The Test at a Glance:

The Praxis exams are 2-hour, 150 multiple-choice tests. Multiple-choice questions based on case studies are included in the exams. There are no essay questions on the examinations.

Back to Top

About the Praxis Exam:

The Praxis Examinations in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology are a major component for ASHA certification and most state licensing requirements for audiologists and speech-language pathologists. The active participation of faculty and students in ensuring the success of the Praxis experience is essential to the future of each profession. To ensure success, it is essential that students prepare for the examination.

The Praxis Series Specialty Area Tests in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology are developed and owned by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The exam is designed to provide a system of thorough, fair, and carefully validated tests and assessments. These tests, originally called the National Teachers Examination in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (NESPA), are used as one of the requirements for one or more of the following:

• ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech Language Pathology or Audiology
• State Professional Licensure
• State Teacher Certification

Back to Top

What is the Praxis Series?

Praxis - applying knowledge to practice
Purpose - evaluate basic level clinical knowledge, criteria for professional license, criteria for Clinical Certification

Back to Top

What Does the Test measure?

The ability to:

• Evaluate different clinical situations
• Demonstrate knowledge of the most appropriate steps to take in different situations or your decision Making ability
• Analyze different situations
• Make well-reasoned, well supported clinical decisions

Back to Top

When to Take the Praxis:

• Don't take it too early
• Take after clinical practicum
• Take after completed most graduate academic coursework
• Take around the time of comprehensives (but not the same week)

Back to Top

Test Construction for Speech Language Pathology (revised in 1998):

• Basic Professional Knowledge, 29%
  • Speech science, acoustics, instrumentation
  • Linguistics
  • Learning Theory
  • Biological & Physiological structure and function
  • Syndromes and genetics
  • Language Acquisition
  • Multicultural Awareness
  • Audiology
• Speech Language Disorders, 53%
  • Dysphasia Voice Disorders
  • Phonological Disorders Resonance Disorders
  • Language Disorders Fluency Disorders
  • Neurological Disorders Hearing Disorders
• Assessment, Treatment, Regulation, 18%
  • Research methodology and regulations Speech Language Assessment
  • Speech-Language Treatment Alternative-Augmentative Communication
  • Monitoring Client Progress, Outcomes Counseling
  • Documentation Efficacy
  • Standards, Law, Ethics

• Assessment
  • Screening Pre-Evaluation Planning
  • Case Histories Selection and Administration evaluation methods
  • Interpretation of results Transmission of results
  • Post-evaluation process
• Treatment
  • Establishing implementation goals
  • Selection of methods and strategies
  • Determination of termination based on prognosis
  • Communication to others about the treatment program
  • Monitoring client progress
• Regulation
  • Professional standards and ethical conduct Advocacy
  • Prevention, At-Risk Management and administration

Back to Top

Types of Questions on the Test:

• Type A - Basic Factual Information (20-30) Type A assesses basic knowledge. These questions are factual and simply require the knowledge of a piece of information.
• Type B- Applied Information (60-70). Type B questions are designed to test basic knowledge and to use it in context. These questions require application of information in a specific context. Such questions do not require the test taker to address the full complexity of real life situations, but they demand more than simple memorization of facts.
• Type C- Interpretative Analysis/Case Studies (50-60). Type C questions require that the students synthesize, evaluate and make a decision. This type of question is based upon hypothetical case information that asks the student to use clinical skills in order to make judgments. These questions often involve a case scenario and require integration of knowledge and critical decision-making. Sometimes, a student must decide the most appropriate clinical steps to take, given a hypothetical case.

Back to Top

Scoring

• Only correct answers count No penalty for guessing
• You can miss as many as 1/3 Answer all questions
• Only questions answered correctly count toward the reported score. Therefore, it is better to guess than to leave an answer blank.

There are several versions for each Praxis examination in speech-language pathology or audiology. The questions on one edition may be slightly more difficult (or easier) than those on another edition. ETS uses statistical methods to ensure that the various scores earned on editions of the active tests are comparable to each other.

The passing score for ASHA certification is 600 or better for both Speech Language Pathology and Audiology.
Each state determines its passing score for professional licensure and teacher certification. Most states use the same score of 600 as required for ASHA certification. However, in some states the Praxis examination score for licensure or teacher certification may be higher or lower than the ASHA minimum passing score.

Typically, 80% of students in both speech-language pathology and audiology pass the Praxis examination on their first attempt.
For the academic year 1998-1999, the mean score in audiology was 628, and the mean score in speech-language pathology was 651.
Speech-language pathology and audiology test takers who have not earned a passing score have no limitation for a two-year period on the number of times that the Praxis examination can be taken. If the examination is not passed successfully within a 2-year period, the applicant's certification file will be closed. If the examination is passed at a later date, the individual will have to reapply for certification under the standards in effect at the time of reapplication.
It is recommended that students register and take the examination no earlier than the completion of their graduate coursework and graduate clinical practicum or during the CF experience.

Send scores to: Your program ASHA for CCC State Licensure

Back to Top

Preparation Hints:

• You should be able to make accurate diagnoses
• You should know syndromes and their symptoms
• You should know about ethical practice
• You should know about current health care regulations and IDEA
• You should know current information about dysphasia, AAC, Neurological disorders, fluency, voice and resonance.

.

REMEMBER TO MANAGE YOUR TIME!

Back to Top

Tips for the Day of the Exam

• Get to the site early.
• Be prepared for delays in the test start time. If the exam starts late, you WILL have the full 2 hours for the exam. There may be a delay in starting the exam due to on-site registration.
  Bring these things with you to the test site:
  • Photo ID with name, photograph, and signature (name on admission ticket must match ID)
  • Admission ticket
  • No. 2 pencils and erasers
  • Watch (no alarms, calculators, or beeping watches are permitted)
  • Layered clothing (the room temperatures may vary)
• DO NOT Bring:
  • Cellular phones
  • Pagers
  • Food or drinks
  • Study aids
  • Scrap paper
  • Personal stereos/walkmans/headphones

Back to Top

Understanding Multiple Choice Exams

The Praxis Examinations in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology consist of 150 multiple choice questions with five potential responses for each. Questions are carefully reviewed for accuracy, fairness, cultural bias, linguistic level, content appropriateness, ambiguity, and difficulty.

Some students believe that multiple choice test questions are superficial exercises requiring little thought, less insight, and no understanding of the material. A well-constructed multiple-choice question can tap any level of knowledge and cognitive style as well as differentiate well prepared from poorly prepared test-takers.

As a test-taker, you should understand the thinking behind the development of multiple choice questions and answers. Getting into the mind of the test developer will help you become a better test taker.

Back to Top

Special Registration Options

• Register via internet- www.teachandlearning.org
• Register by phone- 1-800-772-9476, $25 phone registration fee + surcharges
• Stand-by Registration
• $60 additional fee-space available, materials, staff, first-come-first served
• If you miss the late registration deadline, you may be able to test on a regularly scheduled test day as a standby. However, this service is not guaranteed. Test centers accept standbys on a first-come, first-served basis only if the centers have sufficient space, materials, and staff.
• As a standby, you will pay the fee for each test, the $35 registration fee, and a $60.00 standby fee for each test date.
• More information is available in the Registration Bulletin.

Back to Top

Fee Waiver

If you are receiving financial aid and are an enrolled college student and meet the income guidelines, you may be eligible for a fee waiver.

To apply for a waiver, complete the Fee Waiver Request form in the Registration Bulletin and send it along with your registration form.

Since a limited number of waivers are available for each test date, you are urged to apply as early as possible.

If you qualify, your $35.00 registration fee and one test fee may be waived.

Back to Top

Monday Testing

Monday testing is available only if you cannot take a test on Saturday because of religious beliefs, or if you are a member of the U.S. armed forces and your duties preclude you from taking a Saturday test.

More information on this option is available in the Registration Bulletin.

Back to Top

If Your Primary Language is Not English

Nonstandard test accommodations (extended testing time) may be available for test takers whose primary language is not English.

More information on this option is available in the Registration Bulletin or online at the ETS Web site.

Back to Top

Test Takers with Disabilities

The Praxis program is committed to serving test takers with disabilities by providing services and reasonable accommodations that are appropriate given the purpose of the test. Nonstandard testing accommodations are available for test takers who meet ETS requirements.

Some accommodations that can be provided are:

• Extended testing time
• Additional rest breaks
• Writer/recorder of answers
• Test reader
• Sign language interpreter (for spoken directions only)
• Alternate formats including braille and large print

All requests for accommodations must be approved in advance. Because of ETS's need to review documentation in order to provide appropriate accommodations, all test takers must register through the Praxis Disability Services. For complete information on procedures to follow in requesting a nonstandard administration, please see the Registration Bulletin, call 609-771-7780, or find more information at http://www.ets.org/praxis/prxdsabl.html

Back to Top

After You Register

You should receive your admission ticket at least one week before your scheduled test date. If you do not receive a ticket by this time or if you lose your ticket, call 609-771-7395.

See the Registration Bulletin for instructions on how to change your test, test center, or test date or on how to cancel your test registration.

Back to Top

Test-At-A-Glance Booklet (TAAG)

There is a TAAG booklet that describes in detail information that will be included in the Praxis examinations in speech-language pathology and audiology. This booklet is developed by ETS each year and is updated regularly. Some of the information included in the TAAG booklet includes:

• What Is the Praxis All About?
• Testing Requirements
• Passing Scores
• Test Formats and Questions
• Test-Taking Strategies
• How Test Preparation Can Help You
• If You Must Repeat a Test

The TAAG booklet also includes test descriptions and practice exam questions for speech-language pathology (0330) and audiology (0340). Students should obtain a copy of the TAAG as well as a current version of the Registration Bulletin for the Praxis Series. These two documents will inform students about the many procedures they need to follow in preparing for the examinations. These booklets can be valuable resources for students. The earlier they are obtained, the more time the student will have to be organized for the examination. Organization will provide the student with more confidence in entering the test situation. For more information about the TAAG or the Registration Bulletin go to www.ets.org/praxis.

Back to Top

Resources:

http://www.delmarhealthcare.com/comsci/products/tess.asp
http://www.proedinc.com/index.html

Books:

How to Prepare for the Praxis Examination in Speech-Language Pathology 2E
Kay Payne
ISBN: 0769301606
View Sample Pages

Computer Practice Module for the PRAXIS Examination in SLP
Ken Payne, Abraham Tishman
ISBN: 0769301215

An Advanced Review of Speech-Language Pathology: Preparation for NESPA and Comprehensive Examination
Authors: Celeste Roseberry-McKibbin and M. N. Hegde
Cost: $61.00

Back to Top

Where do I go for more information?

http://professional.asha.org/academic/praxis.cfm
http://www.ets.org/praxis

Back to Top

    
    CDS Department Residential Program Website

Home | Prospective Students | Current Students
Alumni | News | Professional Associations

Site last updated August 13, 2008
Please address comments about this site to the Webmaster.