Points of interest…
- ASHA's passing score for Praxis 5331 is 162, not 153.
- Retakes require a 28-day wait between Praxis test dates under ETS rules.
- Your program handbook, not Reddit, decides whether and when scores are due.
Does Your SLP Grad Program Actually Need Your Praxis Score?
A practical framework for admissions, graduation, and ASHA score reporting
A recurring question on r/slp cuts to the confusion: "Does my grad program need my Praxis score?" The honest answer is that it depends on which of four uses you mean, because they rarely line up.nnAdmission, program assessment, graduation clearance, and ASHA certification each treat the Praxis 5331 differently. A program might never ask for a score at application time, then require a passing 162 before you graduate. Your state board may set its own cutoff on top of that.nnThat splintering is why peer advice fails so often. One classmate's timeline reflects one program, one state, and one edition of a handbook that may already have changed.
Do SLP Grad Programs Ask for Praxis Scores at Application Time?
Most SLP graduate programs do not ask for a Praxis score at the application stage. Instead, competitive applicants focus on the academic and clinical-readiness factors outlined in How to Get Into SLP Grad School. The exam at the center of the question is the Praxis Exam for Speech-Language Pathology, which functions as a certification checkpoint rather than an admissions sorting tool.
Program policies confirm this split. The University of New Haven's M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology does not list the Praxis 5331 as an application requirement for 2024-2025.1 Arizona State University's M.S. in Communication Disorders requires the ETS Praxis Examination in speech-language pathology, but schedules it prior to graduation rather than at entry.2 Molloy University's Speech-Language Pathology M.S. similarly designates Praxis 5331 for the spring of the final year, tied to certification preparation.3
Some programs include a Praxis code in application materials, but that code often refers to the exam you will take later, not a score you must submit with the transcript. Before paying for an official score report, ask the admissions office whether an unofficial PDF from your ETS account is enough for review; many programs only require the official report once you are admitted and the score is needed for a clinical placement or graduation check.
Because timing varies by state and program, confirm the exact requirement with each graduate program rather than relying on peer anecdotes. A late-reported score is usually acceptable if the program only needs it for graduation or CCC-SLP Certification, which means you may not need to attempt the Praxis before applying. If you are applying now, contact each program's graduate coordinator and ask: 'Do you require a Praxis score before admission, or only before graduation?' Keep a short note of the answer in your application tracker. That single check prevents an unnecessary early exam and a wasted score-reporting fee.
Admission, Program Assessment, Graduation, and ASHA: Four Different Praxis Uses
Praxis requirements vary by program, state, and credential, so a classmate's experience or a forum thread can't tell you what your program expects. Use the table to separate the four ways a Praxis score can come up, then verify each one with the body that actually sets the rule. For salary and job outlook questions, which the Praxis doesn't answer, compare the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook entries for speech-language pathologists and audiologists on BLS.gov.
| Praxis use | Who sets the rule | What we know | Your next step | Find it fast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission | Each individual graduate program | There is no single national rule. ASHA designs the SLP Praxis to be taken after graduate coursework and practicum, so an admission-stage request may refer to a different test. | Read the program's admissions page and ask admissions staff directly whether any minimum Praxis score applies and which test it means. | Search site:edu with the program name plus "Praxis admission", then email the program director if the page is unclear. |
| Program assessment | Each program, within its CAA accreditation obligations | Some programs track how their students perform on the Praxis as an outcome measure. Policies on whether and when you must share scores differ by school. | Request the program's published outcome data or accreditation-related reports, and ask whether your score is collected for program review. | Check the program's outcomes page, ASHA's EdFind listing, and the CAA accreditation status. |
| Graduation | Each program's graduate handbook and degree requirements | Whether passing or even taking the Praxis is tied to earning your degree is a program-level decision. | Read the current graduate handbook and review your degree audit for any Praxis or comprehensive exam requirement. | Search the handbook for "Praxis" and confirm with your academic advisor before your final year. |
| ASHA certification (CCC-SLP) | ASHA's Council for Clinical Certification | Passing is required. The minimum is 162 on a 100 to 200 scaled score. Scores must go directly from ETS to ASHA, and scores older than 5 years are not accepted. | Review ASHA's certification standards, then list ASHA as a score recipient through ETS rather than forwarding a copy yourself. | Search site:asha.org for certification standards and Praxis, and check ETS Praxis for score reporting details and your state licensure board for state rules. |
Praxis 5331 Vs. Praxis Core: Which Score Is a Program Asking For?
If a program says it needs your "Praxis score," which test does it mean? It could be either one, and the two are not interchangeable.
Two Different Tests
Praxis 5331 is the Speech-Language Pathology subject exam, one of the SLP assessment tools ASHA names for certification, with a passing score of 162. Praxis Core is a separate ETS series covering reading, writing, and mathematics.2 Current ASHA guidance does not treat Core as part of SLP certification. A university might still ask for it because of an education-school or teacher-certification requirement, but that is a local or state rule, not an ASHA one.
How Each Score Gets Used
For ASHA, your 5331 score must be sent directly from ETS to ASHA. A score sent only to you or your university does not satisfy that step. Academic programs are separate: if you name a program as a score recipient, it receives your results from ETS,3 and it then applies its own policy. ASHA does not set a universal program cutoff beyond the 162 benchmark.
Programs typically view scores through ETS Data Manager, a free institutional reporting system. It lets staff search, view, download, and print individual score records, and it produces aggregated Quick and Custom Reports.1 It is not a test-taker account, and you cannot log in to it yourself.
Wording to Look For
Check your program handbook for the exact test name or code before you pay for any report; that is exactly what to look for in an SLP graduate program. Language such as "Praxis Speech-Language Pathology (5331)" points to the SLP exam. Vague wording like "Praxis scores" or a mention of reading, writing, and math points toward Core. If the handbook is unclear, email the program and ask which test it means.
How Programs Use Praxis Scores: JMU, Ohio, Grand Valley State, and Saint Mary's Compared
These four program handbooks show how widely Praxis 5331 policies vary. Some programs only need proof that you tested, and others tie your score to the 162 benchmark. Treat this table as a snapshot of each program's published handbook (editions noted), not a substitute for the version that governs your cohort, and check anything marked "confirm with program" directly with your advisor or program coordinator. The patterns you will see most often: an official report is due about a month before graduation, adding the program's ETS recipient code when you register saves a step later, and a passing score of 162 matters more for ASHA certification and licensure than for earning your diploma.
| Program | Praxis Role | Minimum Score | Deadline | How to Send / Recipient Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Madison University (Speech-Language Pathology M.S. Degree Handbook) | You must complete the Praxis Examination in Speech-Language Pathology before graduation | No minimum score required for graduation | Official scores due at least one month before anticipated graduation: April 1 for spring graduates, July 1 for summer graduates | ETS recipient code 0313 (JMU Communication Sciences and Disorders) |
| Ohio University (HSLS Graduate Handbook 2024-2025) | You must submit an official Praxis score report to HSLS before graduation. A passing score is also required for teacher-certification clearance | 162 or higher for teacher-certification clearance | Official score report due at least 30 days before graduation | Send an official score report to HSLS; ETS recipient code: confirm with program |
| Grand Valley State University (SLP Grad Handbook 2022) | You must take the Praxis and send scores to GVSU. Taking the test is required for graduation, but passing is not | No passing score required for graduation; a passing score is required to apply for ASHA certification | No fixed submission date stated; students are encouraged to test during the summer semester before the internship (confirm with program) | ETS recipient code 0153, selected at the time of the test |
| Saint Mary's College (Speech Language Pathology Graduate Student Handbook 2025-2027) | You must take and pass Praxis 5331 to be eligible for ASHA certification and state licensure | A passing score is required for ASHA and licensure eligibility (ASHA's passing score is 162); any program-specific minimum: confirm with program | Confirm with program | Add Saint Mary's College as an ETS score recipient using institution code 0970 |
When to Take the Praxis in Grad School
Timing the Praxis in grad school means picking a test date for the speech-language pathology Praxis so your official score arrives before anyone needs it: your program, your state licensing board, or ASHA. No single semester is right for everyone, but four anchors make the decision far more manageable.
The Four Anchors
- Core coursework: The exam spans the broad scope of practice, so it makes sense to test after you've finished most of your core classes in the SLP Grad School Curriculum rather than halfway through them.
- External practicum: Placements can be demanding, especially alongside required SLP Grad School Clinical Hours. Decide whether you'd rather test before yours begins or during a lighter stretch, and avoid stacking exam prep on your busiest clinical weeks.
- Your program's deadline: Some programs set a date for a Praxis score, sometimes tied to graduation or a program requirement. Check your student handbook or ask your advisor.
- ETS reporting delay: Scores are not official the day you sit for the exam. Count backward from any deadline and leave room for the reporting lag covered in the score-reporting section below.
A Planning Heuristic, Not a Rule
Many students target the last third of their coursework. By that point, most content has been covered, and there's still time for a retake before graduation and the start of the clinical fellowship. Treat this as a starting point and adjust it to your program's sequence and your own readiness.
Too Early vs. Too Late
Testing too early means facing questions on material you haven't studied yet, which can cost you a passing score you'd likely earn a semester later. Testing too late removes your safety net. If you fall short, a retake and the waiting period for new official scores could push you past graduation or delay certification steps. Retake rules are covered in a later section.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Does my handbook name a Praxis deadline, and how many weeks does that leave for a retake?
ETS requires a waiting period between attempts, and official scores take time to post. Count backward from your program's deadline so a missed first attempt still leaves room to retest and report.
Have I finished the coursework the 5331 covers, and when is my first external placement?
The exam spans the full scope of practice, so testing before core courses wrap up can cost points. Placements also eat study time, which makes the weeks before or between them attractive windows.
Am I aiming for a graduation date or a state license timeline that a failed first attempt could push back?
If a job offer, clinical fellowship start, or state license application hinges on a passing score, test earlier. A later retake could delay certification paperwork by a full cycle.
How to Send Scores: ETS Recipients, Codes, Fees, and Official Vs. Unofficial Reports
Naming your programs at registration is the easiest route, but it forces you to decide before you know your result. Ordering later gives you flexibility, at a price.
Choosing Recipients
Score reporting runs through your Praxis account on the ETS website. When you register for the Speech-Language Pathology test (5331), you can select recipients then. Search for each institution by name or code inside the account, and confirm the code against your program's own instructions, a step in How to Choose an SLP Grad Program, before you submit. If you skip a program, you can add it afterward as an additional score report from the same account. The exact screens change, so follow the prompts in your account rather than a screenshot from a forum thread.
What It Costs
Per the 2026-27 Praxis Tests Information Bulletin, the 5331 registration fee is $146, and ETS's fee structure includes four score reports with registration. Each additional report is $35. One secondary site lists $40, but the ETS bulletin is the more authoritative source, so plan around $35 and confirm on the current ETS fee page before paying. That bulletin does not list a separate late or reinstated reporting fee for 5331, so any later send is treated as an additional report. Other charges can apply:
- Online service fee: 3% on online transactions.
- Telephone registration: a $35 surcharge.
- Nevada test centers: a $5 surcharge.
ETS notes that fees can change without notice.
Official vs. Unofficial
The result you see on screen right after testing is an unofficial preview. It's useful for your own planning, including deciding whether a retake is worth scheduling, but it isn't something a program or certifying body will accept. Programs generally want the official ETS report delivered to them electronically, not a screenshot or a PDF you forward yourself. For CCC-SLP Certification, ASHA takes the same position: it requires scores sent directly from ETS. The specifics of that rule, and which passing score applies, come up in the passing score section below.
If your program is not selected at registration, you have not lost the chance. You will just pay the additional report fee, so check deadlines first and order early enough for the report to arrive on time.
Related Articles
ASHA's Current Passing Score: Settling the 153 Vs. 162 Confusion
ASHA's passing score for the Praxis Speech-Language Pathology exam (5331) is 162, on a scale that runs from 100 to 200. That is the number that counts for your Certificate of Clinical Competence.
Why You May Have Seen 153
Earlier pages on speechpathology.org listed both 153 and 162, and we want to set that straight. The confusion comes from the fact that ETS does not set one universal passing score. Each state or agency that uses the 5331 sets its own threshold.1 A lower figure you see quoted may belong to a state licensure board or education agency rather than ASHA. For certification, 162 is the target. If you also need state licensure or a school credential, look up that body's number separately.
The Five-Year Clock and Direct Reporting
ASHA accepts Praxis scores for five years. Scores must come directly from ETS. ASHA will not accept a copy you print, forward, or upload yourself. When you register or add score recipients, ASHA's reporting code is R5031.2
The five-year window matters more than many students expect. If you test early in your program and then delay your clinical fellowship or your certification application, your score could age out before ASHA reviews it. In that case, plan on retesting. Your graduate program may have its own timing rules too, so confirm how recent a score it expects before you schedule.
What About Pass Rates?
We looked for an official pass rate for the 5331 and did not find one from ETS or ASHA in a form we can cite. Treat any specific percentage you see on forums or prep sites with caution unless it links back to a primary source.
Which States Use a Different Passing Score for SLP?
ASHA's passing score for the speech-language pathology Praxis (5331) is 162, and most state licensure boards use the same number, but ASHA notes that states may set their own passing score higher or lower. Clearing 162 satisfies the Praxis requirement for your CCC-SLP, not your state license, so a Kentucky applicant would still need 165, while states such as Mississippi, South Dakota, and West Virginia accept a lower score for licensure. The state figures below were last compiled in February 2025 and boards can revise them, so confirm the current requirement on your state licensure board's official website or by contacting the board directly before you register or send scores.
| State | Passing Score | Difference from ASHA / Exception | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 165 scaled score | 3 points higher than ASHA's 162 | speechpathology.org, ASHA CCC-SLP Certification Requirements guide (February 2025); verify with the Kentucky state licensure board |
| South Dakota | 160 scaled score | 2 points lower than ASHA's 162 | speechpathology.org, ASHA CCC-SLP Certification Requirements guide (February 2025); verify with the South Dakota state licensure board |
| West Virginia | 156 scaled score | 6 points lower than ASHA's 162 | speechpathology.org, ASHA CCC-SLP Certification Requirements guide (February 2025); verify with the West Virginia state licensure board |
| Mississippi | 150 scaled score | 12 points lower than ASHA's 162 | speechpathology.org, ASHA CCC-SLP Certification Requirements guide (February 2025); verify with the Mississippi state licensure board |
Your program's internal benchmark, ASHA's certification threshold, and your state licensing board's cutoff can be three different numbers, so a score that clears one may fall short of another. Before you register for a retake, confirm all three requirements directly with your program, ASHA, and your state board.
Retakes, Cancellations, and Unofficial Scores: What Happens if You MISs the Mark
Missing the passing mark forces a tradeoff between speed and readiness: retake as soon as the rules allow, or wait long enough to close the gaps. Knowing the ETS rules up front makes that choice easier.
The 28-Day Retake Rule
For the Speech-Language Pathology Praxis (5331), ETS requires you to wait at least 28 days after your previous test date before taking the same test again.1 That clock starts on the test date itself. It also applies if you canceled your scores or didn't finish the exam as planned.
ETS's materials don't set a lifetime cap on attempts.2 A state board, program, or other organization can still have its own policy.
If you retest before 28 days have passed, ETS will cancel the retest scores and will not refund your test fees.3 Each attempt is a new registration, so plan your budget for it.
If you reach a third attempt, look into ETS's Free After Three program. ETS notifies qualifying test takers by email within three days of receiving the score report for that third attempt.
Cancellations and Unofficial Scores
Canceling your scores does not reset the retake clock. Cancellation deadlines and refund terms can change, so check the current ETS registration information before test day. Don't rely on a forum post for these details.
You may wonder whether you'll see a score on screen when you finish. We could not confirm from ETS's materials that the 5331 shows one. Even if a number appears, treat it as informational only. Programs, state boards, and ASHA all use the official score report, not what you saw at the testing center.
How a Retake Affects Graduation and the CF
A retake adds at least four weeks, plus scoring time. That delay can push back your graduation clearance, your state license or provisional credential, and the start of your SLP clinical fellowship. Ask your program directly:
- Graduation: Is a passing score required to graduate, or do I only need to report it?
- Deadlines: What happens if my official score arrives after the program's deadline?
- Clinical fellowship: Can I start a CF while I wait for a retake result?
How to Verify Requirements With Each Program: Checklist and Email Template
What exactly should you look for to know whether your program needs your Praxis score? Start with the graduate handbook, the clinic manual, and the graduation or comprehensive exam policy. Those documents outrank any forum answer.
What to Look For in the Handbook
- Test code: Which exam the program names (for example, the SLP specialty test or a general Core-style test).
- Deadline: The date scores must be on file, and whether it ties to a semester, SLP clinical placements, or graduation.
- Minimum score: The number the program expects, which may differ from other bodies.
- Recipient code: The institution or department code to select when you register.
- Unofficial scores: Whether a screenshot or end-of-test score is accepted, or only an official report.
- Retakes: How many attempts are allowed and what happens to your status if you miss the mark.
Why Peer Anecdotes Are Only a Starting Point
Threads like the one on r/slp are a handy prompt for questions you hadn't thought to ask. They are not program policy. Cohorts differ, handbooks get revised, and advisors change, so the best SLP Grad Student Advice is to verify requirements directly. A classmate's experience at another school, or even last year's cohort at yours, may not match what applies to you.
Email Template
"Hello Dr. [Name], I'm a [first-year/second-year] student in the [program name] cohort. I'm planning my Praxis registration and want to confirm the requirements. What is the deadline for having my score on file? Is there a minimum score the program requires? Which recipient code should I select when I register? If I need to retest, what is the policy and timeline? Thank you for your help."
Send it to the program or clinic director, and keep the reply.
Your Next Step
Check the handbook first, confirm the details with the program in writing, then register for the exam and select your score recipients.
