Licensure guide · District of Columbia

How to get a District of Columbia speech-language pathology license

Speech-language pathologists in District of Columbia are licensed by the Board of Rehabilitative Therapies. 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 doctoral degree in speech-language pathology from an institution whose program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation; foreign transcripts must be evaluated by World Education Services. [2]
National exam: Applicants must submit proof of passing the national examination in speech-language pathology with a score of 162 within 5 years before applying, or meet the alternative practice and ASHA certification requirements if the exam was taken earlier. [2]
Background check: Applicants must complete (or re-do) a criminal background check with the online application and pay a $50 background check fee online. [2]
Fees: The application and license fee is $264, paid online with the application. [2]
Where to apply: New license applications are submitted through DC Health's online licensing application system, linked from the audiology and speech-language pathology licensing page. [6] Open the application →

Moving to the state

Already licensed somewhere else?

District of Columbia is not a member of the ASLP-IC: audiologists and speech-language pathologists licensed in another state need a full District of Columbia license before starting.

Licensed in another state: Speech-language pathologists licensed in another state apply by endorsement, submitting official license verifications from every state where they have ever held a license and an official ASHA verification. [3]

Before your full license

New graduates and clinical fellows

Temporary or provisional license: Speech-language pathology clinical fellows apply for a separate Clinical Fellow license, which requires a master's degree or higher in speech-language pathology or a related field and a $210 application and license fee. [4]

After you are licensed

Keeping the license active

Renewal: Licenses expire on the last day of the licensee's birth month, in odd or even years matching the birth year, and are renewed online; the renewal fee is $179, with an $85 late fee during the 60-day grace period. [5]
Continuing education: Speech-language pathologists must complete 20 hours of continuing education per renewal, including 1 hour in ethics, 2 hours in LGBTQ topics and 10% (2 hours) in public health priorities; first-time renewals are exempt. [5]

Working in District of Columbia

Pay and openings

Speech-language pathologists in District of Columbia earn a mean of $112,940 a year (BLS). Most of our District of Columbia 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 District of Columbia board before you apply. This page is a guide, not legal advice.

Other District of Columbia licenses

Speech-language pathology licenses in other states

State-by-state license guides →

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