Unqualified, so to speak (5)
I believe the answer is:
utter
This clue is a double definition.
'unqualified' is the first definition.
(thesaurus)
'to speak' is the second definition.
('utter' can be a synonym of 'speak')
'so' is the link.
(Other definitions for utter that I've seen before include "talk" , "Speak, articulate" , "Express in words" , "Make (a sound); complete" , "in toto" .)