Can I Work in the UK as a Graduate Speech Therapist?

With over 23 years of experience helping speech therapists from Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa find locum and permanent roles in the UK, the team at MediRecruit often gets asked, “How much experience should I have before working in the UK?” Ideally, we recommend you have two years of experience before working in the UK or at least have worked your graduate year in your home country. That said, securing a graduate speech therapist role in the UK is possible. Before deciding to work as a graduate in the UK, you should consider two important factors: first, the advantages of a permanent position compared to locum work as a graduate, and second, the time required to obtain professional registration with the HCPC in the UK.

Why Consider a Permanent Role as a Graduate?

For many newly graduated speech therapists, starting a permanent position in the UK can be a beneficial choice. There are currently numerous permanent roles available for recent speech pathology graduates. A permanent position provides structured support, regular supervision, and opportunities for professional development—essential elements for a successful first year in practice. This support network is invaluable as you develop your skills and adapt to working as a healthcare professional.?

The Time-frame for HCPC Registration

Another important factor to consider is the timeframe for obtaining HCPC registration. To practice in the UK, speech therapists must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). The registration process typically takes around six months or longer, so it’s wise to plan ahead. Some of the required documents for the HCPC application can only be obtained from your university after graduation. Therefore, it may be beneficial to work in your home country for at least six months while waiting for your HCPC registration. Once approved, you can confidently move to the UK, knowing you’re eligible to work as a speech therapist.?

Youth Mobility Scheme Visa

Most speech therapists we work with obtain the UK’s Youth Mobility Schene Visa which allows them to live and work in the UK for up to three years. You can apply for this visa if you are a permanent resident or from Australia, New Zealand or South African and aged between 18 and 35. Given you can live and work in the UK for up to three years on the Youth Mobility Scheme visa , speech therapists wanting to work in the UK as graduates can take a permanent role for the first year and then move to more lucrative locum work for second and third year of their visa. For more information about UK visas go to: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas?

Grading of Positions in the UK?

There is currently a high demand for speech therapists in the UK to work in both locum and permanent roles right across the UK. As a rough guide, depending on how much experience you have you will work at one of the following levels:?

Band 5 – newly qualified?

Band 6 – 18 month plus experience?

Band 7 – Senior specialist speech and language therapist duties / clinical lead duties?

Band 8a – Clinical service manager duties?

Band 8b – Head of speech and language therapy duties?

Allied Health Podcast – Hear from Therapists Living and Working in the UK

Curious about what it’s like to live and work in the UK? Check out the Allied Health Podcast, featuring interviews with therapists who share their experiences:?

• Season 3, Episode 9: Cassie Rossow, a Speech Pathologist, discusses her experiences locuming and living in London.?
• Season 4, Episode 5: Chee Dean, a Physiotherapist, shares insights from his locum work in the UK.
• Season 3, Episode 4: Julia Kiefer, an Occupational Therapist, talks about her locum experiences in the UK.

Ready for a Working Holiday? MediRecruit Is Here to Help!?

If you’re excited about the prospect of a working holiday in the UK, MediRecruit is here to assist with every step of the process. We offer comprehensive support with preparations and securing either locum or permanent positions. Our expertise ensures you navigate the process smoothly and find roles that align with your career and travel goals.? If you’re considering a working holiday, contact Clare Jones for a chat – [email protected] or 0402 367 899.

Explore Speech Therapy Jobs in Australia with MediRecruit?