Georgia Speech Pathology State License Guide

A speech pathology state license in Georgia requires candidates to have a master’s degree. They will also need to follow the guidelines from the Georgia Board of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology.¹

The below information has been curated by the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA)² based on Georgia’s rules and regulations for state licensure. Please note that requirements/information may change at any time, so always check with your state for the most up-to-date information.

This page was updated in November 2025.

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Summary of Georgia Speech Pathology State License Requirements

Georgia speech pathology licensure requires a master’s in speech pathology or its equivalent. Candidates must also complete clinical observation hours, complete a professional experience and pass a national exam. A Georgia speech pathology license now has a 15% increase in demand with licensees working in schools as well as health care facilities.¹

Don’t have your master’s degree? Learn how to get your masters in speech pathology.

Speech Pathology Initial Licensure for Georgia

According to ASHA¹, qualifying for Georgia speech pathology licensure requires candidates meet certain criteria. For speech pathology license verification, candidates must:

Obtain a speech pathology master’s or higher degree from an accredited program. The program should incorporate the 75 credit hours of classwork with 36 hours earned at the graduate level.¹
Complete a supervised clinical practicum in a variety of areas working with adults and children with any communication disorder. The experience must be with an accredited program and amount to 375 clock hours of direct supervision and 25 clock hours of observation. At least 325 of the 400 hours must be completed at the graduate level.¹
Complete a required nine-month professional experience in a part-time or full-time setting.¹
Pass a national examination approved by the Board.¹
Show continuation of study via two CEUs within two years preceding application.¹
Criminal background check.¹

Speech Language Pathology Licensure Exemptions for Georgia

Certain individuals may provide speech-language services in Georgia without holding a state SLP license, as long as they meet specific conditions defined in Georgia law. Examples include:

Public school SLPs who are certified by the Georgia Department of Education or the Georgia Professional Standards Commission and who provide services only as employees of a public educational institution serving pre-K through 12th grade, without charging additional fees (other than Medicaid billing).
Students, interns, and clinical fellows who are completing supervised clinical education or a required professional experience under appropriate oversight and within the limits set by the Board.

Anyone who practices outside of these narrow exemptions (for example, in private practice, hospitals, or other non-school settings) must hold a Georgia SLP license.

Reciprocity for Speech Therapists in Georgia

Applicants seeking Georgia speech pathology licensure who are licensed in another state may be verified if their state criteria is equivalent. SLP applicants who hold a CCC, or a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, may also receive a Georgia speech pathology license.¹

Interim Practice for Aspiring Speech Pathologists in Georgia

Before you begin your paid Clinical Fellowship in Georgia, you must obtain a provisional license as a Paid Clinical Experience (PCE) Fellow from the Georgia Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology.

Key points:

You cannot start your PCE until the Board has approved your application and issued the provisional PCE license.
Your PCE supervisor must hold a current Georgia SLP license in the area in which you are gaining experience and is ultimately responsible for the quality of services you provide.
A supervisor may oversee no more than two PCE/RPE fellows at a time.
The provisional license is typically valid for one year from the start of the PCE. It may be renewed once if your approved plan is part-time and extends beyond one year, but not solely to finish other outstanding requirements.
Practicing without an approved provisional license, or supervising a fellow without one, is considered unlicensed practice and may result in disciplinary action.

Once you successfully complete the PCE and pass the national exam, you can apply to convert this provisional license into a full Georgia SLP license.¹

Continuing Education for Speech Language Pathologists in Georgia

Maintaining your Georgia license requires completion of continuing education hours; 20 clock hours or 2.0 CEUs are required per biennium. A dual license holder must complete 2.0 CEUs per biennium in each field to maintain their Georgia license.¹

Contact Information for SLP State Licensure in Georgia

Speech licensure in Georgia is guided by the Georgia Board of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology. Their website can guide candidates on speech licensure in Georgia with more information on application as well as license laws/regulations.

Georgia SLP Licensing Board Oversight

Georgia SLP licensing is monitored by the Georgia Board of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology. The Board protects public health and safety of Georgia and examines all licenses and regulations set upon SLPs in the state.

Georgia Speech Language Hearing Association

Georgia Speech-Language-Hearing Association

P.O. Box 1867
Buford, GA 30515
Contact: Janna Buchan, Executive Director
Phone: 770-405-9552
Email: execdir@gsha.org

Georgia Regulatory Agencies

Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

237 Coliseum Drive
Macon, GA 31217-3858
ASHA: 478-207-2440
GSHA: 478-207-2440

Georgia Hearing Screening Contacts

Universal Newborn Hearing Screening and Intervention

Georgia Department of Public Health
2 Peachtree Street NW, 11th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: 404-651-5482

Georgia School Health
Georgia Department of Public Health
200 Piedmont Avenue SE
Atlanta, GA 30334

See DPH’s website for current newborn hearing and school health contacts

Georgia ASHA Network Representatives

State Education Advocacy Leaders (SEALs) – Position is now vacant but you can contact Eileen Crowe ecrowe@asha.org
State Advocates for Reimbursement (STARS) – Caroline Bergner cbergner@asha.org (Medicaid) and Meghan Ryan mryan@asha.org (private health plans)
State Advocates for Medicare Policy (StAMP) Network – Sarah Warren swarren@asha.org

¹The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. “Georgia Licensing Requirements for Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists,” accessed November 2025. Return to footnote reference

Return to footnote reference

Information Last Updated: November 2025

Sponsored online speech pathology programs

Online MS: Pursue SLP Certification. Study FT/PT

Speech@Emerson enables you to earn an MS online and pursue SLP certification in as few as 20 mos. Learn the same curriculum as the on-campus program. Study FT or PT.

Prepares you to pursue certification as an SLP generalist
In-person clinical placements at faculty-approved partner sites
As few as 20 months to complete

info AD

Want to Become an SLP? Earn an MS Online at NYU

NYU Steinhardt’s online master of science program in Communicative Sciences and Disorders prepares aspiring speech-language pathologists with a comprehensive professional education.

Prepares students to pursue SLP licensure
Accredited by ASHA’s Council on Academic Accreditation
As few as six terms to complete
Full-time and part-time plans of study

info AD

Online MS in Speech-Language Pathology from Pepperdine University

Full-time (five trimesters) or part-time (eight trimesters) options available.
No GRE scores required.
400+ supervised, clinical learning hours are done at schools/clinics local to students
Three onsite experiences build a sense of camaraderie and community throughout the program

info AD