SLP Praxis Exam Format

SLP Praxis Exam Format 2026 — Complete Structure, Scoring & Exam Day Guide

Everything you need to know about the Praxis Speech-Language Pathology exam (test code 5331) — question count, time limit, scoring methodology, registration, retake rules, and exam day logistics. Based on the official ETS Study Companion and 2024 testing policy updates.

Exam Snapshot

Praxis SLP (5331) Quick Facts

132
Total Questions
Selected-response, scenario-based
2.5 hrs
Time Limit
Administered at Prometric centers or at home
162
ASHA Passing Score
Scaled score on a 100–200 scale

The Praxis Speech-Language Pathology exam (test code 5331) is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and is required for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP), as well as for state licensure in most states. The exam is offered year-round at Prometric testing centers and via live remote proctoring (at-home testing). For complete preparation strategy, see our SLP Praxis Study Guide.

Question Format

How Praxis SLP Questions Are Structured

All 132 questions on the Praxis SLP are selected-response items — multiple-choice with four answer choices (A, B, C, D) and one correct answer per question. There are no multi-select items, no constructed-response (essay) items, and no audio or video stimuli on this exam. Every question is computer-delivered and scored automatically.

Multiple Choice (Single Best Answer)

A clinical scenario followed by four answer choices. Only one is correct. The challenge: questions are typically dense paragraph-length scenarios where multiple options look reasonable, and you must identify the BEST answer based on evidence-based practice, scope of practice, and clinical priorities.

Example pattern: “An SLP is conducting an evaluation for a 4-year-old monolingual Spanish-speaking child whose parents report language delays. The child scored below the 5th percentile on a standardized English-language assessment. What is the MOST appropriate next step?”

No penalty for wrong answers

Always answer every question, even if you have to guess. There is no penalty for incorrect answers — only correct answers count toward your raw score. Skipping a question is mathematically equivalent to a wrong answer, but skipping eliminates any chance of getting it right.

Questions can be flagged for review and revisited before final submission. The exam does not adapt in difficulty based on your performance.

Content Blueprint

Content Category Weighting

The Praxis SLP exam is organized into three content categories, each weighted equally at approximately 33⅓% — about 44 questions per category. The category breakdown reflects the official ETS Study Companion for the Praxis 5331.

Category 1
Foundations and Professional Practice
Approximately 44 questions
~33⅓%
Category 2
Screening, Assessment, Evaluation, and Diagnosis
Approximately 44 questions
~33⅓%
Category 3
Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation of Treatment
Approximately 44 questions
~33⅓%

Questions across all three categories test knowledge of ASHA’s Big 9 areas of practice — articulation, fluency, voice and resonance, receptive and expressive language, hearing, swallowing, cognition, social communication, and communication modalities (including AAC). For full category descriptions, the Big 9 breakdown, and high-yield study topics, see our SLP Praxis Study Guide.

Scoring

How the Praxis SLP is Scored

The Praxis SLP uses a scaled scoring system. Your raw score (the number of questions answered correctly) is converted to a scaled score on a 100–200 range. The ASHA-required passing score is 162. Some states require a different passing score for licensure — most use the ASHA standard of 162, but a small number set their own threshold.

A few important scoring details to understand:

Pass-fail is total-score based, not category-based
There is no minimum passing score per content category. Your scaled score is calculated from total correct answers across the entire exam. You can be weak in one category and still pass if your other categories compensate — but the math gets harder when you have a major weakness.
No penalty for wrong answers
Always answer every question, even if you have to guess. Skipping a question is mathematically equivalent to a wrong answer, but skipping eliminates any chance of getting it right.
Some questions are unscored field-test items
A small number of items on each exam are pilot questions used to gather statistics for future exam forms. These don’t count toward your score, but you won’t know which questions are pilots — treat every question as if it counts.
You see an unofficial score immediately
Because the Praxis SLP is entirely selected-response, you receive an unofficial score on screen at the end of your exam. Your official score report is posted to your ETS account 10 to 16 business days after testing. You can have your official scores sent to ASHA and your state licensing board through your ETS account.

Registration & Logistics

How to Register for the Praxis SLP

Praxis SLP registration is a straightforward online process — create an ETS account, register and pay, choose your testing format and date, and arrive prepared on exam day. Most candidates register 4-8 weeks before their target exam date to secure their preferred location and time slot.

Step 1
Create an ETS Praxis Account
Go to ets.org/praxis and create an account. The name on your account must exactly match the name on the government-issued photo ID you’ll bring to the exam.
Step 2
Register and Pay the $146 Fee
The current registration fee for the Praxis SLP (5331) is $146. Payment is required at the time of registration. ETS accepts major credit cards. Refunds (50%) are available if you cancel at least 3 days before your test date.
Step 3
Choose Test Format — Test Center or At Home
The Praxis SLP is available in two formats: in-person at a Prometric testing center, or at home via live remote proctoring through ETS. Both deliver the identical exam. At-home testing requires a quiet private room, a laptop or desktop with webcam and microphone, and the ETS Secure Test Browser. Important: as of June 1, 2024, no breaks are permitted during the at-home version of this exam — taking an unscheduled break invalidates your test with no refund.
Step 4
Schedule Your Exam Date and Time
Praxis tests are administered year-round, but specific dates and time slots vary by location. Test centers fill up — schedule as soon as you register. At-home testing is available 7 days a week with broader availability than test centers.
Step 5
Test Day & Score Reporting
Arrive at the testing center 30 minutes early with a valid government-issued photo ID. For at-home testing, begin check-in 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment. You’ll see an unofficial score on screen immediately after the exam. Official score reports are posted to your ETS account in 10–16 business days and can be sent to ASHA and state licensing boards.

Retake Rules

If You Don’t Pass — Retake Policy

ETS allows unlimited retakes of the Praxis SLP — there is no annual or lifetime cap on attempts. The single restriction is a 28-day mandatory waiting period between attempts on the same Praxis test. Understanding the retake rules upfront helps you plan strategically if you don’t pass on the first attempt.

Wait Period
28 days
Minimum wait between attempts on the same Praxis test.
Lifetime Limit
None
ETS does not impose a lifetime cap on attempts.
Retake Fee
$146
Same fee as initial registration. Paid in full each retake.
Score Report
Diagnostic info
Score reports include category-level performance to guide retake prep.

Retakers receive a category-level performance breakdown showing their scores by content category. This is the most important data point for retake prep — the score report tells you exactly where to focus your study time. Don’t waste retake time studying categories where you already performed well. For complete retake rules, visit ets.org/praxis.

FAQ

SLP Praxis Exam Format — Common Questions

The Praxis SLP (test code 5331) contains 132 selected-response questions delivered over 150 minutes. All questions are multiple-choice with four answer choices and one correct answer per question. There are no multi-select items, essay questions, or audio/video stimuli on the exam.

The ASHA-required passing score is 162 on a 100–200 scaled score range. Most U.S. states use the same 162 threshold for licensure, though a small number of states set their own passing score. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so attempt every question even if you have to guess.

The Praxis SLP is offered year-round, both at Prometric testing centers and via at-home live remote proctoring. Test center dates and times vary by location and fill up — schedule as early as possible. At-home testing offers broader availability, including weekends.

Yes. The Praxis SLP is available at home via live remote proctoring through ETS. The at-home exam is identical to the test-center exam. Requirements include a quiet private room, a laptop or desktop with working webcam and microphone, and the ETS Secure Test Browser. Important: as of June 1, 2024, no breaks (scheduled or unscheduled) are permitted during the at-home version of this exam. Taking an unscheduled break invalidates your test with no refund and triggers the standard 28-day retake wait.

The current Praxis SLP registration fee is $146. This fee covers your initial exam attempt. If you don’t pass and retake, you pay the same $146 fee for each subsequent attempt. ETS offers fee waivers for qualifying candidates — check the ETS Praxis website for current eligibility requirements.

You’ll see an unofficial score on screen immediately after completing the exam, since the Praxis SLP is entirely selected-response. Official score reports are posted to your ETS account within 10–16 business days of testing. You can have your official scores sent electronically to ASHA and state licensing boards through your ETS account.

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