Virginia SLP State License Guide

Virginia SLP License Requirements at a Glance

Requirements can change; applicants should confirm current rules with the Virginia Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology before applying, renewing, or beginning practice.

State-Specific Things to Know

• Virginia has both a full SLP license and a school speech-language pathologist license. The school license is limited to public school settings; a full license allows practice in both school and private settings. See Virginia Code § 54.1-2603 and Virginia licensure guidance 30-8.
• A current, unrestricted CCC-SLP can serve as one route to initial full licensure, but Virginia's current rule also describes a non-CCC route through an accredited graduate program, qualifying exam, provisional practice, and supervisor recommendation. See 18VAC30-21-60.
• Applicants should plan for the NPDB self-query. Virginia's application regulation requires a current NPDB report, and Board instructions describe submitting a current digital self-query report. See 18VAC30-21-50 and Initial full SLP application instructions.
• The Board's application instructions use code 9347 for reporting Praxis scores to the Virginia Department of Health Professions Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. See Provisional SLP application instructions.
• Full and school SLP licenses expire each June 30, and Virginia's guidance says there is no grace period to practice with a lapsed license. See 18VAC30-21-90 and Virginia licensure guidance 30-8.
• Virginia is an ASLP-IC member state, but check compact privilege availability directly with ASLP-IC and the Board before interstate practice. See ASLP-IC homepage and Virginia Code § 54.1-2609.

Where should you start?

• Prospective SLP master's student: Start with degree requirements, student questions before enrolling, and school credential rules.
• Current or in-progress SLP student: Start with supervised clinical experience, provisional licensure, and Praxis requirements.
• New graduate: Start with provisional licensure, supervision rules, and the application checklist.
• Current Virginia SLP: Start with renewal, continuing education, fees, and telepractice.
• SLP licensed in another state: Start with endorsement, compact status, and telepractice.
• CCC-SLP holder: Start with CCC-SLP vs. state license and how to apply.
• School-based SLP: Start with school credential rules, school-setting limits, and renewal.
• Telepractice provider: Start with telepractice, compact status, and client-location licensing.

Who regulates SLP licenses in Virginia?

Virginia SLP licenses are regulated by the Virginia Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, which is part of the Department of Health Professions. The Board regulates audiologists, speech-language pathologists, and school speech-language pathologists, and provides application resources, renewal information, guidance documents, laws and regulations, a license lookup, complaint information, and practitioner resources.

Applicants use the Board's application wizards for full SLP, provisional SLP, provisional-to-full, reinstatement, reactivation, and school-only SLP pathways. The Board still handles school-based practice for SLP licensure, while the Virginia Department of Education provides transition and public-school guidance explaining that the Board of Education no longer issues or renews speech-language pathology endorsements. See the Virginia SLP application wizard, Virginia school SLP application wizard, and VDOE licensing of speech-language pathologists.

What degree do you need for an SLP license in Virginia?

For full SLP licensure through Virginia's non-CCC route, applicants must document graduation from a graduate program accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation of ASHA or an equivalent accrediting body recognized by the Board. The current initial licensure rule also allows the Board to grant an initial license to an applicant who holds a current and unrestricted ASHA CCC. See 18VAC30-21-60.

For the school speech-language pathologist license, Virginia's rule says the Board may grant a license to an applicant who holds a master's degree in speech-language pathology. That school license is setting-limited, so students planning to work outside public school divisions should compare the school-only and full-license rules before choosing a pathway. See 18VAC30-21-60 and Virginia Code § 54.1-2603.

Students considering online, hybrid, or out-of-state programs should confirm both program accreditation and alignment with Virginia. The CAA accredited program directory is the official place to check CAA accreditation status, but students should also ask the program for its professional licensure disclosure for Virginia. Program completion alone does not authorize practice until the Board issues the appropriate license.

Does Virginia require supervised clinical experience?

Virginia's current rule does not list a stand-alone number of graduate practicum hours for state licensure. Instead, the Board's full-license pathways focus on either current unrestricted CCC-SLP documentation or, for the non-CCC route, graduation from an accredited or equivalent program, passage of a qualifying exam, six months of practice under a provisional license, and a supervisor recommendation. See 18VAC30-21-60.

For provisional practice, the provisional licensee must practice only under the supervision of a licensed SLP. The supervising SLP must hold an active, current license and have at least three years of active practice before providing supervision. Supervisors must document the frequency and nature of supervision, assign clients and tasks based on the provisional licensee's knowledge and skills, and monitor clinical performance. The provisional licensee's identity must be disclosed to the client and included in the client's file. See 18VAC30-21-70.

The ASHA Clinical Fellowship is a separate certification requirement for CCC-SLP. Because Virginia accepts a current, unrestricted CCC-SLP as one route to state licensure, many applicants complete ASHA's certification process as part of their broader pathway. Still, the state license and CCC-SLP are separate credentials, with separate applications and renewal rules. See ASHA 2020 SLP certification standards.

Does Virginia offer a temporary, intern, provisional, limited, conditional, or clinical fellow SLP credential?

Virginia offers a provisional speech-language pathologist license. New graduates may use it to obtain the supervised clinical experience needed for full licensure, and certain endorsement, reentry, reactivation, or reinstatement applicants may also use a provisional license when Virginia rules require it. See 18VAC30-21-70 and the Virginia SLP application wizard.

Does Virginia require the Praxis for SLP licensure?

Virginia requires applicants to pass a qualifying national examination for the provisional and non-CCC initial pathways. The Board's provisional and initial SLP application instructions direct applicants to use Board code 9347 to release Praxis scores to the Virginia Department of Health Professions Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. See 18VAC30-21-60, 18VAC30-21-70, and the Provisional SLP application instructions.

For national exam identification, ETS lists Speech-Language Pathology test code 5331, and ASHA lists 162 as the current passing score for ASHA certification. Virginia's current regulation refers to a qualifying examination from an accrediting body recognized by the Board rather than publishing a separate score in the rule, so applicants should confirm the current Virginia score-reporting and score requirement with the Board before testing or requesting score reports. See ETS Praxis ASHA overview and ASHA Praxis scores.

The sources reviewed for this draft did not show a separate Virginia jurisprudence exam for SLP applicants as of June 2026. Applicants still attest that they have read the applicable laws and regulations in the Board's application instructions, so they should review Virginia's laws and regulations before submitting an application. See the Virginia laws and regulations page and the Initial full SLP application instructions.

Is CCC-SLP required for Virginia SLP licensure?

CCC-SLP is not the same thing as a Virginia license. A Virginia license is the legal authorization to practice in the Commonwealth. CCC-SLP is ASHA/CFCC professional certification and does not replace a required state license. See Virginia Code § 54.1-2603 and ASHA 2020 SLP certification standards.

Virginia's current initial licensure rule gives applicants two broad ways to qualify for full SLP licensure: hold a current and unrestricted ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence, or submit the education, exam, provisional-practice, and supervisor-recommendation evidence described in the rule. The board application instructions for initial full licensure also reference the current unrestricted ASHA CCC documentation. See 18VAC30-21-60 and Initial full SLP application instructions.

For applicants who already hold CCC-SLP, the credential may simplify documentation, but it does not eliminate the need to apply for and obtain a Virginia license before practicing, unless a narrow exemption applies. School-based applicants should also confirm whether the full SLP license or the school speech-language pathologist license is appropriate for their employment setting.

How do SLPs apply for a license in Virginia?

Virginia directs SLP applicants through online application wizards. The Board lists pathways for provisional licensure as a new graduate, provisional-to-full licensure, initial full licensure, reinstatement, and reactivation. The school SLP application wizard covers initial licensure, reinstatement, and reactivation for the school-only credential. See Virginia SLP application wizard and Virginia school SLP application wizard.

Every applicant for a provisional, audiology, SLP, or school SLP license must submit a completed application, the applicable fee, verification from each U.S. jurisdiction where a license or certification is or has ever been held, and a current National Practitioner Data Bank report. The Board retains incomplete applications for one year; after that, an applicant must reapply and pay a new application fee. See 18VAC30-21-50.

Board instructions state that applicants are responsible for arranging source-submitted documents, and the Board asks applicants to allow 21 business days from the initial mailing for staff to receive and process an application. Application communication is by email, so applicants should keep their address and email current. See the Initial full SLP application instructions and Provisional-to-full SLP application instructions.

Virginia SLP Application Checklist

Suggested Application Sequence

1. Confirm whether you need the full SLP license, provisional SLP license, provisional-to-full pathway, endorsement pathway, reinstatement/reactivation, or school speech-language pathologist license.
2. Verify that your graduate program and accreditation status match Virginia's current education requirements. Use the CAA accredited program directory when checking CAA status.
3. Determine whether you need a provisional license before supervised practice. Do not begin post-graduation practice in Virginia until the Board has issued the appropriate authorization.
4. Arrange Praxis or qualifying exam score reporting if you are using a pathway that requires exam documentation. Board instructions list Praxis code 9347.
5. Request transcripts or program documentation, license verifications, NPDB self-query, CCC-SLP verification, and supervisor forms as applicable.
6. Submit the correct Board application and fee through the official application process.
7. Monitor Board email follow-up and respond to missing-document notices. Do not practice independently or in a setting not covered by your license type until authorized.

How much does an SLP license cost in Virginia?

Fee information last reviewed: June 2026. Fees can change, so applicants should confirm current amounts with the Virginia Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology before submitting payment.

Virginia's fee rule states that fees are nonrefundable. See 18VAC30-21-40, the Initial full SLP application instructions, and the Provisional-to-full SLP application instructions.

How often do Virginia SLP licenses renew?

Virginia SLP and school SLP licenses renew annually by June 30. A licensee who does not renew by the expiration date has a lapsed license, and practice with a lapsed license may be grounds for disciplinary action. A license may be renewed within one year after expiration by submitting the renewal notice, renewal fee, late fee, and an attestation of CE compliance. See 18VAC30-21-90.

Virginia guidance also states that school and full SLP licenses expire on June 30 each year and must be renewed before that date. A provisional license has its own expiration period, and the guidance states there is no grace period to practice without a license or with a lapsed license. See Virginia licensure guidance 30-8.

Licensees may request inactive status at renewal. An inactive license does not require CE maintenance, but the holder may not perform acts requiring a Virginia audiology or speech-language pathology license. Reactivation or reinstatement requires an application, fee, NPDB report, and either current certification or CE documentation, depending on the rule. See 18VAC30-21-110.

What continuing education does Virginia require for SLPs?

Virginia requires at least 10 hours of continuing education each year for license renewal. CE must be related to audiology or speech-language pathology, depending on the license held, and offered or approved by a board-recognized, accredited sponsor or organization. See 18VAC30-21-100.

One of the required 10 hours may be satisfied through uncompensated professional services to low-income individuals receiving health services through a local health department or a qualifying free clinic. One CE hour may be credited for three hours of such volunteer services, with documentation from the health department or free clinic. See 18VAC30-21-100.

Virginia exempts licensees from CE requirements for the first renewal after initial licensure. Licensees must retain CE documentation for three years after renewal and provide supporting documentation within 30 days if selected for an audit. Extensions or exemptions may be available for good cause or circumstances beyond the licensee's control, such as temporary disability, mandatory military service, or officially declared disasters. See 18VAC30-21-100.

Can out-of-state SLPs apply by endorsement or reciprocity?

Virginia uses licensure by endorsement, not automatic reciprocity. An SLP licensed in another U.S. jurisdiction may apply in Virginia by meeting the application requirements and documenting current active unrestricted licensure in another U.S. jurisdiction. The applicant must also show either one year of active practice during the past three years or six months of practice under a Virginia provisional license with a supervisor recommendation. See 18VAC30-21-80.

Board instructions describe two endorsement documentation options. One option uses a current unrestricted ASHA CCC or another board-recognized accrediting body credential, license verification for all licenses ever held, active-practice documentation when required, and an NPDB self-query. Another option uses CE documentation, qualifying national exam scores, active-practice documentation when required, license verification, and an NPDB self-query. See the Initial full SLP application instructions.

Applicants who do not meet active-practice expectations may be issued a provisional license for supervised practice before full licensure. Out-of-state SLPs should wait for Virginia authorization or a valid compact privilege, when available and applicable, before serving clients in Virginia.

Can SLPs use telepractice in Virginia?

Virginia allows telepractice as a method of service delivery, but the client's location matters. A practitioner providing audiology or speech-language pathology services to a client located in Virginia by telepractice must hold a Virginia license and comply with Virginia laws and regulations. See Virginia telepractice guidance 30-12.

Virginia's telepractice guidance applies the same practice rules to telepractice that apply to other service methods. Licensees are responsible for determining whether a service can be provided via telepractice to the same standard of care as an in-person service, maintaining informed consent documentation, protecting confidentiality, using appropriate equipment, and supervising any unlicensed assistant or facilitator at the client site. See Virginia telepractice guidance 30-12.

A Virginia licensee serving a client in another state should contact the other state's board to determine that state's requirements. When available and applicable, check compact privileges against both ASLP-IC status and the client-location rules.

Is Virginia part of the SLP Interstate Compact?

Status label as of June 2026: enacted/member state, but Virginia privilege availability should be confirmed before relying on compact practice.

ASLP-IC lists Virginia as a current compact member jurisdiction, and Virginia law includes compact privilege provisions. A compact privilege is not the same as holding an unrestricted Virginia license; it is a compact authorization that depends on home-state licensure, eligibility, fees, and compliance with the remote state's laws. See the ASLP-IC homepage and Virginia Code § 54.1-2609.

ASLP-IC's home page stated as of June 2026 that registration for compact privileges was open for licensed practitioners in Louisiana, Ohio, and West Virginia, and that additional member states must onboard licensees to CompactConnect before issuing privileges. Because compact implementation can change, SLPs should check ASLP-IC and the Virginia Board before assuming compact privileges are available for Virginia practice. See ASLP-IC homepage.

Do school-based SLPs need a separate Virginia education credential?

School-based SLPs in Virginia should focus on Board-issued licenses rather than the current VDOE speech-language pathology endorsement. VDOE explains that the Virginia Board of Education no longer issues or renews licenses with a speech-language pathology endorsement, and that individuals practicing speech-language pathology in Virginia public elementary and secondary schools must hold a valid school speech-language pathologist license issued by the Virginia Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. See VDOE licensing of speech-language pathologists.

The Board's guidance states that an SLP working in a public school division must hold one of three Board-issued licenses: a school speech-language pathology license, a provisional speech-language pathology license, or a full speech-language pathology license. The school license is limited to public school divisions and does not authorize private treatment or practice outside the school setting. See Virginia licensure guidance 30-8, Virginia Code § 54.1-2603, and the Virginia school SLP application wizard.

School employment can involve district, contractor, and placement-specific questions. A full Virginia SLP license generally covers school and private settings, while a school-only license is narrower. Applicants should confirm with the Board and the employing school division or contractor before accepting a role.

What is it like to work as an SLP in Virginia?

Virginia SLPs may work in public schools, early intervention, hospitals, rehabilitation settings, outpatient clinics, long-term care, private practice, home and community programs, and telepractice. The school setting has a state-specific licensing wrinkle: public school practice can be covered by a full, provisional, or school speech-language pathology license, but the school-only license is limited to public school divisions. See Virginia licensure guidance 30-8 and VDOE speech-language impairment resources.

Early intervention is another setting to research. The Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia is the Commonwealth's early intervention system for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. Virginia Medicaid defines early intervention services as birth-to-3 developmental supports, which may include speech/language therapy. Students interested in pediatric or family-centered work should ask programs how early intervention placements, home visits, coaching models, and provider certification fit into Virginia training. See Virginia Medicaid early intervention services.

Rural and underserved communities may shape practice, too. The Virginia State Office of Rural Health works with rural communities to improve access to quality healthcare and address health disparities. For SLPs, this context can make telepractice planning, broad generalist skills, interprofessional collaboration, and travel-based service models worth discussing with graduate programs and clinical supervisors.

Virginia also has community-based brain injury services that connect residents with resources after brain injury. DARS describes nine state-funded community-based brain injury programs across Virginia, and its 2024 annual report says those programs supported 2,581 individuals living with brain injury in the state fiscal year 2024. SLPs interested in cognitive-communication, swallowing, and rehabilitation should ask programs about medical externships, rehabilitation placements, brain injury services, and adult neurogenic communication disorders. See Virginia DARS Brain Injury Services and the Virginia DARS brain injury annual report.

Are there exemptions from Virginia SLP license requirements?

Virginia's exemptions are narrow. They should not be treated as permission to practice broadly without a license. Anyone unsure whether an exemption applies should confirm with the Board before providing services.

Common mistakes or delays in Virginia SLP licensure

• Starting supervised practice before the provisional license is issued. Virginia's guidance says a post-graduation SLP completing a clinical fellowship year must hold a provisional license to practice in Virginia. See Virginia licensure guidance 30-8.
• Assuming CCC-SLP replaces the state license. It can support documentation for a Virginia pathway, but Virginia still requires state authorization for practice unless a narrow exemption applies. See Virginia Code § 54.1-2603 and 18VAC30-21-60.
• Forgetting NPDB or prior-license verification. Virginia's application rule requires a current NPDB report and verification from every U.S. jurisdiction where a license or certification is or has ever been held. See 18VAC30-21-50.
• Using the wrong Praxis reporting code. Board instructions list code 9347 for reporting Praxis scores to the Virginia Department of Health Professions Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. See Provisional SLP application instructions.
• Choosing the school-only license without checking the setting limits. The school license is limited to public school divisions and does not authorize private practice or other non-school settings. See Virginia Code § 54.1-2603 and Virginia licensure guidance 30-8.
• Practicing after June 30 without renewal. Virginia's renewal rule states that a license not renewed by the expiration date lapses, and practicing with a lapsed license may be grounds for discipline. See 18VAC30-21-90.
• Assuming compact membership means privileges are already available for Virginia. ASLP-IC implementation is phased, and privileges should be confirmed before practice. See ASLP-IC homepage.

What should students ask SLP master's programs before enrolling?

Prospective students should ask program-specific questions before relying on a degree to plan for Virginia licensure. A program's accreditation, clinical placement model, and licensure disclosure can affect how smoothly a graduate moves into provisional practice, full licensure, school roles, or CCC-SLP certification. See CAA accredited program directory and 18VAC30-21-60.

• Is the SLP graduate program CAA-accredited or in CAA candidacy status?
• Does the program's professional licensure disclosure specifically address Virginia SLP license requirements?
• How does the program document clinical practicum and graduate program completion for state boards and ASHA?
• How are Virginia placements arranged for online or hybrid students?
• Does the curriculum and advising prepare students for Praxis 5331 and ASHA certification requirements?
• When should graduates apply for Virginia provisional licensure if they plan to complete supervised practice in the Commonwealth?
• Does the program explain the difference between Virginia's full SLP license and a school speech-language pathologist license?
• What support is available for Clinical Fellowship planning, supervisor documentation, and Board application materials?
• Are early intervention, public school, rural health, rehabilitation, brain injury, telepractice, or adult medical placements available or commonly pursued by students?
• Who at the program helps students verify state licensure requirements before graduation?