One of my best friends, who my son refers to as Super Cool Megan because she is so awesome, recently had her second (gorgeous) baby and made the decision to take leave from being a (fabulous) SLP to spend time her children. We have spent some time talking about her not using her amazing talent and the question arises…should I maintain my Certificate of Clinical Competence…affectionately known as our CCCs? Not even as taking leave from the profession, but as a school based SLP, how important are they really? Since I have recently discovered that having your certification varies so much in this setting, is keeping your CCCs really necessary?
My initial feeling on this is…YES YOU SHOULD KEEP YOUR CCCs! My certification is not necessary to keep my job. I am licensed by the state and that is all that is required by my school district. I must admit though… I like all those fancy initials after my signature! Do they really add value to me as a professional? I think so. But is it all just in my head?
According to their website, The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) describes a certified member as:
“Those who have achieved the CCC—ASHA certification—have voluntarily met rigorous academic and professional standards, typically going beyond the minimum requirements for state licensure. They have the knowledge, skills, and expertise to provide high quality clinical services, and they actively engage in ongoing professional development to keep their certification current.”
More information can be found on their website HERE.
Maintaining affiliation with ASHA is not the most difficult of tasks. The yearly requirements for continuing education are easily attainable and I always have way more than required by the time I renew. It is pricey, but it does include access to information, publications, continuing education opportunities, and an amazing network of SLPs.
I am not sure if the schools is where I will always be, and I know in other settings ASHA certification is required. I would seriously be limiting my career if I did not maintain my certification. Even if I did stay in the schools, I could end up in a district that either required CCCs or that offered some sort of incentive for holding them.
If nothing else, I worked so hard to even earn the right to have my CCCs that I think I might never let them go! And even if it is in my head, I do believe that it validates me to some certain degree.
Do you work in a district that does not require ASHA certification? Would you drop your CCCs if they weren't required?
![Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) play a crucial role in children's language development. One often overlooked but highly beneficial area to incorporate into speech therapy sessions is print knowledge. Understanding the importance of print knowledge can enhance therapy outcomes and foster literacy skills in children. I recently worked on a paper with some colleagues about the importance […]](https://i.pinimg.com/236x/ce/7f/bd/ce7fbd4a90a9683531d8b43d60ee2a68.jpg)
![Are you gearing up to supervise Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) graduate students this semester? Wondering how to initiate a positive and welcoming atmosphere? Here's a glimpse into a simple yet effective approach: Welcome Email: Setting the Tone A few days before the semester kicks off, I initiate a warm welcome by sending out a thoughtful email […]](https://i.pinimg.com/236x/c9/6b/cc/c96bccc987e6dacdaaf50eb3db1b9c47.jpg)
I live in Mass and you actually need to have your CCCs before you can get a state license now. I’m not sure if you need to maintain your CCCs or not, but when I was a grad student, my supervisor had just gone through HELL to get them back. She gave them up for a few years because of financial reasons. She convinced me to keep them current as long as I plan on working!
Carrie
carriesspeechcorner.blogspot.com
Carrie, I think it should be that way in every state! I remember my own professors stressing the very same thing.
In MN you do not need your CCCs. If you have them then you do not need the same continuing Ed credits for your state license. My district does give a stipend each year. So I will be keeping them too. It is way to hard to get them back which is unfortunate.
Cindy
Lucky you with the stipend! I wish my district would get on board with that!! I understand it being difficult to get them back if someone was out of the field for an extended period of time, but I do think there should be some sort of easier option if you take a year or two off.
One of the beautiful things about being an SLP is that we have flexibility in work environments. Having done a bit of everything, I finally settled into private practice. Keep your CCCs at all costs. Without them you limit your choices and opportunities. I understand questioning them; I did that once upon a time too. Even if you quit working to raise your children you should keep up the requirements; the kids will be grown one day and you will find the need to pay for college or you will just want more to do with all that spare time.
I totally agree with you Suzanne! Well said!
A fellow SLP in Texas let his CCCs go because he just needed to maintain the state license, and like others have mentioned, it was not easy to get the CCCs back. Naomi Judd once said that she would always keep her license (for nursing, maybe?) because she never knew what was going to happen, and that was after the Judds had made it big. I’m sure she’s let it lapse by now, but I never plan to let the CCCs go even though I’ve been at the same place for 19 years!
I love your ideas and games. I just became your newest follower, and I hope you’ll visit me.
Oh, How Pintearesting!
I think it is a good philosophy…you just never know!
Thank you! I will 🙂
I agree with the others – definitely keep your CCCs. You never know when you may want to pick up a summer job, do private practice, or change positions.
On top of that (and I admit this may make me sound a bit prejudiced or paranoid), I’m concerned that people may consider someone without their CCCs to be less qualified than someone with CCCs.
I don’t *need* CCCs for my current position either, I don’t get any extra money, I don’t get help with my fees…but I plan on keeping them.
I agree…I definitely think it matters as far as qualification.
As a new grad, I NEVER want to take the Praxis again, and that is a requirement for getting your CCCs back if you let them lapse! I would never let them lapse, despite being school-based. Who knows what I’ll want to do in 10 years?
I, too, never want to take the Praxis again! Exactly!
Ditto to what everyone else has said. I would NEVER let my CCC’s lapse for all the reasons already mentioned! That being said; however, in the current economic climate, it is financially difficult for many people to take an extended leave of absence from work (be it for maternity/child care, caring for a sick family member, etc.). It would be nice if ASHA allowed us to go “inactive” for one year and not pay dues or lose our CCC’s.
I think that giving the option for at least a one year inactive period is a great idea!
I agree with everyone else. I worked so hard to get through my CFY that I cannot imagine letting my CCC’s go until the day I retire. There’s way too much red tape involved if you let them go. Luckily, my school district pays the fee and for most of our CEUs too.
I also have to say that my mother kept up her teaching license for 20 years before she finally let it lapse even though she decided to put being a mom first.
Me too! That’s awesome that your school district pays for yours. I am not that lucky!
I know several people who made that choice. You always need a backup plan!
Ack! I would never consider giving up my CCCs! I stepped out for a loooong “sabbatical” to stay home with my children (nearly 10 years). During that time, I did a couple part time fill ins for therapists on maternity leave and was able to, eagerly, step back into the workplace when I was ready. I love our profession and wouldn’t want to give up the flexibility it offers by losing certification. (I did let my state certification lapse for awhile though). My PT sister was able to become inactive for a few years, and it would be nice if ASHA offered that option given our overwhelming female numbers! http://Www.activitytailor.com
Wow! I definitely agree there should be some sort of option to take time off without it being such a major ordeal to get certified again.
Like everyone else, keep them, if only to save yourself save the hassle later.
That being said, with over half of all SLPs working in schools, I think ASHA takes advantage of school based SLPs. The yearly cost is way too much for what services they provide, and I feel they have done very little to help work towards things like lower caseloads, reduction of paperwork, etc.
Sorry for the editorial, but it gets me every fall when I pay the large fee right before Christmas!
I think that is probably the main reason…to save yourself hassle for the “just in case”.
No sorry necessary, it gets me too!
ASHA has done nothing for me since I graduated! I don’t have time for their crappy journals. I have a job! I can’t believe I put in 400 hours to earn my CCCs and sweated my way through the Praxis and if I refused to pay their exorbitant fee for ONE YEAR, it would be like I never did any of that? What a racket!!
I want to know why we MUST pay to keep our C’s. It is like a union (which I abhor), and like Anonymous said above, they don’t do anything for us but take our money and run an office in MD. Even if you don’t want to remain a member, you can do so, but you still have to pay $199 per year as a non-member to maintain. Like I said, it is a union and I want to be able to maintain my C’s without them. I get more than enough CEUs each year because I want to continue to be the best SLP I can be, I love what I do! Now, how do we get ASHA out of the picture?
We gather forces and form a new governing body. That is what the audiologists did years ago. In addition, I believe some off us definitely should consider a class action lawsuit against ASHA.
I am having issues gaining my CCCs. I graduated in 2011 and have not been able to find a CF job. I have done some contract work part time, but sadly do not have enough hours to apply for ASHA CCC’s. I know the clock is ticking, being allowed 4 years to obtain. Any suggestions beside travel tx….I worked hard in grad school, have huge student loans along with other bills and can not work in my field.
That’s unheard of where I am…SLPs are in short supply. Have you tried contacting ASHA for help? Or your state association?
Hi! I have a different prospective of ASHA and the CCCs. I graduated in 1980 with my BA-SLP, prior to ASHA’s move to require a MS degree. I recently completed my MS degree through Florida State University’s distance learning program. I should have graduated in 2013, but because my clinical practicums kept falling through at the last minute, it took 5 yrs. to complete my degree while working full-time. Unfortunately, my university failed to notify students of ASHA’s newest ridiculous requirement of a statistics and physics/chemistry course until October of 2014. Apparently, the university was aware of the changes in 2012. I had room in my schedule for additional courses because of lost practicums but none of my professors mentioned the newly required courses so I took many other courses, applicable to my degree, even obtaining an Infant/Toddler Development Specialist certification. I managed to pickup the only online statistics course available before I graduated, with the approval of FSU’s CSD department but, along with others in my graduating class, still lacked the physical science requirement necessary to complete a CF with ASHA. I am now trying to find a “baby” physical science course, at the age of 58 yrs, that will meet both FSU and ASHA specifications. We were allowed to graduate but still have to complete the courses during our CF. In addition, ASHA is now refusing to accept my slightly more advanced statistics course because it was not a “stand alone” course, whatever that means! There were no prerequisites and permission was not required to take the course. At this point, I am so frustrated and angry at ASHA that I would encourage SLPs to band together to stop the overwhelming power of this organization and form their own new governing body. This is what the Audiologists have done. SLPs without their CCCs are no better or worse than those with their CCCs. I disagree that CCCs should be required of an SLP that has completed their master’s degree. At one time, I had looked forward, like all of you, to obtaining my CCCs but I am sick to death of jumping the endlessly growing ASHA hurdles and of paying exorbitant fees for the spurious “honor” of being an ASHA member. I work in a school district that would like us to have our CCCs but, at my age, I just want to finally get on with life. I am an excellent therapist and have been practicing for many years. I can darn well do without my CCCs, if ASHA doesn’t get their act together!
Well said! I graduated in 1979, when the BA and credential were the minimal requirement to gain employment. It always bothered me that I didn’t have my CCC’s even when my districts never required it. It was never a problem. I have worked for 4 different districts and not once did they even question me about having a CCC’s. I, too, thought about getting my CCC’s later in my career, but I could never see the reason to spend the money or time when they were never required. I’m now retired and I’m so glad that I kept true to myself and never doubted myself as a therapist. I always felt that experience had value and ASHA never wanted to recognize that.
This post made my day!!! I work in a public school and do not have my CCC’s. Not required too either. I have always felt inadequate because I don’t have them. I do feel that I am very good at my job, but always worried about not have my CCC’s.
Thanks for your comments!1 I feel better about myself now!!
I COMPLETELY agree with you!!! Being a person with a disability, I completed everytging that is required of ASHA. New York state granted me the modification of taking more than 5 years to complete my CF, if that is what I needed. Well, I got my NYS license no problem, but was denied my C’s because, according to their guidelines, your PRAXIS is valid for 5 years from when you take the exam. Well, after being in the hospital for 9 months, going back to school to get my Master’s, obtaining the necessary docs. to confirm that I have a disability, passing the PRAXIS the first time around, and now I have to take the PRAXIS again?!?! Now, how the hell will preparing for and taking this test better my skills as a clinician with the population I have been working with for the past 8 years? When they let me know, perhaps I’ll think about even taking the PRAXIS again! I have never dealt with a more uprofessional and disorganized organization that ‘supports’ those who help those with speech and/or language problems (SLP’s),and does not support those with disabilities themselves….this is counterintuitive and ultimately counterproductive to the disabled population…It’s just so unfortunate that it is a respected entity…..
I whole-heartedly agree with you!!!! It’s great to find that someone feels the same way. There have to be some sort of “anti-ASHA” group/organization/movement. I have not been able to find anything!
Thank you so much, Brienne, for expressing your view. As you said, it feels great to know that thre are otherSLP professionals that feel like myself. I am anxiously awaiting the ‘anti-ASHA’ active group or big lawsuit case against ASHA. This would facilitate that something be done to decide the validity of and/or applicability of this ‘law’ to a private organization. ASHA is going against disabilit law, but is excercising laws that are ok for private entities…… Please let me know if you find any ‘anti-ASHA’ group/organizations/movements!!! I would be thrilled to participate in it!!!
HI everyone! I’ve enjoyed reading your comments. I am currently close to graduating with my bachelors in Speech and Hearing Sciences and have always known that I want to eventually obtain my Masters and become an SLP. However, I have been debating lately on whether I should take a break to be a mommy before I obtain my masters or after. I heard someone talk about how they only allow you to obtain your CCC’s for up to 4 years after graduation? Is this true? My question is: when would be the best time for me to take a mommy break? 1. After Bachelors 2. After Masters. or 3. After Masters AND obtaining my CCC’s. What would be the most difficult to pick up where I had left off in 15 years or so? I’ve heard you all talk about how hard it is to maintain the CCC’s and I wonder if it is possible to get your Masters and then obtain your CCC’s later on down the road in 20 years. Is this an option?
I would appreciate your feedback so much!
I graduated in December of 2014, completed my CF year the following Spring then began the process of applying for my CCCs. After having completed everything, securing employment with an AEA and 2 PRN jobs, I find out from the newly elected Head of our Speech Pathology Dept. that I only took 3 of the 4 science courses on the list of required courses by ASHA’s standards. (I especially loved how this list magically appeared after I had graduated school and not during). Now, they are telling me that not only do I have to complete this course, but that it has to be taken PRIOR to completing the CF year.
-If you are found to be deficient in any coursework, the coursework must be completed at an accredited college or university program prior to beginning your clinical fellowship (CF); time spent in your clinical fellowship before completing these courses will not count toward your total (1,260) clinical fellowship hours.- ASHA
This leaves me wondering if this process is worth going through just so I can have a few more letters behind my name. I have no problem with ASHA, being certified, or continuing my education. I love learning, I am continually learning and growing in my profession. I am passionate about what I do and the children and adults I serve, but have been questioning whether or not have my CCCs is worth it. I would love some feedback: What are the Pros of being ASHA certified? What am I “not allowed” to do if I chose not to become certified? Has this situation occurred with anyone else?
I’m sorry that happened to you! I think the biggest problem with not being certified by ASHA is that you will have trouble finding an employer. Most require SLPs to have their Cs.
I’m sorry this happened to you as well! I know differently than what Jenn says: I know that here in NY the places you are REQUIRED to have your C’s are federally-funded entities (i.e. VA Hospitals) and most medical facilities, though not all private hospitals necessarily require that. If you work for an EI or preschool population, or agency that serves school age children or disabled populations, you do not need your C’s. In fact, most facilities that are not federally -funded or deal with intense medical issues, do not require it.
That may be the case in NY, but here in Florida, you must have your Cs in most districts to work in the schools. I would be hesitant to make that broad of a statement about not needing them for working with any certain population, as it depends on the location. That’s probably one of the biggest problems with our field, the lack to uniformity with what’s required to practice.