CCC-SLP stands for Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology, issued by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). If you see those credentials after a clinician's name — John Smith, MA CCC-SLP — you're looking at a licensed and ASHA-certified speech-language pathologist who has met the full set of academic, clinical, and examination requirements for independent practice.
The CCC-SLP is the gold standard credential in speech-language pathology. It's not the same as state licensure (though the two are closely aligned), and it's not just about passing an exam — it requires completing an accredited graduate program, accumulating supervised clinical hours, and passing the Praxis exam in Speech-Language Pathology.
This guide explains what the CCC-SLP requires, what MA CCC-SLP means, and how to build the clinical competence the credential demands.
When you see MA CCC-SLP, you're reading two credentials:
MA — Master of Arts degree. Speech-language pathology requires a graduate-level degree as a credential prerequisite. Most SLPs hold an MA or MS (Master of Science); some programs award other graduate degrees. The master's component comes first.
CCC-SLP — Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology from ASHA. This is the professional credential that follows the academic degree.
Some clinicians also hold a CF designation (Clinical Fellowship Year) during the transition period between graduate school completion and full CCC certification — if you see CF-SLP, that person has completed their graduate degree and Praxis exam but is still in the supervised fellowship year required for CCC.
ASHA's requirements for the CCC-SLP are detailed in the 2020 Standards for the Certificate of Clinical Competence. The core requirements:
Academic degree: Graduate degree (master's or doctoral) in speech-language pathology from a program accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA). A degree from a non-CAA accredited program doesn't satisfy this requirement.
Academic coursework: Specific course content across foundational sciences (biological, physical, behavioral, social) and professional areas (articulation, fluency, voice, resonance, language, hearing, swallowing, cognitive communication, and related areas). The 2020 standards specify 400 clock hours of supervised clinical practicum — a substantial increase from prior standards.
400 supervised clinical practicum hours: Including at least 25 hours of observation and 375 hours of direct client contact across the lifespan and across disorder types. These hours accumulate during graduate training under clinical supervisors.
Praxis Exam in Speech-Language Pathology: The ETS Praxis SLP exam (test code 5331) is required for CCC certification. Passing score is 162 on a 100–200 scale. This is a comprehensive exam covering the full scope of SLP practice — our practice tests build the knowledge base needed to approach it successfully.
Clinical Fellowship: After completing the graduate degree and Praxis exam, CCC applicants complete a Clinical Fellowship (CF) of at least 36 weeks of full-time clinical experience (or part-time equivalent) under ASHA-certified mentorship. The CF is where academic knowledge is consolidated into independent clinical competence.
The Praxis 5331 is a 132-item, computer-based exam covering the full scope of speech-language pathology practice. It's scored on a 100–200 scale with a passing threshold of 162. Most states use the Praxis as part of their SLP licensure process as well as ASHA certification — so passing it once typically satisfies both requirements.
The exam covers seven content areas:
Our CCC Language Disorders in Children 2, CCC Speech Sound Disorders 2, and CCC Swallowing and Feeding Disorders 2 practice tests drill the disorder-specific content that makes up the majority of the Praxis exam.
The Praxis tests fluency and voice at a level of detail that graduate coursework sometimes doesn't fully cover. Stuttering — its neurology, behavioral treatment approaches (modified stuttering, fluency shaping), measurement systems, and psychosocial dimensions — tends to be a weak area for candidates who've had limited clinical exposure to fluency clients.
Voice disorders span functional and structural/organic categories: dysphonia from muscle tension, polyps, nodules, paralysis, neurological conditions (Parkinson's, spasmodic dysphonia). Voice therapy approaches (resonant voice therapy, Lee Silverman Voice Treatment, vocal hygiene, botulinum toxin coordination for spasmodic dysphonia) are tested both conceptually and in case-based scenarios.
Our CCC Fluency and Voice Disorders 2 practice test targets these specific content areas with Praxis-style questions.
The CF is 36 weeks of at least 35 hours per week of clinical work (or a proportionally longer part-time equivalent). Your CF Mentor must hold a current CCC-SLP, and you're required to have regular mentoring contacts throughout the fellowship period.
The CF isn't just a waiting period — it's explicitly designed to develop clinical competence and independence. Your mentor evaluates your skills across knowledge, skills, and clinical activities using the Clinical Fellowship Skills Inventory (CFSI). At the end of the CF, you submit paperwork to ASHA documenting completion, and your CCC is then awarded.
Common CF settings: hospital inpatient and outpatient, school districts, private practice, skilled nursing facilities, and early intervention programs. Hospital settings tend to offer the broadest exposure to medical complexity (dysphagia, neurogenic disorders, TBI); schools provide intensive pediatric language and articulation exposure. Many new SLPs seek CF positions that complement their graduate school clinical experiences.
The CCC-SLP is a professional credential; state licensure is a legal requirement. They're closely aligned — most states require the Praxis exam and education standards very similar to ASHA's CCC requirements — but they're separate. You need state licensure to practice; CCC is optional but professionally expected in most settings.
Some settings explicitly require CCC: private insurance billing often requires CCC-SLP credentials for reimbursement. Schools sometimes accept educational certification in lieu of CCC. Hospitals and healthcare systems almost universally hire CCC-SLP clinicians.
The overlap between ASHA's CCC-SLP credential and state licensure requirements is high, but candidates should understand both requirements for their specific practice state.
The CCC-SLP requires demonstrated clinical competence — not just passing an exam. But the Praxis exam is the objective gateway to certification, and thorough content mastery is what makes you effective in both the exam and the clinical fellowship.
Our CCC practice tests cover every major disorder category: language disorders in children and adults, speech sound disorders, fluency and voice, swallowing and feeding, and cognitive-communication. Each test uses case-style and knowledge-based questions that mirror the Praxis format.
Start with our free CCC Practice Test for a comprehensive baseline, then drill specific domains with our disorder-specific tests. Use our CCC practice test PDF for printable study materials. Combined with your graduate coursework and clinical exposure, this targeted practice is how you walk into the Praxis confident and prepared. Check our CCC-SLP certification guide for the full requirements breakdown and timeline planning.