Indiana Speech-Language Pathologist Licensure Guide - 2024

Initial Indiana Speech Pathologist Licensure Process

The licensing agency for speech-language pathologists is the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA). Licensees must renew their certification every two years to remain compliant with the state’s rules and regulations for speech-language pathologists.

If you want to work in the Indiana school system, you’ll need to also be licensed by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE).

Education Requirements

The minimum education requirement for an SLP is a master’s degree in speech pathology, or an equivalent certification in speech-language pathology from a school recognized by the Indiana Board of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology.

Experience Requirements

Gaining hands-on experience by working directly with patients is another prerequisite for becoming licensed in the field of speech-language pathology. Indiana requires students to complete 400 hours of direct clinical experience to be overseen by an SLP with a current license.

Supervisors must have a certificate of clinical competence (CCC) issued by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). If they don’t have a CCC, a life license from the Indiana Department of Education can be substituted if it was obtained before September 1, 1990.

You also need to complete the SLP Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY). It begins after you’ve graduated and gained the education needed to begin working with clients. In some instances, the CFY may start before you graduate, but all requirements have already been met. If this is the case, the school you’re attending needs to submit a letter to Board indicating you’ve met all standards and your date of graduation.

Before you can start the CFY, you will need to fill out an application and send in additional documentation if applicable.

You can submit your CFY application online through the state’s licensing portal, or mail a paper copy to:

The application fee is $50 and can be paid by check or money order if you mail it in. When completing the information online, you may use a debit or credit card for payment.

Your CFY is a nine-month experience of full-time employment. The experience cannot run longer than 18 months, and you cannot work less than 15 hours a week if you expect to fulfill the requirement. If you do not complete the CFY in the allotted time frame, you will have to register again and any hours gained during your first experience cannot be rolled over.

After completing this portion of your training, you are eligible to apply for licensure.

Testing Requirements

The Educational Testing Service (ETS) is the agency that administers the Praxis exam for speech-language pathology. The test is approved by ASHA and measures your competency in the discipline.

You’ll need to take Praxis exam 5331 for speech-language pathology and can register for the test on the website. You can also complete your registration over the phone or by mail.

Before registering over the phone, set up your Praxis account. You will have to take your test at a center in the U.S. and pay a $35 surcharge. You have up to four days before your scheduled exam to make the payment by calling (800) 772-9476.

To register by mail, fill out a Test Authorization Voucher Request Form and mail it to:

You’ll need a list of codes to fill out the form, which can be found here. After three weeks you’ll receive a voucher with registration instructions. Be sure to print your admission ticket if visiting a test center as one will not be mailed to you.

Indiana also requires you to set up an account with the License Verification and Information System (LVIS). You can then log in and choose the correct application for the speech-pathologist license. You will be prompted to upload any additional documents if applicable.

Your scores are automatically sent to the Board if you test in-state. If testing out-of-state, you will have to select the Indiana Department of Education (code 7238) when registering for the exam. That indicates a copy of the final scores must be sent to them.

Be sure to read the Praxis Tests Information Bulletin for a full break down of what to expect. The registration fee for the speech-language pathology exam is $146.

If you do not pass the exam, you can take it 28 days after the last testing date. There is no limit on the number of times you can retake the exam, but you will need a score of 162 on a scale of 100-200 to pass.

Background Checks

All applicants are subject to a national criminal background check (CBC). After submitting your application to the Board, they will email you with the application’s processing date and your specific service code.

Once you receive this email, you must have your fingerprints captured and submitted in order for the CBC to be valid. Any fingerprints submitted prior to the email being sent will be rejected and delay the processing of your application, so be sure to wait until you receive the email to proceed.

After you receive the email, register with IdentoGO to find a fingerprinting location near you. Detailed instructions outlining each step of the process can be found on the Board’s website.

If you were previously convicted of a crime, whether or not you are issued a license is left to the Board’s discretion. They may call you in for a meeting to discuss the circumstances of the situation and ask for supplemental information before rendering their decision.

Those who fail the exam will have to redo the CBC, as Indiana requires one for each new licensure application submission. Each applicant is responsible for the $38.20 background check fee.

It takes about 3-4 days to process a CBC for state residents. Those outside the state will have their information processed and sent to the Board in 7-10 days.

Application Process

Licensure applications can be completed online or by printing the form and mailing it to:

Along with the application, include the following items:

• Official transcripts from the speech-language pathology program indicating you have earned a master’s degree or its equivalent
• Verification that the required 400 hours of clinical experience has been completed
• Certification of completing the Clinical Fellowship Year
• Official Praxis scores
• Verification that you passed the jurisprudence examination with a minimum score of 75%. You’ll receive the test with instructions after the application is approved. It’s administered to ensure you understand the state’s Administrative Rules and Health Professions Standard of Practice
• $150 application fee

A CCC can be substituted for official transcripts, clinical fellowship, direct supervised experience, or official Praxis exam scores.

You can track your application’s progress, which can take between 3-4 weeks for processing. Once approved by the Board, a license will be issued. Use the licensing database to search and verify the certification. If you want a license card or wall certificate to hang in your office, you can order them online for a fee.

Those desiring to work in schools also need to apply for an IDOE Original Communication Disorders license. You’ll need these items to qualify for licensure:

• Valid CPR certification
• Official school transcripts
• Suicide Prevention Certificate
• Valid IPLA license

You can find step-by-step instructions here.