Do Massachusetts SLPs Need the CCC? License, Medicaid and CE Rules
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Not for a license. Massachusetts licenses SLPs without the CCC, but some Medicaid rules require it. The details below explain where.
Massachusetts one-sheetOpen Massachusetts on the mapSLPA rules
Massachusetts at a glance
| CCC | Required for Medicaid (in some cases) |
|---|---|
| License renewal CE | 20 hrs every 2 years |
| Whose CE counts | Any relevant CE counts |
| Clinical fellowship | Provisional licensees (SLP-PL) practice under supervision; MassHealth pays for their services. |
| School credential | CCC not required |
Does Massachusetts require the CCC?
130 CMR 413.402 defines a speech therapist as a person licensed by the state "with a Certificate of Clinical Competence from" ASHA. There is no alternative route. A December 2025 MassHealth bulletin does allow payment for supervised provisional licensees, which is a partial opening. The license itself is tied to the CCC too: 260 CMR 2.03(1) requires an SLP applicant to submit evidence of meeting ASHA's 2020 Standards for the Certificate of Clinical Competence. The Board says it does not require licensees to keep ASHA membership. The Medicaid center rule (130 CMR 413.404(A)(2)) also requires the speech and hearing center itself to be ASHA-certified.
Sources: Licensure: 260 CMR 2.00, application and licensing requirements (Board of Registration); Licensure: Board of Registration for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology; Medicaid: 130 CMR 413.000, Speech and Hearing Center Services (mass.gov); Medicaid: MassHealth Therapist Bulletin 19, Dec. 2025; Licensure: 260 CMR 2.00, licensing requirements
What you can do
- Ask MassHealth (EOHHS) to delete "with a Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA" from 130 CMR 413.402 (language A).
- Ask to be added to the notice list for the next 130 CMR public hearing.
- Ask the Board of Registration to amend 260 CMR 2.03(1) so the SLP license rests on the degree, supervised practice and a national exam, not on ASHA's CCC standards.
Continuing education for Massachusetts SLPs
Hours: 20 hrs every 2 years.
Topic rules: At least 10 in speech-language pathology.
Whose CE counts: Any relevant program; no named sponsors.
Sources: 260 CMR 7.00
Compare every state in our CEU requirements by state guide.
Clinical fellowship and background checks
Provisional licensees (SLP-PL) practice under supervision; MassHealth pays for their services.
Sources: MassHealth Therapist Bulletin 19
No routine check. The board reviews state criminal records only for applicants who answer yes to the conviction question. Not a compact member.
Sources: Board: CORI review policy; ASLP-IC compact map
School-based SLPs
DESE issues a Speech, Language and Hearing Disorders license. The Initial license needs a master's; the Professional license needs the Board license. No CCC (603 CMR 7.07(3)).
Sources: 603 CMR 7.07
SLP assistants in Massachusetts
The Board of Registration in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology licenses SLP assistants (260 CMR 2.03 and 10.00).
Sources: 260 CMR 10.00 (assistant supervision); 260 CMR 2.03 (qualifications); 260 CMR 7.00 (CE)
Other notes
- MassHealth has two rules. The therapist-services rule (130 CMR 432.404) asks only for a Massachusetts license. The speech and hearing center rule (130 CMR 413.402) names the CCC. Which one applies depends on how you bill.
- Policy 15-002 requires special training for MBSS (older spreadsheet note).
If your employer says you need the CCC
Many job posts and policies still list the CCC out of habit. Our employer education page has language you can share, and the Massachusetts one-sheet puts the license and the CCC side by side on two printable pages.
Checked against state sources through October 31, 2026. This page summarizes public rules for general information and is not legal advice. Rules change, and employers and payers can set their own requirements, so confirm with the board before you rely on it.