SLP Continuing Education Requirements by State: Hours, Required Topics and Renewal in All 50 States and DC

Most states ask a speech-language pathologist for 20 hours of continuing education every two years. The real range runs from nothing at all in Alaska and Hawaii to 36 hours every two years in Indiana, and about a third of states add required topics, most often ethics. Only three states let your ASHA certification stand in for their hours.

This article goes through every state and DC for SLPs and, where the state credentials them, SLP assistants: the hours, the required topics, the renewal cycle and whether ASHA's Certificate of Clinical Competence counts. I'm an occupational therapist, not an SLP, so I've stayed with what the rules say.

This isn't legal advice. I checked every rule on November 9, 2026, on the state's own legislature, code or board site. Your board's current rule is the one that counts.

The Short Answer

• 20 hours every 2 years is the norm: 23 states and DC.
• 30 hours every 2 years: 7 states (Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire).
• 10 hours every year: 9 states (Arkansas, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Virginia, Wyoming). Alabama asks for 12 a year and Colorado for 10 a year under a self-assessment program.
• 30 hours every 3 years: New York, North Carolina and Washington.
• The outliers: Indiana 36 hours every 2 years, Iowa 26, California 24, South Carolina 16.
• No CE at all: Alaska and Hawaii.
• ASHA's CCC replaces the state's hours in 3 states: Minnesota, Nebraska and Vermont. Nevada requires a current CCC on top of its own hours.
• Ethics hours are required in 9 states and DC. Seven require cultural competence, health equity, implicit bias or LGBTQ training, and two require human trafficking training.
• SLPAs: 36 jurisdictions license, register or certify assistants or aides. 21 set CE hours for them by name.

Every State at a Glance

Not credentialed means the state has no license, registration or certification for SLP assistants or aides. Hours are clock hours unless the cell says otherwise. Each citation links to the official source I read, and the source type is in parentheses.

Where ASHA Certification Counts

ASHA's Certificate of Clinical Competence is a national credential, not a license. Most states take courses from ASHA-approved providers toward their hours. Only a few say anything about the CCC itself.

The CCC in place of state hours

• Minnesota. The statute gives you a choice: an SLP renewing a license "must meet the requirements for continuing education stipulated by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or the American Board of Audiology, or satisfy the requirements described in paragraphs (b) to (e)." Paragraph (b) is 30 hours every two years. (Minn. Stat. § 148.5193, subd. 1 (opens in a new tab))
• Nebraska. Its rule lists ASHA certification as an accepted way to meet the requirement: "Documentation must include a current certification. Current certification will satisfy the continuing education requirement for the preceding 24-month period." (172 NAC 23-005.01(A) (opens in a new tab))
• Vermont. The Office of Professional Regulation's renewal instructions say to "Show proof of 20 hours of continuing education OR proof of active ASHA CCCSLP designation." That is an office document, not a rule. The statute leaves the details to the office: renewal requires "professional development activities in accord with the processes approved by the Director." (OPR renewal instructions (opens in a new tab); 26 V.S.A. § 4458 (opens in a new tab))

The CCC on top of state hours

Nevada requires the CCC itself. "Except for a speech-language pathology provisional licensee and in addition to the requirements set forth in NRS 637B.196, a speech-language pathologist must hold a current Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology issued by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association or its successor organization approved by the Board." (NRS 637B.197 (opens in a new tab)) The board's rule still asks for 10 hours a year. In practice a Nevada SLP keeps up both ASHA's 30 hours every three years and the state's 10 a year, though the same course can usually count toward both.

Two states that say no

• Colorado. Colorado lets you skip its own program if you keep up an approved one elsewhere, called deemed status. Its Office of Speech-Language Pathology Certification says plainly: "The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is NOT an approved entity for Deemed Status." (Colorado CPC page (opens in a new tab)) The rule behind it lets the director approve an "accrediting body or an entity" for that purpose. (4 CCR 748-1, Rule 1.11 (opens in a new tab))
• Montana. Montana's new combined rule for several professions recognizes national certification for occupational therapists, "but the board recognizes maintenance of current National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy as fulfilling this requirement," and does nothing of the kind for SLPs. (ARM 24.119.2101 (opens in a new tab))

States With No CE Requirement

• Alaska. The audiology and SLP statute sets CE only for assistants: renewal of an SLPA registration needs "a sworn statement that the applicant has available documentation of approved continuing education consisting of 15 clock hours for the preceding two years." I found nothing for SLPs in the statute or in the board's rules. (AS 08.11.043(d) (opens in a new tab))
• Hawaii. The board's FAQ answers the question directly: "Are there continuing education (CE) requirements for licensure renewal? No, there are no CE requirements for renewal." The statute and rules agree by saying nothing. (Hawaii board FAQ (opens in a new tab))

Required Topics

These are topics a state makes a condition of renewing the license, in the SLP rules and in the general health-professions laws I checked. Trainings your employer or school district requires, such as mandated reporter courses tied to the job, aren't included.

Ethics

Nine states and DC require ethics hours: DC 1, Delaware 2, Illinois 1, Kentucky 2, Maryland 1, Ohio 2, Oklahoma 3, Texas 2, Wisconsin 2 and West Virginia 2. Nevada lets the one required hour be ethics or one of several cultural topics. Alabama recommends an hour without requiring it. Oklahoma asks the most: "A licensee must obtain a minimum of twenty (20) clock hours of acceptable continuing education, including at least three clock hours of professional ethics in a two-year period." (OAC 690:10-3-8(b) (opens in a new tab))

Cultural competence, health equity and implicit bias

• DC: two hours of LGBTQ continuing education, plus "Ten percent (10%) of the total required continuing education shall be in the subjects determined by the Director as public health priorities of the District." (17 DCMR § 7906.2 (opens in a new tab))
• Illinois: "A health care professional who has continuing education requirements must complete at least a one-hour course in training on implicit bias awareness per renewal period," and the definition names the "Illinois Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Practice Act." (20 ILCS 2105/2105-15.7 (opens in a new tab))
• Maryland: one hour of cultural competency every renewal, and a one-time attestation that you "completed an implicit bias and structural racism training program," which "shall apply only to an applicant’s first license or certificate renewal after April 1, 2026." (Health Occ. § 1-225 (opens in a new tab))
• Michigan: every health professional renewing "shall have completed a minimum of 1 hour of implicit bias training for each year of the applicant’s license or registration cycle." (R 338.7004 (opens in a new tab))
• Nevada: "at least 1 hour of continuing education relating to ethics, cultural competence, cultural humility, culturally responsive practices or diversity, equity and inclusion." (NAC 637B.400 (opens in a new tab))
• Oregon: SLPs and SLPAs "must report: (a) 1 hour of professional development related to cultural competency or equivalent course content." (OAR 335-070-0050(3) (opens in a new tab))
• Washington: "At least two hours of continuing education must be on health equity training." (WAC 246-828-510 (opens in a new tab))

Human trafficking

• Michigan: "an individual seeking licensure or who is licensed shall have completed training in identifying victims of human trafficking." It's a one-time requirement. (R 338.604 (opens in a new tab))
• Texas: "A health care practitioner, other than a physician or nurse, shall successfully complete a training course described by Section 116.002 as a condition for renewal of a license issued to the health care practitioner under this title." SLPs are licensed under that title. (Tex. Occ. Code § 116.003 (opens in a new tab))
• Ohio lets one hour of approved human trafficking training count toward your hours but doesn't require it. (Ohio Adm. Code 4753-4-01 (opens in a new tab)) Florida's human trafficking course law lists other health professions but not SLPs, who are licensed under part I of chapter 468. (Fla. Stat. § 456.0341 (opens in a new tab))

One-state topics

• Florida, medical errors: 2 of the 30 hours on "prevention of medical errors," for SLPs and certified assistants alike. (R. 64B20-6.001 (opens in a new tab))
• Pennsylvania, child abuse: "at least 2 hours of approved courses in child abuse recognition and reporting." (49 Pa. Code § 45.501 (opens in a new tab))
• Illinois, dementia and harassment: a one-hour course "on the diagnosis, treatment, and care of individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias per renewal period," which applies only if you treat "adult populations age 26 or older." (20 ILCS 2105/2105-365 (opens in a new tab)) Separately, "The Department shall require each licensee to complete sexual harassment prevention training." (2105-15.5 (opens in a new tab))
• Michigan, pain: "a licensee shall earn at least 1 CPD hour in pain and symptom management." (R 338.629 (opens in a new tab))
• Washington, infection control: "At least one hour of the continuing education must be on infection control." (WAC 246-828-510 (opens in a new tab))

I didn't find a dysphagia hour requirement in any state's CE rule.

If You Supervise an SLPA

Six states require SLPs who supervise assistants to take training in supervision. Maryland recommends two hours of supervision CE but doesn't require it.

• California: "Complete not less than six (6) hours of continuing professional development in supervision training prior to assuming responsibility as a supervisor, and three (3) hours in supervision training of continuing professional development every four (4) years thereafter." (16 CCR § 1399.170.15 (opens in a new tab))
• Illinois: an SLP who supervises an assistant "must have completed at least 6 clock hours of training in supervision related to speech-language pathology and must complete at least 2 clock hours of continuing education in supervision related to speech-language pathology in each new licensing cycle." (68 Ill. Adm. Code 1465 (opens in a new tab))
• Oregon: "any speech-language pathologist supervising a speech-language pathology assistant per OAR 335-095-0040 must have 2 hours of professional development related to the supervision of speech-language pathology assistants on file with the board." (OAR 335-070-0050 (opens in a new tab))
• Delaware: "Complete a minimum of 2 hours of continuing education in clinical supervision obtained prior to beginning supervision." (24 Del. Admin. Code 3700 § 14.5.1.3 (opens in a new tab))
• Wyoming: the supervising SLP "Must have completed at least a minimum of two (2) hours of continuing education hours in supervision prior to beginning supervision. These will count towards CEU for licensure renewal." (Wyo. rules ch. 12, § 6 (opens in a new tab))
• Arkansas: "Complete initial supervision training prior to accepting an assistant for supervision" and then keep it current. (ABESPA Rules § 13.16 (opens in a new tab))

SLP Assistants

Thirty-six jurisdictions license, register or certify assistants or aides in some form, and 21 set CE hours for them by name. The lowest are Montana and West Virginia at 5 hours a year. The highest is Kentucky, at the same 30 hours every two years it asks of SLPs. Seven states (Delaware, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota and Washington) have a CE rule written for all licensees or credential holders that appears to cover assistants. Eight credential assistants or aides but set no hours: Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico and North Carolina. Maine says so outright and exempts them.

Minnesota hands the question to ASHA: an SLPA "must meet the requirements for continuing education established by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association." (Minn. Stat. § 148.5193, subd. 1a (opens in a new tab))

Who counts as an assistant, how they're credentialed and how closely they must be supervised varies a great deal more than the CE rules do. That's covered state by state in our SLPA license and supervision guide.

Notes on a Few States

• New Jersey. The 2015 rule adoption set the requirement at "20 credit hours of continuing education related to ... the practice of audiology or speech-language pathology in the preceding biennial renewal period," with the first renewal exempt. (2015 adoption notice (opens in a new tab)) The state's administrative code is published only through a commercial site that blocked my automated reading, and the board no longer posts its rules, so I couldn't confirm the current text or whether any topic has been added since. The statute leaves the hours to the Division: renewal requires "such continuing education requirements as are determined and published by the director." (N.J.S.A. 45:3B-18 (opens in a new tab)) Check with the board before you rely on the 20.
• West Virginia. The SLP rule in force right now is an emergency rule, effective June 2, 2026, while the permanent rule goes through the legislature. The table quotes the emergency rule; if the legislature changes it, the permanent version will replace it.
• Montana. Montana moved its SLP rules into a chapter shared with other professions on July 25, 2026, and repealed the old CE rules in chapter 24.222. If a course provider or employer quotes the old rule, check it against ARM 24.119.2101 (opens in a new tab).
• Connecticut, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Washington renew the license every year but count CE over two or three years. Track the CE period, not the renewal date.
• Mississippi. The Department of Health moved its website, and older links to the SLP regulations no longer work. The current copy is on the Department's new site.

The National Layer: ASHA Certification Maintenance

ASHA's Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) is a voluntary national credential. It is not a license. Your state board licenses you, and only the board's rule decides what you need to renew. ASHA's rule decides what you need to keep the CCC. Many SLPs keep both because employers, insurers or school districts ask for the CCC, and because most states accept ASHA-approved courses toward their own hours.

ASHA's rule, in its own words: "Certification maintenance standards require that all certificate holders (CCC-A and CCC-SLP) must accumulate 30 professional development hours (PDHs) during each 3-year certification maintenance interval in order to maintain their ASHA Certificates of Clinical Competence (CCC)." (ASHA, Maintaining Your Certification (opens in a new tab))

ASHA updated the topic requirements for intervals starting January 1, 2026: "Individuals who hold ASHA certification—the CCC-A and/or CCC-SLP —are required to earn and report at least 30 PDHs during each 3-year certification maintenance interval. Professional development activities selected must include the following content areas." (ASHA, Professional Development Requirements (opens in a new tab))

• Ethics: "1 PDH in ethics." (ASHA (opens in a new tab))
• Cultural and collaborative practice: "2 PDHs in topics that strengthen the ability of ASHA-certified individuals to" either "provide services that align with the unique histories, values, and circumstances of individuals, families, communities" or work better with colleagues, students and care partners. ASHA dropped the older cultural competency label in its fall 2025 update. (ASHA (opens in a new tab))
• Supervision: if you supervise students or Clinical Fellows for ASHA certification, "Complete a minimum of 2 hours of professional development in the area of supervision/clinical instruction." That one is required once, not every interval. (ASHA (opens in a new tab))

If you were in the 2023-2025 interval and hadn't finished, ASHA lets you finish under either the old or the new content areas.

Key Takeaways

• Most states want 20 hours every two years. Nine want 10 every year, seven want 30 every two years, and three want 30 every three years.
• Alaska and Hawaii have no CE requirement for SLPs.
• ASHA's CCC replaces state hours only in Minnesota, Nebraska and Vermont. Nevada requires the CCC as well as its own hours, and Colorado says ASHA doesn't qualify.
• Ethics is the most common required topic, in 9 states and DC. Seven require training on cultural competence, health equity, implicit bias or LGBTQ care, and Michigan and Texas require human trafficking training.
• If you supervise an SLPA in California, Illinois, Oregon, Delaware, Wyoming or Arkansas, you need supervision training too.
• If you hold licenses in several states, through the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact or otherwise, each state's rule applies to its own license.
• This isn't legal advice. I checked every rule on November 9, 2026, on the state's own legislature, code or board site. Your board's current rule is the one that counts.

Frequently asked questions

How many continuing education hours does an SLP need to renew a license?

It depends on the state. The most common rule, in 23 states and DC, is 20 hours every two years. Seven states ask for 30 hours every two years, nine ask for 10 hours every year, and New York, North Carolina and Washington ask for 30 hours every three years. Indiana is the highest at 36 hours every two years. Alaska and Hawaii have no continuing education requirement for SLPs at all.

Does ASHA certification count toward my state's CE requirement?

In three states it can replace the state's hours: Minnesota, Nebraska and Vermont. Nevada goes the other way and requires SLPs to hold a current CCC on top of its own 10 hours a year. Colorado says outright that ASHA is not an approved program for its deemed status. Everywhere else, courses from ASHA-approved providers usually count toward the state's hours, but holding the CCC does not replace them.

Do SLPAs need continuing education?

In most states that credential them, yes. Of the 36 jurisdictions that license, register or certify speech-language pathology assistants or aides, 21 set hours for the assistant by name, from 5 hours a year in Montana and West Virginia to 30 hours every two years in Kentucky. Seven more have a CE rule written for all licensees or credential holders. Eight credential assistants or aides but set no CE hours for them.

Which states require specific CE topics for SLPs?

Nine states and DC require ethics hours, from 1 to 3. Seven require something on cultural competence, health equity, implicit bias or LGBTQ care: DC, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Michigan and Texas require human trafficking training. A few have one-state topics: Florida's medical errors, Pennsylvania's child abuse reporting, Michigan's pain management, Illinois's dementia training for adult caseloads, and Washington's infection control.

Is ASHA certification the same as a state license?

No. The state license is what lets you practice, and only your state board can grant or renew it. ASHA's Certificate of Clinical Competence is a voluntary national credential with its own rule of 30 hours every three years. You can hold one without the other, and keeping one current does not keep the other current unless your state's own rule says so.

Sources

Every state's rule is linked in the table, to the state's legislature, its official administrative code publisher or its licensing board. All were read on November 9, 2026.

• ASHA, Maintaining Your Certification (opens in a new tab): the 30-hour, 3-year rule and the fall 2025 update.
• ASHA, Professional Development Requirements for Certification Maintenance of the ASHA CCC-A and CCC-SLP (opens in a new tab): the ethics, Content Area 2 and supervision requirements, effective January 1, 2026.