How to Become a Speech-Language Pathologist

By Staff Writers •  Updated: 12/03/20 •  7 min read

If you have an interest in becoming a speech language pathologist, you likely have some questions and would like answers. A speech-language pathologist is typically found in hospitals or other healthcare facilities as well as schools. Those speech-language pathologists that work in hospitals will assist the physicians or other medical staff in diagnosing and treating various conditions and diseases through speech therapy. To answer your questions about this exciting career, this article offers several tips.

Unlike most doctors, speech-language pathologists typically do not have a doctoral degree in order to practice medicine. Instead, they generally earn a Master’s degree in the field, pursue a doctorate, or even work as an administrative assistant for a hospital.

If you are interested in pursuing this career, the first step is to choose a graduate program with a focus on speech pathology. It is important that your graduate program include courses that are focused on language, pediatrics, physiology and other aspects of speech. There are numerous graduate schools to choose from so make sure to do some research on your prospective graduate program to ensure it will prepare you for your career.

The most common type of speech-language pathologist job that a speech-language pathologist will have is one where he or she is helping to diagnose and treat a child who has a speech disorder such as stuttering, fluency problems, speech disorders such as asthma or allergies or the like. These speech-language pathologic jobs involve working with children and working with their respective families. A speech-language pathologist’s job involves diagnosing the pathology of a child’s speech disorder so that the child can be treated accordingly. In fact, many speech language pathologists also act as speech pathologists or speech-language pathologists in conjunction with otolaryngologists and audiologists, meaning that they diagnose and treat disorders that involve speech as well as voice organs such as the larynx, vocal chords, vocal fold, throat, jaws, tongue, jaw and chin.

The length of a speech-language pathology program ranges from two to three years. Most programs last a year but there are some programs that last a couple of semesters in addition to the year-round program. An associate’s degree is usually required before an individual can enroll into a full bachelor’s degree or doctorate program. Many speech-language Pathologists choose to continue their education by getting their master’s degrees. These professionals complete even more advanced degrees and earn even higher salaries.

The majority of speech-language pathologists work with school teachers or school administrators. They generally are employed in schools in the lower grades, working with students who speak English as a first language. The schools that hire speech language pathologists work to provide children with a second language in order to bridge the communication gap between the classrooms and the students who are unable to grasp the fundamental aspects of spoken and written English. School teachers typically assign speech language pathologists to one of their elementary classes, but the positions can be filled by any teacher who is qualified and willing to accept the challenges and rewards that the job presents.

Requirements to Obtain a Degree

In order to work as a speech language pathologist, a candidate must possess a Master’s degree in speech language pathology from an accredited university or institution. In addition to the Masters degree, it is also necessary for speech-language pathologists to have a minimum of 2 years of experience in providing speech language diagnosis and treatment. In order to qualify, speech-language pathologists must have a teaching record and at least a year of experience in providing speech language diagnosis and treatment in the community. Before entering into a Master’s program, speech-language pathologists must first complete their undergraduate degree, which often requires a large amount of coursework including anatomy, physiology, statistics and other mathematics-related courses.

Students in the speech-language pathology graduate program must have already completed their bachelor’s degree. They must have at least a master’s degree in the area, although some specialize in specific areas of speech-language pathology and require additional graduate-level courses. Some speech-language pathologists work in private practice, while others work in hospitals or clinics as part of an audiologist team. Regardless of where they work, all speech-language pathologists need to have extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of the speech disorders they treat.

Before becoming a speech pathologist, you will complete an education and training program that will include classroom and clinical instruction in diagnosing and treating disorders of the speech language. During your education, you will learn how to assess language disorders such as fluency, stammering, stuttering, and lip reading. You will also learn how to administer diagnostic tests like the IELTS and TOEFL.

After completing a speech-language pathology training program, you can practice your skills with patients of all speech status, from fluency to stuttering. This training will prepare you for specialized speech pathology positions in both the private and public sectors.

Speech language pathology (SLP), often referred to as speech pathology, is concerned with diagnosing and treating problems related to speech, language, voice, and swallowing that may arise in children and adults

The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) recommends that prospective speech language pathology students attend schools that are accredited by the CAA.

So the first step in one’s journey to obtain a speech pathologist degree is to complete an accredited graduate program in speech, language pathology, or communication disorders. You will need to complete an entry-level degree in a field accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology in order to become a speech-language pathologist.

Program titles may include without limitation: MS Communicative Sciences and Disorders MS speech language pathology MS Communication Sciences and Disorders, specialization in speech-language pathology Many CAA graduate programs offer: Part-time/evening programs Partially or fully online delivery Combined degree programs (bachelors/masters)

Graduate programs in speech-language pathology consist of approximately 48 credits and are located in colleges/departments of education, audiology, healthcare sciences, public health, behavioral and communication sciences, and rehabilitation.

Clinical Practice Requirements Clinical experiences are integral to all CAA-accredited speech-language programs, allowing students to become acquainted with the profession and apply newly acquired knowledge.

Admissions requirements differ from one graduate program to the next, but all of them require incoming students to take foundational undergraduate courses that prepare them for studying speech language pathology at the graduate level.

Before starting your fellowship, you may need to apply for an intern license or limited license through the board of speech-language pathology and audiology in your state.

For state licensure, a speech-language pathology clinical fellowship is needed that gives practical training to the student. Clinical fellowships in speech-language pathology are completed under the guidance and supervision of a licensed speech-language professional.

A number states follow the clinical fellowship requirements that must be met to earn the Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) credential through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, which requires a clinical fellowship to: consist of the following:

At least 36 weeks, at 35 hours per week, for a total of 1,260 hours

Must be mentored by an ASHA-certified Speech language pathology professional.

Must have at least 80 percent direct clinical contact, such as through activities related to assessment, diagnosis, evaluation, screening and similar contact.

The Council on Academic Accreditation for Audiology and Speech Language Pathology (CAA) approved online SLP programs are usually the best for certification and licensure.

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Staff Writers