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Exam Overview
The Praxis Speech-Language Pathology (5331) test is the national examination in speech-language pathology. It is written by ASHA-certified clinicians and delivered for ASHA by Educational Testing Service (ETS) and its testing subsidiary PSI. It measures the knowledge and clinical judgment expected of a speech-language pathologist entering independent practice. ASHA requires a passing score for the CCC-SLP, and state licensing boards and education agencies use the same test for a license or a school credential.
Test at a Glance
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Questions | 132 selected-response questions (some may be unscored pretest questions) |
| Time | 150 minutes (2.5 hours), with no scheduled break |
| Question format | Multiple choice with four answer choices and one best answer; most questions are built on a short clinical or school case |
| Calculator | Not needed; the few calculations use simple numbers |
| Score scale | Scaled score from 100 to 200 |
| Passing score | 162 for ASHA certification; most state boards use the same score, but confirm with your state |
| Delivery | Computer delivered at a test center or at home with remote proctoring |
| Test fee | $146 under the ETS fee schedule (verify the current fee when you register) |
| Retakes | Allowed after a waiting period, 28 days under ETS policy |
| Scores | An unofficial score usually appears on screen at the end of the test; official scores are posted to your testing account and sent to your score recipients a few weeks later |
Content Categories and Weights
The test has three content categories of equal weight. Each one is tested across the full scope of practice: speech sound production, fluency, voice, resonance and motor speech, receptive and expressive language, social and cognitive aspects of communication, augmentative and alternative communication, hearing, and feeding and swallowing, in children and adults.
| Content category | Approx. questions | Share of test |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Foundations and Professional Practice | 44 | 33% |
| 2. Screening, Assessment, Evaluation, and Diagnosis | 44 | 33% |
| 3. Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation of Treatment | 44 | 33% |
How the Questions Are Written
Scoring
Your raw score is the number of questions you answer correctly; there is no penalty for a wrong answer, so answer every question. ETS converts the raw score to the 100–200 scale so that scores are comparable across test forms. Your score report also shows the points you earned in each content category, which is the best guide to what to review if you need to retake the test.
Sending Scores to ASHA and Your State
- Choose your score recipients when you register: ASHA, your state licensing board or education agency, and your graduate program. Under ETS policy up to four recipients are included in the test fee, and later requests carry an additional fee.
- ASHA accepts only scores sent directly by the testing organization, earned no more than five years before you submit the certification application. Once you apply, you have two years to complete the certification process, including a passing score.
- ASHA recommends taking the test no earlier than the completion of graduate coursework and clinical practicum. Most candidates test near the end of the final year of study or early in the clinical fellowship.
- After you pass, you still complete the clinical fellowship and the application before the CCC-SLP is awarded.
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