Licensure guide · Colorado

How to get a Colorado speech-language pathology license

Speech-language pathologists in Colorado are licensed by the Colorado Office of Speech-Language Pathology Certification. Below is what the board requires, from education to renewal, with every requirement linked to the board page it comes from. Checked October 22, 2026.

Step by step

Getting licensed

Education: Applicants must hold a master's or higher degree in communication sciences and disorders from an accredited institution (a program accredited by ASHA's Council on Academic Accreditation is presumed to qualify) and must complete a speech-language pathology clinical fellowship approved by the Director or by ASHA. [2]
National exam: Applicants must have passed the national examination approved by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), an examination the Director finds substantially equivalent, or hold a current ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC). [2]
Background check: Applicants who must be fingerprinted submit fingerprints through an approved vendor (IdentoGO or American BioIdentity) for a state and national criminal history check by the CBI and FBI; the Division lists speech-language pathologists among the license types for fingerprint background checks. [3]
Where to apply: Applicants apply online through the Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO) Online Services system, linked from the Office's Applications and Forms page. [4] Open the application →

Moving to the state

Already licensed somewhere else?

Colorado has enacted the ASLP-IC but is not yet issuing compact privileges, so audiologists and speech-language pathologists licensed elsewhere still need a Colorado license for now.

Licensed in another state: Speech-language pathologists holding a current, valid license or certification in another jurisdiction may apply for certification by endorsement; those licensed elsewhere on the basis of a current ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence are deemed to meet the education and examination requirements. [2]
Interstate compact: The ASLP-IC Commission lists Colorado as not yet accepting compact privilege applications, with no jurisprudence exam required (current as of May 28, 2026). [6]

Before your full license

New graduates and clinical fellows

Temporary or provisional license: Colorado issues a provisional speech-language pathologist certificate to applicants who have the required degree and exam and attest to a written plan for completing a clinical fellowship. It expires no later than twenty-four months after issuance unless a one-time twelve month hardship extension is granted. [2]

After you are licensed

Keeping the license active

Renewal: Speech-language pathologist certifications expire on November 30 of every year and must be renewed annually; renewals open approximately 4-5 weeks before the expiration date. [4]
Continuing education: Speech-language pathologists must complete at least 10 professional development activity (PDA) hours during each one-year certification period. Continuing competency requirements begin after the first renewal of the certification. [5]

Working in Colorado

Pay and openings

Speech-language pathologists in Colorado earn a mean of $116,960 a year (BLS). Most of our Colorado searches are confidential and never posted; tell us what you want and we will match you quietly.

Sources

Every requirement above was checked against the official page listed here on October 22, 2026. Boards change fees and rules, so confirm with the Colorado board before you apply. This page is a guide, not legal advice.

Other Colorado licenses

Speech-language pathology licenses in other states

State-by-state license guides →

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