2027 How to Become a Speech Language Pathologist in North Dakota: Requirements & Certification
Co-Founder and Chief Data Scientist
Reviewed by Rhea Paul, PhD
SLP Education & Research Expert
Becoming a speech-language pathologist in North Dakota involves more than earning a graduate degree. You need supervised clinical experience, an exam, and state authorization before you can practice independently; school positions may have additional requirements. This guide separates those steps so prospective students, career changers, and out-of-state clinicians can identify what they already have, what they still need, and which questions to resolve before choosing a program or accepting a job.
Key Things You Should Know
- Plan for a graduate degree in speech-language pathology and verify the program's current accreditation and North Dakota licensure disclosures before enrolling.
- ASHA's Certificate of Clinical Competence pathway includes 400 supervised clinical hours during training, a qualifying Praxis score, and a clinical fellowship of at least 36 weeks and 1,260 hours; state licensure is a separate decision.
- North Dakota regulates professional practice through its licensing board. An out-of-state license or ASHA certification can support an application but should not be treated as automatic permission to practice in the state.
- What education is required to become a speech-language pathologist in North Dakota? North Dakota Education Requirements
- How do you complete North Dakota speech-language pathology clinical fellowship requirements? Clinical Fellowship Requirements
- How do you obtain speech-language pathology licensure in North Dakota? North Dakota Licensure Steps
- What certification does ASHA offer speech-language pathologists practicing in North Dakota? ASHA Certification Options
- What do North Dakota speech-language pathologists need to know about background checks and scope of practice? Practice and Background Checks
What education is required to become a speech-language pathologist in North Dakota?
The standard preparation route is a graduate degree in speech-language pathology, following a bachelor's degree and any prerequisite coursework the graduate program requires. For the most straightforward route to ASHA certification, choose a master's program accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA). Confirm the program's current status in ASHA's accreditation listings rather than relying on an older school brochure.
Online coursework does not eliminate in-person clinical training. Before committing to an online or out-of-state program, obtain its written North Dakota professional-licensure disclosure and ask who arranges placements, whether local sites are available, and whether campus visits are required. Do not assume that permission to enroll means the degree alone qualifies you for a North Dakota license.
How do you complete North Dakota speech-language pathology clinical fellowship requirements?
A clinical fellowship is supervised professional practice completed after the graduate degree. It bridges student clinical training and independent practice. Under ASHA's Certificate of Clinical Competence standards, the fellowship must total at least 36 weeks and 1,260 hours, with required supervision and performance evaluations. The North Dakota licensing board determines what authorization you need while completing that experience in the state; do not begin providing services on the assumption that a pending application is sufficient.
Use this sequence to avoid an avoidable gap between graduation and a fellowship job:
- Before accepting an offer, ask the North Dakota licensing board which license or other authorization applies to a fellow and when it must take effect.
- Confirm that the proposed supervisor meets the applicable board and ASHA requirements, particularly if you intend to pursue both state licensure and ASHA certification.
- Agree on a supervision and documentation plan that records hours, evaluations, and any changes in employer or supervisor.
- Submit the required fellowship completion records to the relevant organizations; ASHA certification and state licensure are separate processes.
An accelerated degree may get you to the fellowship sooner, but it does not waive supervised practice. When comparing full-time accelerated online speech pathology degrees, consider whether their placement schedule and workload leave you prepared to start a qualifying fellowship.
How do you obtain speech-language pathology licensure in North Dakota?
Apply through North Dakota's speech-language pathology licensing board and obtain the authorization appropriate to your stage of practice before delivering services. A graduate degree, an employer's offer, and ASHA certification are not substitutes for a state license. Because forms, fees, and documentation rules can change, use the board's current application instructions rather than an older checklist.
These are the records an applicant should be ready to document; check the board's current instructions for precisely what it requires and how each item must be sent:
- Graduate education, including an official transcript and any required evidence of program accreditation.
- Supervised clinical training and post-graduate experience, as applicable to the authorization requested.
- Praxis results, ASHA certification, or other qualifying credential evidence where the application route permits it.
- Professional-history disclosures and any other materials requested on the current board application.
Apply early enough for document processing, but wait for confirmation of the correct authorization before treating a planned start date as permission to practice. If the job is in a school, ask the employer and North Dakota's education credentialing authorities whether the position requires an additional school credential.
What certification does ASHA offer speech-language pathologists practicing in North Dakota?
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) offers the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology, commonly written CCC-SLP. It is a national professional certification, not a North Dakota license. Its pathway includes qualifying graduate education, supervised clinical experience, the speech-language pathology Praxis exam, and a clinical fellowship.
The distinction matters when planning your first job: an employer may prefer or require the CCC-SLP, while North Dakota controls whether you may practice under state law. Ask a prospective employer which credential is required on your start date and which, if any, may be completed afterward. If you plan to move later, maintaining certification may also simplify credential documentation, but it does not automatically grant a license in another state.
Which North Dakota speech-language pathology programs meet licensure and certification standards?
The University of North Dakota and Minot State University offer graduate speech-language pathology programs to investigate. A school's location is not proof of its current CAA status or of an individual graduate's license eligibility. Check each specific graduate program in ASHA's current CAA listings, then compare its curriculum and clinical training against the North Dakota board's current rules.
The comparison below identifies the questions most likely to change your choice; it does not assign a program a licensure guarantee.
| Option to investigate | Decision factor | What to verify directly |
| University of North Dakota | Graduate study at a North Dakota university | Current CAA status, delivery format, placements, tuition and fees, and licensure disclosure |
| Minot State University | Graduate study at a North Dakota university | Current CAA status, delivery format, placements, tuition and fees, and licensure disclosure |
| Out-of-state or online graduate program | Potential flexibility without relocating | North Dakota enrollment eligibility, licensure disclosure, local placement arrangements, and required travel |
Compare total cost to completion, not tuition alone: prerequisites, mandatory fees, travel, and clinical-placement expenses may alter the result. A guide to the cheapest online slp master's programs can help generate options, but verify current charges and North Dakota eligibility with each university before applying.
How many supervised clinical hours are required for North Dakota speech-language pathologists?
For the ASHA certification pathway, graduate preparation includes at least 400 supervised clinical hours: 25 hours of guided observation and 375 hours in direct client or patient contact. At least 325 of the 400 hours must be completed at the graduate level. These are training hours, not the hours of the later clinical fellowship; confirm the North Dakota board's applicable documentation requirements separately.
Hours alone do not establish that a placement qualifies. Supervision, the types of activities counted, and university approval matter. If a program advertises a short completion time, ask how it schedules placements and verifies supervisors. Comparing short online slp program pacing options is useful only after confirming that the clinical plan is feasible where you live.
What exams are required for North Dakota speech-language pathology licensure?
The central professional exam is the Praxis Speech-Language Pathology test. ASHA's CCC-SLP standards require a passing Praxis score; its published passing score is 162 on the current reporting scale. Verify North Dakota's current exam rule, accepted score, and score-reporting instructions with the licensing board before testing or applying. Universities may also set separate graduation or application requirements.
Do not confuse an entrance requirement with the professional exam. Graduate-program GPA policies affect admission, while Praxis results affect credentialing later. If admission is your immediate obstacle, compare speech pathology master's gpa requirements rather than assuming a strong Praxis plan can replace missing prerequisites or a school's minimum GPA.
How do you renew and maintain a North Dakota speech-language pathology license?
Renew through the North Dakota licensing board on its current schedule and meet any applicable continuing-education, fee, and reporting requirements. Check the board's current rules for the renewal deadline, how activities are counted, and whether documentation must be submitted or retained for an audit. ASHA certification has its own maintenance requirements and does not renew a state license for you.
Keep separate records for state licensure, CCC-SLP maintenance, and any school credential. Before changing employers, moving into telepractice, or returning after a lapse, confirm that your authorization remains appropriate. A common mistake is tracking continuing education for ASHA but overlooking a different state reporting period or requirement.
Can you become a speech-language pathologist in North Dakota through reciprocity or endorsement?
If you already hold a license in another state, ask the North Dakota board about its current pathway for experienced, out-of-state applicants. You may be able to use existing license verification, exam results, supervised-experience records, or CCC-SLP documentation to demonstrate qualifications. Reciprocity or endorsement is not automatic practice authority: the board must review the application under North Dakota's rules.
Before accepting a North Dakota position, request your licensing history from every state where you have practiced and ask the board whether any additional documents or authorization are needed before your start date. The same precaution applies to telepractice: holding a license where you live does not, by itself, establish permission to serve a client located in North Dakota.
What do North Dakota speech-language pathologists need to know about background checks and scope of practice?
Disclose professional or legal history as the North Dakota application requires, and ask an employer whether its setting has a separate background-screening process. School systems and healthcare facilities may have onboarding requirements beyond professional licensure. Do not assume that passing an employer check replaces a board disclosure, or vice versa.
Speech-language pathologists evaluate and treat communication and swallowing disorders, working within their training, competence, and applicable state rules. Jobs in schools, hospitals, clinics, and other settings can differ substantially in caseload and responsibilities. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a $97,870 national median annual wage for speech-language pathologists in May 2025; that is context for comparing career options, not a North Dakota salary or an expected first-job offer. For broader role and pay comparisons, see the 2027 speech pathology salary and career guide.
Telepractice technology can expand how services are delivered, but it does not remove licensure, privacy, supervision, or competence obligations. Before accepting a remote caseload, confirm where clients will be located and which jurisdictions' rules apply.
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/
- Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact https://aslpcompact.com/compact-map/
- California State University-San Marcos - Online MS in Speech-Language Pathology https://www.csusm.edu/slp/programs/mastersonline/index.html
- Maryville University - Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology https://www.maryville.edu/masters/speech-language-pathology/
- Abilene Christian University - Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (Online) https://acu.edu/academics/graduate/master-of-science-in-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
- West Virginia University - Speech-Language Pathology, M.S. - Online https://medicine.hsc.wvu.edu/communications-sciences-and-disorders/speech-language-pathology-ms/future-students/curriculum/online-slp-program/
Other Things You Should Know About Speech Pathology
Often, yes. You may need prerequisite or leveling courses first. Ask each program which courses it requires and whether they can be completed after admission.
Some coursework may be online, but supervised clinical training requires approved placements. Confirm state eligibility, placement support, travel requirements, and the program's North Dakota licensure disclosure before enrolling.
Not without confirming the authorization required for your role and stage of training. Ask the licensing board and school employer about fellowship supervision, start-date requirements, and any school-specific credential.
The ASHA clinical fellowship takes at least 36 weeks and 1,260 hours. Exam timing, state application processing, and your work schedule can affect when you qualify for independent practice.
