2027 How to Become a Speech Language Pathologist in Mississippi: Requirements & Certification
Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist
Reviewed by Rhea Paul, PhD
SLP Education & Research Expert
Becoming a speech-language pathologist in Mississippi involves more than finishing a graduate degree. You need to plan for supervised clinical training, an exam, a state license, and potentially a separate school credential. This guide is for prospective students, clinical fellows, and licensed professionals moving to Mississippi. It explains which requirements belong to the state, which belong to ASHA, and what to verify before choosing a program or accepting a job - so you can avoid paying for a path that does not fit your intended workplace.
Key Things You Should Know
- Plan on a master's degree in speech-language pathology, supervised clinical preparation, a qualifying exam, and a Mississippi license before practicing independently.
- ASHA's Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) is a national professional credential, not a substitute for a Mississippi license; public-school positions may also involve educator-credential rules.
- ASHA's clinical fellowship requires at least 36 weeks and 1,260 hours. Confirm supervision and any state authorization needed before starting fellowship work in Mississippi.
- What education is required to become a speech-language pathologist in Mississippi? Mississippi Education Requirements
- How do you complete Mississippi's speech-language pathology licensure process? Mississippi Licensure Process
- What certification does Mississippi require for speech-language pathologists? Required Certification
- How do you earn ASHA's Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology? ASHA Certification
- How long does it take and how much does it cost to become licensed? Timeline And Costs
What education is required to become a speech-language pathologist in Mississippi?
The standard route is a bachelor's degree followed by a master's degree in speech-language pathology or communication sciences and disorders that satisfies Mississippi's educational requirements. The bachelor's major need not always be speech-language pathology, but applicants without the necessary foundational courses may need additional preparation before or during graduate study.
Check a prospective program's status with ASHA's Council on Academic Accreditation (CAA), along with its Mississippi licensure disclosure. Accreditation status, state eligibility, and clinical placement arrangements are separate questions. A program delivered online may still require in-person clinical work or travel. For applicants coming from another major, slp master's preparation for non-slp graduates can clarify whether leveling courses are necessary.
Before enrolling, ask the program to identify the coursework and clinical experiences that support Mississippi licensure and ASHA certification. That is more useful than assuming that every degree with "speech pathology" in its name leads to the same credentials.
How do you complete Mississippi's speech-language pathology licensure process?
The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) administers professional licensure for speech-language pathologists. A degree, a job offer, and ASHA certification do not by themselves authorize independent practice in the state. Applicants should use MSDH's current speech-language pathology instructions to determine the appropriate application route and when they may begin supervised work.
The sequence below helps separate preparation from permission to practice:
- Complete qualifying graduate education and document the required supervised clinical experiences.
- Confirm the authorization Mississippi requires for any post-graduate supervised practice before beginning a clinical fellowship in the state.
- Complete the qualifying exam and supervised experience, keeping records that MSDH can verify.
- Submit the applicable MSDH application and supporting documentation, then wait for confirmation of your practice authorization before working outside its permitted scope.
If you are still choosing a graduate program, finding a realistic slp graduate school match should include licensure compatibility and clinical placement support - not admissions odds alone. Application routes and forms can change, so confirm the current checklist with MSDH rather than relying on a school's general description of licensure.
What certification does Mississippi require for speech-language pathologists?
State licensure and professional certification serve different purposes. Mississippi's professional license is the state authorization to practice. ASHA's CCC-SLP is a national professional certification demonstrating that its holder has met ASHA's separate standards. Do not assume that earning the CCC-SLP automatically issues a Mississippi license, or that every Mississippi job requires the CCC-SLP as a separate hiring condition.
A prospective school-based SLP should also check Mississippi Department of Education requirements for the particular role. Public-school employment may involve an educator credential or other school-specific rules in addition to, or distinct from, the MSDH practice-license route. Before accepting a position, ask the employer which credential the job requires and which agency must issue it.
How do you earn ASHA's Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology?
To pursue the CCC-SLP, complete graduate education that meets ASHA's standards, the required supervised graduate clinical experiences, the speech-language pathology Praxis examination, and a supervised clinical fellowship. You then submit ASHA's certification application and required verifications. ASHA reviews certification separately from MSDH's review of a Mississippi license application.
ASHA's clinical preparation standards include at least 400 supervised clinical experience hours, comprising 25 guided observation hours and 375 hours in direct client or patient contact. Schools must also ensure students meet the applicable competency requirements; accumulating hours alone is not enough. If you are comparing fast-track online speech pathology degrees, check how each program schedules those experiences rather than judging it solely by advertised completion time.
What clinical fellowship and supervised experience are required in Mississippi?
ASHA's clinical fellowship is a post-graduate period of mentored practice lasting at least 36 weeks and 1,260 hours. It provides the transition from student clinician to independent professional. Mississippi applicants must also satisfy the state's applicable supervised-experience and practice-authorization rules; do not assume ASHA fellowship eligibility is permission to start seeing clients in Mississippi.
Before accepting a fellowship, confirm that the supervisor holds the credentials required for both your Mississippi practice status and your intended ASHA certification. Agree on how hours, supervision, evaluations, and employment dates will be recorded. Graduate clinical placements present a related planning issue: short online slp degrees with campus residencies may reduce time in coursework without eliminating in-person training or travel.
A common mistake is arranging a fellowship first and investigating state authorization afterward. Resolve that question before your start date, particularly if the employer expects you to serve clients immediately.
Which exams must speech-language pathology applicants pass in Mississippi?
The speech-language pathology Praxis examination is the principal national exam applicants should plan for. ASHA uses a passing score of 162 for its CCC-SLP standard; applicants should check the current Mississippi licensing instructions for the state's accepted exam, score, and score-reporting method. Passing for ASHA certification should not be treated as automatic proof that MSDH has received or accepted an official score report.
Register with the name you will use on your applications, allow time for score delivery, and verify whether MSDH requires scores to come directly from the testing provider. School-based applicants should separately review any examination requirements tied to the specific Mississippi educator credential they seek.
How do Mississippi speech-language pathologists complete background checks and applications?
Start with the current MSDH application for your practice category and follow its instructions for identity information, education verification, exam scores, supervised-experience documentation, fees, and disclosures. If MSDH requires a background check or additional screening for your application, use its specified procedure; do not assume a screening completed by a university or employer will transfer to the licensing file.
Answer disciplinary and criminal-history questions accurately, and disclose information when the form requires it rather than trying to predict whether it matters. Keep copies of submissions and follow up on missing third-party records. An incomplete file can delay review even when the applicant has finished every academic and clinical requirement. A school employer may impose a separate employment background check.
How can out-of-state speech-language pathologists obtain Mississippi licensure?
An SLP licensed elsewhere should apply through Mississippi's applicable out-of-state route before practicing in Mississippi. Prepare to document current and previous licenses, education, examination results, and any other qualifications MSDH requests. Ask MSDH whether your existing license and CCC-SLP affect which evidence you must provide; neither credential should be assumed to transfer automatically.
This distinction matters for telepractice, too. Working online from another state does not, by itself, remove the need to check Mississippi's rules when serving a client located in Mississippi. Confirm applicable practice and employer requirements before scheduling care, rather than treating a remote position as an exception to licensure.
What continuing education is required to renew a Mississippi speech-language pathology license?
Mississippi license renewal and ASHA certification maintenance are separate obligations. Check MSDH's current renewal notice and rules for the reporting period, required continuing-education hours, eligible activities, documentation, and any conditions for reinstating a lapsed license. Do not substitute ASHA's requirements for the state's or assume that membership in a professional association renews a license.
For the CCC-SLP, ASHA requires 30 professional development hours within each three-year certification maintenance interval, subject to its current rules. Keep dated completion records and distinguish learning that meets both organizations' standards from learning accepted by only one. Continuing education can also support a longer-term move into leadership careers in speech-language pathology, but a career goal does not change the hours or activities MSDH accepts for renewal.
How long does it take and how much does it cost to become licensed?
For someone starting without a degree, a typical planning framework is roughly four years for a bachelor's degree, about two years for a master's degree, and at least 36 weeks for ASHA's clinical fellowship. Prerequisite coursework, part-time enrollment, placement availability, and the timing of state authorization can extend that path. An accelerated master's program does not shorten ASHA's minimum fellowship requirement.
There is no single reliable total price for becoming licensed: tuition varies by school and residency status, while leveling courses, clinical travel, exam registration, certification, and state application or renewal fees add different amounts for different applicants. Compare written estimates of total required credits, mandatory fees, placement expenses, and potential lost earnings - not tuition per credit alone. lower-cost pathways to an online slp master's are worth considering only after confirming Mississippi eligibility and the cost of required in-person training.
For career context, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a national median annual wage of $97,870 for speech-language pathologists in May 2025. That is a national occupation-wide median, not a Mississippi starting salary or a guaranteed return on graduate-school costs. Compare any job offer with your own borrowing, location, and expected work setting.
References:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Speech-Language Pathologists https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/speech-language-pathologists.htm
- ASHA EdFind - Accredited Speech-Language Pathology Programs https://find.asha.org/ed/
- O*NET OnLine - Speech-Language Pathologists https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1127.00
- Ithaca College - Online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology https://slponline.ithaca.edu/programs/masters-speech-language-pathology-online
- Nova Southeastern University - SLP Program - Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology https://osteopathic.nova.edu/degrees/masters/speech-language-pathology/index.html
- California State University-East Bay - Online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology https://ce.csueastbay.edu/programs/speech-language-pathology/
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire - Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (Online) https://www.uwec.edu/speech-language-and-hearing-sciences-department/graduate-program/speech-language-pathology-online
- Abilene Christian University - Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (Online) https://acu.edu/academics/graduate/master-of-science-in-speech-language-pathology/
Other Things You Should Know About Speech Pathology
Not through the standard professional SLP licensure route, which requires graduate preparation. A bachelor's degree may qualify you for a different support role, but its duties and supervision rules are not the same as an SLP's.
Potentially. Verify the program's accreditation status and Mississippi licensure disclosure, and ask how it arranges supervised clinical experiences. Online coursework does not mean clinical training can be completed entirely online.
Do not assume you may. Confirm with MSDH which authorization applies to supervised post-graduate practice and wait for the required approval before providing services.
Not automatically. Check the other state's licensing and telepractice rules before treating clients there, even if you hold the CCC-SLP or work remotely.
