology and Phonological Disorders
• Acquired Neuromotor Speech Disorders
• Augmentative Communication
• Language, Cognition and the Brain

CAA-accredited graduate programs are designed to provide the academic and clinical preparation needed for ASHA’s CCC-SLP certification. You can also boost your knowledge in specific therapies or disorders through elective coursework in areas like Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Craniofacial Anomalies, Language and Communication in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Interdisciplinary Case-Based Dysphagia Management.

Your master’s program also involves supervised clinical experiences through a practicum. California requires at least 300 supervised clinical practicum hours completed in three different clinical settings for licensure. ASHA separately requires a minimum of 400 supervised clinical experience hours for the CCC-SLP credential, so students pursuing both California licensure and the CCC-SLP will generally complete the higher ASHA requirement.

Step 2: Complete 36 Weeks of Required Professional Experience (RPE)

In California, you’ll need to complete 36 weeks of full-time (or 72 weeks of part-time) supervised Required Professional Experience (RPE) under an RPE temporary license issued by the Board. If you are also pursuing ASHA’s CCC-SLP, this period may overlap with your Clinical Fellowship when the requirements of both California and ASHA are met.

Your RPE involves supervised professional practice with the patients and communication disorders SLPs encounter in the field. To begin an RPE in California, you’ll apply for an RPE Temporary License from the Board.

Together with the application, you’ll need to include:

• A $35 fee
• A criminal background check requiring fingerprinting
• Transcripts from your graduate program
• Proof of completion of clinical practicum hours during your graduate program
• Professional experience verification detailing who you’ll work for

RPE placement support varies by graduate program and employer. Applicants should confirm the Board’s current RPE requirements and supervision rules before beginning a placement. Professional organizations such as the California Speech-Language-Hearing Association (CSHA) can also help with networking and job resources.

Step 3: Pass the Praxis Speech-Language Pathology Examination

You’ll register online through Praxis for the Speech-Language Pathology Exam. You need to score 162 to meet the requirement for licensure in California and to qualify for CCC-SLP credentials through ASHA.

For preparation, you can review practice questions in the Speech-Language Pathology Study Companion.

The computer-based test consists of 132 questions to be completed over 150 minutes.

The questions fall into these categories:

• Foundation and professional practice (44 questions)
• Screening, assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis (44 questions)
• Planning, implementation, and evaluation of treatment (44 questions)

The exam tests knowledge in:

• Speech production and fluency
• Voice and resonance
• Motor speech disorders
• Receptive and expressive language
• Social aspects of communication, including pragmatics
• Cognitive aspects of communication
• Augmentative and alternative communication
• Hearing, feeding, and swallowing

Praxis 5331 is offered at test centers and, when available under current ETS policies, as an at-home test. Check ETS for current scheduling and delivery options.

Voluntary CCC-SLP Credentialing Through ASHA

Once you’ve met ASHA’s certification requirements, you can apply for the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). The CCC-SLP is a national professional credential and is separate from California licensure. California currently offers an Equivalent Qualifications licensure pathway for applicants who hold a current CCC-SLP. The statutory provision recognizing the CCC-SLP for education and professional-experience equivalency is scheduled to remain in effect only until January 1, 2027, unless California law is amended or extended. You still need the appropriate California license to practice outside a statutory exemption.

CCC-SLP certification is recognized nationwide and some employers may prefer or require it. ASHA application and processing requirements can change, so verify current certification procedures directly with ASHA.

Step 4: Apply for Licensing and Begin Your Career as a Speech-Language Pathologist in California

Once you’ve completed the applicable education, practicum, RPE, and examination requirements, you’ll be eligible to apply for permanent licensure through the California Board. The current application fee for a speech-language pathologist license is $150.

As a newly licensed SLP in California, you’ll typically begin your career in one of three ways:

Join the Clinic that Provided Your Supervised Professional Experience

You may want to continue working for the clinic or organization where you completed your required professional experience, depending on available positions and the employer’s hiring needs.

Start an Independent Practice or Partnership

In California, you can begin an independent practice once you’re licensed. Independent practitioners enjoy flexibility and can work with specific patient populations, such as children or the elderly. This comes with the overhead of marketing, managing, and owning your own business.

Pursue Job Openings

You can pursue jobs with employers statewide, including hospitals, clinics, healthcare facilities, schools, and speech-language pathology practices.

If you plan to work as an SLP in California public schools, review the Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential issued by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. California law exempts personnel who hold the appropriate CTC credential from Board licensure when they practice within the public preschool, elementary, or secondary school that employs them and do not provide SLP services to the public for separate compensation. A California SLP license remains necessary for practice outside an applicable exemption.

Step 5: Keep Your License Current and Complete Continuing Education Requirements

You must renew your California SLP license every two years by completing a renewal form and submitting it to the Board. You can also pay for renewals online.

To renew, you must complete 24 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) through approved providers. For your first renewal only, you’ll need to complete 12 hours. You’re not required to submit proof of completion with every renewal, but you must keep records in case they’re requested during an audit.

The following restrictions apply to CPD hours:

• For a regular 24-hour renewal period, a maximum of 12 hours may be completed through self-study
• For a regular 24-hour renewal period, a maximum of 6 hours may be from indirect patient/client care courses
• For the first 12-hour renewal, a maximum of 6 hours may be completed through self-study
• For the first 12-hour renewal, a maximum of 3 hours may be from indirect patient/client care courses
• Current rules removed the former limitation on the number of CPD hours that may come from qualifying courses related to the practice of speech-language pathology, including direct patient/client care courses

Qualifying CPD providers include:

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
• American Academy of Audiology (AAA)
• California Medical Association – Institute for Medical Quality (CMA)
• Accredited Universities
• Board-approved Professional Development Providers

Speech-Language Pathology Salary in California

California has the highest state median wage for speech-language pathologists, at $118,970 annually based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data. That’s about $57.20 an hour. The 10th percentile is $79,750, while the 90th percentile is $160,900.

BLS estimates that California employs about 16,930 speech-language pathologists. The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim metro area alone employs about 4,800 SLPs.

Top-Paying California Metro Areas

Several California metro areas rank among the highest-paying markets for speech-language pathologists, including El Centro, San Jose, San Francisco, Santa Rosa, Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, Sacramento, Napa, and Salinas.

Salaries for Speech-Language Pathologists Throughout California’s Major Cities

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics provides wage data for speech-language pathologists in major metro areas throughout California. The table below shows May 2025 annual wage estimates at the 10th percentile, median, and 90th percentile:

Frequently Asked Questions

May 2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics wage figures for Speech-Language Pathologists reflect occupational wage data. California and metro salary figures are drawn from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state and area tables. California employment projections are from the California Employment Development Department. Conditions in your area may vary. Data reviewed August 2026.