Licensure guide · Rhode Island

How to get a Rhode Island speech-language pathology license

Speech-language pathologists in Rhode Island are licensed by the Rhode Island State Board of Examiners for Speech Pathology and Audiology. 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 need a master's or doctoral degree (or equivalent) in speech-language pathology from an institution accredited by ASHA's Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA) or another board-approved association, plus supervised clinical practicum experience. [2]
National exam: Applicants must pass a national examination in speech-language pathology as required by ASHA (or another board-approved association) and present verification of a certificate of clinical competence. [2]
Where to apply: Applicants use the Department of Health's paper Application for a License as a Speech Language Pathologist or Audiologist, which covers both examination and endorsement applicants. [5] Open the application →

Moving to the state

Already licensed somewhere else?

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

Licensed in another state: Applicants who have held or hold a license in another state must present evidence from the speech-language pathology board of each such state attesting to their licensure status, in addition to meeting the standard requirements including ASHA certification. [2]
Interstate compact: Rhode Island has passed ASLP-IC (Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact) legislation, but the compact is not currently operational in the state, so compact privileges are not yet available. [4]

Before your full license

New graduates and clinical fellows

Temporary or provisional license: Clinical fellows completing the postgraduate professional experience must hold a provisional license; it is renewed annually if the experience runs past one year, may not exceed 36 months past the start of the experience, and expires 90 days after it ends. [1]

After you are licensed

Keeping the license active

Renewal: Speech-language pathology licenses are renewed biennially in even years, with the renewal fee payable before July 1 of even years; licenses not renewed by June 30 lapse and require a late fee to reinstate. [3]
Continuing education: Licensees must complete at least 20 clock hours of continuing education in the two years before June 30 of even years (30 hours for those licensed in both speech-language pathology and audiology), from ASHA, AAA, IACET-authorized or other approved sponsors. [1]

Working in Rhode Island

Pay and openings

Speech-language pathologists in Rhode Island earn a mean of $103,850 a year (BLS). Most of our Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island board before you apply. This page is a guide, not legal advice.

Other Rhode Island licenses

Speech-language pathology licenses in other states

State-by-state license guides →

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