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Washington State University
Washington State University Office of the Provost

Policies Licensures

The following is a list of all Washington State University degrees (undergrad, professional, graduate) that lead to state licensure in the respective field. States in which WSU curriculum does not meet that state’s requirement for the licensure exam are noted, by college. Students may consult the Professional Licensure Directory for general contact information to assist in research on state licensure requirements in their locations.

College of Arts and Sciences

Psychology

In the table linked below, an asterisk (*) indicates that earning a doctoral degree from a program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) is deemed to meet the educational requirements for licensure in that state. The Clinical Psychology PhD Program in the Department of Psychology at WSU is currently accredited by APA, and has been continuously since 1956. Please note that this table does not include an evaluation of state-specific requirements beyond that of educational or curricular requirements.

Clinical Psychology PhD State Licensure Disclosure

College of Education

Educator licensure is governed at the state level. Candidates who complete Washington State University’s state approved preparation programs for teachers and administrators will be recommended to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) for licensure. Information regarding reciprocity and what states will accept Washington’s certificates can be found online: https://www.teaching-certification.com/reciprocity-certification.html.

Educators should be aware that each state has specific requirements that they may be required to complete for full licensure. Most often, this is specific testing. Since WSU’s programs are state approved, the state they are moving to will usually give the candidate 1-3 years to meet any outstanding requirements required by the new state.

College of Nursing

The nursing degrees offered by WSU are nationally accredited and recognized in all 50 states.

Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine

Medicine

MD degree does not lead directly to state licensure and graduates are not eligible for licensure immediately after graduation, but instead prepares students for the related exams.

Nutrition & Exercise Physiology

The Master of Science Coordinated Program in Dietetics, Nutrition and Exercise Physiology prepares graduates to test for the credentialing exam for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. This national exam is recognized by the U.S. 50 states, Washington D.C. and U.S. territories.

Due to the CDR RDN credentialing exam being a national exam and the NEP program being accredited by ACEND, our curriculum meets every state’s requirements for licensure or certification.

Each state does have different requirements if the RDN chooses to become licensed or certified in the state of their residence or job requirements. The Commission on Dietetic Registration provides the details: https://www.cdrnet.org/state-licensure

Speech-Language Pathology

Summary: WSU Students graduating with a Master of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences/ Speech-Language Pathology are eligible for licensure and public school credentialing in all six northwest states and California. Review of the other 43 states is underway.

Washington

License Requirements:          

  • Master’s degree or doctorate degree or equivalent from a Board-approved institution of higher learning
  • Supervised clinical practicum
  • 36 weeks full-time or part time equivalent postgraduate professional work experience
  • Passage of an exam [e.g., Praxis]
  • Completion of four clock hours in AIDS education and training

Public School Requirements (i.e., K-12 Credential):

  • The candidate shall have completed all course work (except special project or thesis) for a master’s degree from a college or university program accredited by the American Speech and Hearing Association (ASHA) with a major in speech pathology or audiology. Such program shall include satisfactory completion of a written comprehensive examination. If any candidate has not completed a written comprehensive examination, the candidate may present verification from ASHA of a passing score on the National Teacher’s Examination in speech pathology or audiology as a condition for certification (i.e., Praxis).
  • The candidate shall complete the professional transitions to public schools course work under WAC 181-79A-224.

School Speech Language Pathologist/Audiologist (Continuing Certificate)

  • The candidate shall hold a master’s degree in speech pathology or audiology.
  • The candidate shall have completed two years full-time equivalency (FTE) in the role in Washington with a school district, state-approved private school, or state agency that provides educational services for students.
  • The candidate shall have completed the requirements for the initial certificate as a speech language pathologist or audiologist and have completed one hundred fifty continuing education credit hours related to speech language pathology, audiology, other health sciences, or education since the first issuance of the initial certificate.

Alaska

License Requirements: Has a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC) in speech-language pathology from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or the equivalent of the certificate. [A temporary license is provided to those in the process of completing a year of supervised clinical experience for the ASHA CCC-SLP].

Public School Requirements:

  • Special Services Certificate (Type C) Endorsed in Speech, Language, or Hearing Certificate (valid for 5 years) – does not qualify for assignment as a classroom teacher or school administrator
  • Master’s or higher degree with a major emphasis in speech-language pathology, audiology, or speech-language and hearing science or a Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA
  • Recommendation for endorsement by an institution with a program approved by NCATE or ASHA
  • Six semester hours or nine quarter hours taken within the past five years: Three semester hours of approved Alaska studies and three semester hours of multicultural education or cross-cultural communications
  • Complete application packet, which includes a signed and notarized application, an institutional recommendation form, official transcripts, two sets of completed fingerprint cards, and all fees

California

License Requirements:

  • Master’s degree in speech-language pathology from an educational institution approved by the Board (60 semester units).
  • Completion of a 300 hour supervised clinical practice with a wide variety of ages and communication disorders under the direction of an educational institution approved by the Board.
  • Evidence of completion of no less than 36 weeks of supervised professional full-time experience or 72 weeks of professional part-time experience obtained under the supervision of a licensed speech-language pathologist.
  • Passage of a Board-approved examination [e. g, Praxis].

Public School Requirements (i.e., credential):

  • The minimum requirements for the preliminary Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential include (1) through (5). Hold or has been recommended for a master’s degree or higher in speech-language pathology from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. The master’s degree program must be accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s Council on Academic Accreditation;
  • Completion of one of the following:
    • a Commission-approved specialized and professional preparation program in speech-language pathology in Language, Speech and Hearing based on the Education Specialist Teaching and Other Related Services Credentials Program Standards (rev. 3/11) available on the Commission’s website and hereby incorporated by reference, as provided in Education Code section 44373(c); or
    • a professional preparation program in speech-language pathology services including successful completion of a supervised field work, or the equivalent, in a program taken outside California that is comparable to a program accredited by the Committee on Accreditation. The program must be from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and approved by the appropriate state agency where the course work was completed;
  • Meet the basic skills requirement as described in Education Code Section 44252, unless exempt by statute;
  • One of the following:
    • an individual who completes his or her professional preparation program in California as described in (a)(2)(A) must receive a recommendation from a California regionally accredited institution of higher education that has a preliminary Speech-Language Pathology Services program accredited by the Committee on Accreditation, as provided in Education Code section 44373(c); or
    • an individual who completes his or her professional preparation program outside of California accredited as described in (a)(2)(B), may apply directly to the Commission for the preliminary Speech-Language Pathology Services Credential;
  • An individual who completes requirements (a)(1) and (2)(B), but has not met the basic skills requirement listed in (a)(3) may apply for a one-year nonrenewable credential through a California employing agency.

Idaho

License Requirements:

  • Master’s or doctoral degree with an emphasis in audiology or speech-language pathology from a nationally accredited school with a curriculum approved by the Board
  • Passage of a Praxis exam
  • Complete a supervised academic clinical practicum and supervised postgraduate professional experience approved by the Board

Public School Requirements (i.e., credential):

  • The speech-language pathologist endorsement may be issued by the Certification office to any person who holds a master’s degree from an accredited college or university in a speech-language pathology program approved by the State Board of Education.
  • Applicants must receive an institutional recommendation from an accredited college or university.

Montana

License Requirements:

  • Master’s degree in speech-language pathology or communication disorders from a program accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation;
  • Completion of a clinical practicum;
  • Completion of a 36-week clinical experience with a mentor;
  • Passage of a national exam approved by the Board [e.g., Praxis]; and
  • Passage of a Montana jurisprudence exam.

Public School Requirements (i.e., credential): Audiologists and speech-language pathologists in the public schools are contract employees and do not fall under specific teacher requirements of the State Department of Education.

Oregon

License Requirements:

  • Possesses a master’s degree or doctoral degree or equivalent from an educational institution accredited by an accrediting organization approved by the Board
  • A clinical practicum of 400 clock hours
  • Credit earned for a thesis or capstone project if part of the accredited graduate program
  • Supervised clinical experience for not less than 1,260 hours; supervised by a Certificate of Clinical Competency holder
  • Passage of the Praxis Exam in speech-language pathology
  • Applicants whose first language is not English may be required to submit scores from Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or Test of Spoken English (TSE) to demonstrate English language fluency.

Public School Requirements (i.e., credential): Speech-language pathologists in the public schools are contract employees and do not fall under specific teacher requirements of the State Department of Education.

Wyoming

License Requirements:

  • At least a Master’s degree from an educational institution recognized by the Board
  • Evidence of the completion of educational and clinical experience
  • Pass an examination approved by the board [e.g., Praxis], or
  • Submit evidence of clinical competency by verifying current ASHA or ABA certification.

Public School Requirements (i.e., credential):

  • a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from a regionally or nationally accredited institution,
  • institutional recommendation indicating completion of a teacher preparation program from an accredited institution,
  • Praxis II exam.

College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences