New ASHA Certification Standards May Affect You Now as a Student—Are You Ready?

Whether you’re an audiology or speech-language pathology student, if you’re graduating from a grad program in 2020 or later, there are new standards you must meet in order to be eligible for ASHA certification.

For those of you starting your CCC-A or CCC-SLP application after January 1, 2020, you must meet ASHA’s 2020 Audiology Standards or 2020 SLP Standards.

If you begin the CCC-A or CCC-SLP application process before December 31, 2019, you will be able to apply under the 2012 Audiology Standards or 2014 SLP Standards.

Key Differences in Certification Standard Changes for Audiology Students

2020 Standards [NEW!] 2012 Standards
Have or show equivalency to an AuD degree earned at a CAA-accredited program. Have a doctoral degree in which the course of study addresses the knowledge and skills necessary to independently practice in the profession of audiology. Degree must have been earned at a CAA-accredited program.
Specific number of hours of supervised clinical practicum is no longer prescribed. CAA standards for duration, depth, and breadth of knowledge must be ensured. Applicants must complete a program of study that includes academic coursework and a minimum of 1,820 hours of supervised clinical practicum sufficient in depth and breadth to achieve the knowledge and skills outcomes.
Encouraged to include IPP/IPE into their supervised clinical experience. No statement regarding the use of IPP/IPE.
Clinical supervisors must have 9 months of experience post-certification and 2 hours of professional development in the area of supervision before serving as a clinical supervisor. Supervisors must hold CCC-A.
Applicants who did not complete their entire supervised clinical experience under a CCC-A prior to graduation can complete the remaining hours post-graduation to meet ASHA certification standards. To be eligible for certification, all 1,820 hours must have been completed under the supervision of a CCC-A prior to earning the doctoral degree.
All CCC-As will have to earn one of their 30 required CMHs in Ethics. All CCC-As must complete 30 certification maintenance hours (CMHs) within their 3-year intervals.

Key Differences in Certification Standard Changes for SLP Students

2020 Standards [NEW!] 2014 Standards
Have knowledge in physical sciences, which must be acquired through coursework in chemistry or physics. Have knowledge in physical sciences, which should be acquired through coursework in chemistry or physics.
Clinical supervisors and CF mentors must have at least 9 months of full-time work experience and complete 2 hours of professional development/continuing education in clinical instruction/supervision after being awarded the CCC-SLP and prior to supervising or mentoring. Supervisors and CF mentors must hold CCC-SLP.
All CCC-SLPs will have to earn one of their 30 required CMHs in Ethics. All CCC-SLPs will have to earn maintenance hours (CMHs) within their 3-year intervals, but they are not mandated in any particular content area.
Encouraged to include IPP/IPE into their supervised clinical experience. No statement regarding IPP/IPE.

Why the Changes?

During the past couple of years, ASHA’s Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC) completed an analysis to make sure the standards for certification are in alignment with what’s needed for you as an entry-level practitioner.

After review of studies and thoughtful peer-review comments from thousands of certificate holders and other stakeholders, the CFCC developed the above-mentioned changes.

Questions?

If you have questions or concerns about your certification application or the 2020 Standard changes, please contact ASHA’s certification team at certification@asha.org.

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