General Information About ASHA Certification

What Does it Mean to Be Certified?

Being "certified" means holding the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC), a nationally recognized professional credential that represents a level of excellence in the field of Audiology (CCC-A) or Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). Those who have achieved the CCC—ASHA certification—have voluntarily met rigorous academic and professional standards, typically going beyond the minimum requirements for state licensure. They have the knowledge, skills, and expertise to provide high quality clinical services, and they actively engage in ongoing professional development to keep their certification current.

The standards for certification for audiology and speech-language pathology are established by audiologists and speech-language pathologists, respectively, who are members of ASHA's Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC). Certificate holders are expected to uphold these standards and abide by ASHA's Code of Ethics. More than 220,000 professionals currently hold ASHA certification.

ASHA adheres to principles of fairness and due process and endorses the principles of equal opportunity. In administering the certification programs, ASHA does not discriminate or deny opportunity to anyone on the basis of race, color, creed, age, gender, national origin, religion, disability, marital status, parental status, ancestry, sexual orientation, military discharge status, source of income, or any other status protected by applicable law. All candidates for certification will be judged solely on the published eligibility criteria determined by the CFCC.

The selected provider of the national certification examination will adhere to principles of fairness and due process and endorse the principles of equal opportunity. ASHA has selected Educational Testing Service (ETS) and the Praxis examination as the national examination for certification for the CCC-A and CCC-SLP programs. ETS does not discriminate or deny opportunity to anyone on the basis of race, color, creed, age, gender, national origin, religion, disability, marital status, parental status, ancestry, sexual orientation, military discharge status, source of income, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Why Choose ASHA Certification?

ASHA is the nation's leading professional, credentialing, and scientific organization for speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech/language/hearing scientists.
ASHA has been the guardian of the professions since 1926 and initiated the development of national standards for the professions.
ASHA has been certifying professionals since 1952.
ASHA collaborates with the ETS in developing the national examinations for both professions. No other certification body for these professions can make that claim.
ASHA's certification standards are based on skills validation studies and practice analyses involving employers, leaders in the discipline of communication sciences and disorders, and practitioners in the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology.
ASHA certification is not contingent upon membership in any professional organization.