The Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC) is the council that carefully writes the rules and regulations for certification in audiology and speech-language pathology (SLP). The CFCC revised the SLP Standards for Certification, which outline exactly what is needed to receive the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC), a voluntary certification showing that you have met rigorous academic and professional standards, and have the knowledge, skills, and expertise to provide high quality clinical services. These requirements must be met by all applicants, whether educated in the United States or internationally. The Certification Department at ASHA ensures that all standards are equally applied to, and met by, all applicants.
In November 2017, the CFCC announced changes to the SLP certification standards, including a modification to Standard IV-A, in which the physical science requirement must be met by completing coursework in the areas of either chemistry or physics. This change pertains only to applicants who apply under the 2020 SLP standards.
All courses and classes listed in Standards IV-A through IV-C must be completed—and passed—at the undergraduate or graduate level at an accredited institution, and must appear on your undergraduate or graduate transcripts. Classes taken at the high school level are not eligible to meet this requirement, with the exception of advanced placement (AP) courses that appear for credit on your college/university transcript.
Coursework in the areas of biological sciences, physical sciences, social/behavioral sciences, and statistics cannot be related to speech-language pathology, audiology, communication sciences, hearing sciences, or logopedia unless they fulfill a university general education requirement and are available to students who are not majoring in communication sciences and disorders (CSD). Beginning January 1, 2020: applicants' coursework in physical science must include content in either physics or chemistry.
Program directors should carefully consider the content of the prerequisite coursework rather than the course title, ID number, and/or college in which the course was taken. Program directors must evaluate course descriptions or syllabi of courses that were completed prior to students entering their programs in order to determine if the content provides foundational knowledge in physics or chemistry. Program directors from programs accredited by the Council for Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) have the authority to accept or reject previously-completed coursework.
Coursework from massive open online courses (MOOCs) are not accepted. Examples of MOOCs include, but are not limited to: Educause, MOOC.org, edX, Coursera, and Khan Academy.
The following prerequisite course content information is provided as a guide to suggest areas of content in addressing the basic sciences requirements listed in Standard IV-A.
What is biology? The study and characterization of living organisms and the investigation of the science behind living things. Broad areas include: anatomy, biology, cell and molecular biology, computational biology, ecology and evolution, environmental biology, forensic biology, genetics, marine biology, microbiology, molecular biosciences, natural science, neurobiology, neurology, physiology, and zoology.
Internationally-educated applicants: Classes evaluated by your credential evaluation agency as the equivalent of U.S. high school will not be accepted. All basic science classes must appear on your undergraduate or graduate academic transcript(s) and credential evaluation reports.
Program directors must evaluate course descriptions or syllabi to determine if the content provides foundational knowledge in physics or chemistry. Physical science must be met through chemistry or physics only, as a broad understanding of principles in both chemistry and physics is directly applicable to many clinical domains in speech-language pathology. Program directors from programs accredited by the CAA have the authority to accept or reject any previously-completed coursework.
What is physics? The science that deals with matter, energy, motion, and force. A broad survey of physics principles to enable students to appreciate the role of physics in everyday experiences in today's society and technology.
Internationally-educated applicants: Classes evaluated by your credential evaluation agency as the equivalent of U.S. high school will not be accepted. All basic science classes must appear on your undergraduate or graduate academic transcript(s) and credential evaluation reports.
What is chemistry? Chemistry is the scientific study of substances and compounds composed of atoms and molecules, and their structure, properties, behavior, and the changes that occur during reactions with other compounds.
Internationally-educated applicants: Classes evaluated by your credential evaluation agency as the equivalent of U.S. high school will not be accepted. All basic science classes must appear on your undergraduate or graduate academic transcript(s) and credential evaluation reports.
What is statistics? As defined by the American Statistical Association (ASA), statistics is "the science of learning from data, and of measuring, controlling, and communicating uncertainty; and it thereby provides the navigation essential for controlling the course of scientific and societal advances."
A stand-alone course in statistics is required. Courses not accepted:
Internationally-educated applicants: Classes evaluated by your credential evaluation agency as the equivalent of U.S. high school will not be accepted. All basic science classes must appear on your undergraduate or graduate academic transcript(s) and credential evaluation reports.
What are social sciences and behavioral sciences? The systematic analysis and investigation of human and animal behavior through controlled and naturalistic observation and disciplined scientific experimentation. These areas of study attempt to accomplish legitimate, objective conclusions through rigorous formulations and observation.
Internationally-educated applicants: Classes evaluated by your credential evaluation agency as the equivalent of U.S. high school will not be accepted. All basic science classes must appear on your undergraduate or graduate academic transcript(s) and credential evaluation reports.
If you are found to be deficient in any coursework, including the above-listed prerequisite courses, that coursework must be completed at an accredited college or university program prior to beginning your clinical fellowship (CF). Time spent in your CF before completing these courses will not count toward your total (1,260) CF hours.
Once the prerequisite coursework has been completed, you must (1) obtain an official transcript showing completion of these courses
Internationally-educated applicants: Once you have completed the prerequisite coursework, you must (1) obtain an official transcript showing that the courses are complete and (2) submit this transcript with your application for ASHA certification.
University policies and procedures must be followed when considering the acceptance of CLEP or credit by examination options. In most cases, universities will award credit and it will appear on the official university transcript.