Florida SLP Licensing and the Compact

Florida licenses speech-language pathologists and audiologists through the Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology, within the Department of Health's Division of Medical Quality Assurance. Florida is one of the 37 jurisdictions that have enacted the ASLP Compact, through Senate Bill 7016 in 2024. It is not one of the four states issuing privileges. As of October 2026, those are Louisiana, West Virginia, Ohio and Tennessee.

Can you use the compact in Florida yet?

No. Enacting the compact made Florida a member, but a state issues privileges only after it finishes implementation, including FBI criminal background checks and onboarding to CompactConnect. The Commission's fee table already lists a Florida state fee of $5, but no Florida opening date has been announced. Until then, a Florida license is the only way to practice there, and a Florida license cannot serve as the home license for a privilege elsewhere. See enacted is not issuing.

The board's renewals page describes the compact as being "in the process" of becoming operational and says that once states are integrated, licensed clinicians "will be able to apply for a privilege." When that day comes for Florida, the licensee applies, attests and pays in CompactConnect personally.

How does MOBILE endorsement work?

Senate Bill 1600 created a universal licensure by endorsement process, known as MOBILE, effective July 1, 2024, and repealed the endorsement provisions in individual practice acts. Section 456.0145, Florida Statutes, lets an SLP or audiologist qualify by showing:

• an active, unencumbered license from another state, the District of Columbia or a U.S. territory in a profession with a similar scope of practice;
• a passing score on a national licensure exam, or a national certification the board recognizes;
• active practice for at least 2 years during the 4 years immediately before applying;
• no report to the National Practitioner Data Bank, unless removed on appeal;
• no pending disciplinary proceeding in any jurisdiction where you are licensed; and
• no disciplinary action in the 5 years before applying.

One caution: the board's SLP page states the practice requirement as three years in one tab and two years in another. The statute says two.

What if you do not qualify for MOBILE?

Then you apply by evaluation of credentials, the standard route. The board lists:

• a master's degree or the academic requirements of a doctoral program with a major emphasis in speech-language pathology, with 75 semester hours (36 at the graduate level) if you enrolled after January 5, 2005;
• 300 clock hours of supervised experience, at least 200 in speech-language pathology;
• nine months of professional employment experience, documented by each supervisor on Forms SPA-2B and SPA-2C under Rule 64B20-2.004;
• a Praxis score from no more than three years before the application date, sent by ETS; and
• verification of every license to practice any profession that you hold or have held, sent by the other licensing entity. The board says a copy of your license is not verification.

The three-year Praxis window catches experienced SLPs who do not qualify for MOBILE. See sending your Praxis score to a new board.

Are fingerprints required?

Yes. After House Bill 975 in 2024, SLPs and audiologists must complete electronic fingerprinting, and the board says an application cannot be approved until that is done along with everything else. Florida also charges $43.25 for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to retain your fingerprints for background screening, collected at renewal when your retention is expiring.

What does a Florida SLP license cost?

The board's fee table depends on when the license is issued. Between August 1 of an odd year and December 31 of an even year, the total is $280: a $75 nonrefundable application fee, a $200 licensure fee and a $5 unlicensed activity fee. Between January 1 and July 31 of an odd year, it is $180, with a $100 licensure fee. Once an application is complete, the board says a license issues within 4 to 7 working days, though some applicants are asked to appear before the board because of discipline, criminal history, health history or education.

Does Florida license clinical fellows and assistants?

Florida issues a provisional SLP license for the professional employment experience. The board's provisional tab lists the same degree and clinical hours as the full license, and its total fee is $180, including the $75 application fee. Supervisors report on each third of the experience. Florida also has separate pages for SLP assistants and audiology assistants. See licensing during your clinical fellowship and which states license or register SLPAs.

Can you treat Florida clients by teletherapy without a Florida license?

Possibly, through Florida's out-of-state telehealth provider registration under section 456.47. The registration is for clinicians licensed outside Florida only. You need an active, unencumbered license elsewhere, no pending investigation, discipline or revocation in the past five years, a Florida registered agent, liability coverage at least equal to Florida's requirements, and no Florida office or in-person care. It is not a license and does not cover in-person visits. Our sister site on telehealth law covers the registration in more depth in telehealth registration states.

How does renewal work?

Florida licenses renew every two years. The Department of Health checks your continuing education in CE Broker at renewal; if your record is incomplete, you are prompted to report the missing hours before you can renew. The CE rules are in Chapter 64B20-6 of the Florida Administrative Code. The board also warns that schools, employers and other third parties may give general guidance but "are not authorized to determine Florida licensure eligibility."

Do you want help with the Florida application?

Yes. We check whether you qualify for MOBILE endorsement or need the credentials route, set up the MQA application, coordinate electronic fingerprints, request every verification and track the file until issuance. That is our License by Endorsement service at $599, or $749 for a full application. A provisional license for a clinical fellow is $349. If you want to be ready for the day Florida starts issuing privileges, our ASLP Compact Readiness Review is $149. State, ETS and fingerprint fees are separate. See Florida details and sources on the Florida state page.