Applicants for a speech pathology license are required to have a master’s degree in the area of speech pathology. They also must complete clinical hours and pass an SLP exam.
The information below has been curated by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA) based on Arkansas’ rules and regulations for state licensure. Please note that requirements/information may change at any time, so always check with your state for the most up-to-date information.
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Summary of Arkansas Speech Pathology State License Requirements
According to ASHA, Arkansas speech-language pathology licensure requires applicants to complete at least a master’s degree in speech-language pathology or a related field, a supervised clinical practicum, a supervised postgraduate professional experience period under a provisional license, and the required national examination.
Arkansas currently has accredited graduate speech-language pathology programs at Arkansas State University, Harding University, the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and the University of Central Arkansas. Applicants may complete their graduate degree at an accredited program in Arkansas or at an accredited out-of-state institution. Arkansas has separate requirements for school-based practice and for support personnel such as speech-language pathology assistants. Arkansas also has separate rules and guidance related to early intervention services and telepractice.
Learn more about a master’s degree in speech pathology.
Speech Pathology Initial Licensure for Arkansas
The Arkansas Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (ABESPA) sets the requirements applicants must meet to become licensed in the state.
- Speech-language pathology applicants must hold at least a master’s degree in communicative disorders, speech-language pathology, or a related program that meets the board’s educational requirements.
- Arkansas speech-language pathology licensure applicants must complete no fewer than 36 weeks of full-time professional experience, or the part-time equivalent, under the supervision of one or more licensed speech-language pathologists. Any applicant for provisional licensure who has submitted the completed application, application fee, and a signed plan for completion of the clinical fellowship experience may legally practice until the board takes action at its next scheduled meeting.
- Applicants who are completing their postgraduate professional experience are eligible only for provisional licensure while completing that supervised experience. Applicants must also complete the Praxis examination in Speech-Language Pathology, which Arkansas uses as the state licensure examination.
Speech Language Pathology Licensure Exemptions for Arkansas
Individuals exempt from Arkansas speech-language pathology licensure include physicians, hearing aid dealers acting within that licensed role, and individuals licensed in Arkansas under another law who practice only within the profession or occupation for which they are licensed. Public school practitioners are also exempt if they hold a valid and current certificate issued by the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Additional exemptions apply to students completing supervised training as part of a degree program, certain qualified nonresidents providing short-term services in cooperation with an Arkansas-licensed professional, certain longtime state employees specified by statute, and certain bachelor’s-level personnel working for developmental disability services community providers under licensed supervision.
Reciprocity for Speech Therapists in Arkansas
Arkansas speech therapy offers licensure by reciprocity from the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (ABESPA) to any applicant licensed in another state, the District of Columbia, or U.S. territory with equivalent standards. The board may waive the examination and grant a license to applicants who hold the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Certificate of Clinical Competence.
Interim Practice for Aspiring Speech Pathologists in Arkansas
Applicants for a provisional speech-language pathology license in Arkansas must hold a master’s or doctoral degree and be completing a supervised clinical fellowship. Arkansas’s rules say that people who are “in the process of completing the clinical fellowship experience are eligible for provisional licensure only,” and applicants for licensure must hold a qualifying graduate degree.
Continuing Education for Speech-Language Pathologists in Arkansas
Speech-language pathologists in Arkansas must complete 10 clock hours of continuing education each year, with at least five hours in Content Area I. Dual licensees must complete 15 clock hours each year, with at least five hours in each discipline from Content Area I.
Contact Information for SLP State Licensure in Arkansas
For more information about speech-language pathology licensure in Arkansas, applicants should contact the Arkansas Board of Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, which oversees licensure, renewals, and application requirements. Additional professional support and state advocacy resources may be available through the Arkansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association. For questions about hearing screening and school-based services, applicants may also consult the appropriate Arkansas health and education agencies. Because contact details can change, readers should use the official organization websites to confirm the most current mailing addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses.
Arkansas ASHA Network Representatives
ASHA advocacy networks and the Arkansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association may offer guidance on state education advocacy, reimbursement issues, and Medicare policy affecting speech-language pathologists in Arkansas. Since these representative roles can change over time, readers should refer to the official ASHA and ArkSHA websites for the most current contact information.
Information Last Updated April 2026
Sponsored online speech pathology programs
Master’s in SLP: Study Online Full or Part Time
Speech@Emerson enables you to earn an MS online and pursue SLP certification in as few as 20 mos. Learn the same curriculum as the on-campus program. Study FT or PT.
- Aspiring SLP generalists are prepared to pursue ASHA certification.
- Students can earn an Emerson Master of Science in Communication Disorders online in as few as 20 months.
- Online classes are taught by expert Emerson faculty—most of whom are practicing SLPs who view students as colleagues and collaborators.
AD
Online MS in Speech-Language Pathology from Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University’s online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program combines a robust, innovative curriculum rooted in Christian values with a full-time or part-time option that features online learning, on-campus intensive experiences, and comprehensive clinical field practicums to prepare skilled, compassionate students for careers as speech-language pathologists.
- Full-time (five trimesters) or part-time (eight trimesters) options available.
- No GRE scores required.
- 400+ supervised, clinical learning hours are done at schools/clinics local to students
- Three onsite experiences build a sense of camaraderie and community throughout the program
AD
Want to Become an SLP? Earn an MS Online at NYU
NYU Steinhardt’s online master of science program in Communicative Sciences and Disorders prepares aspiring speech-language pathologists with a comprehensive professional education.
- Prepares students to pursue SLP licensure
- Accredited by ASHA’s Council on Academic Accreditation
- As few as six terms to complete
- Full-time and part-time plans of study
AD