What Does it Take to Become a Speech Pathologist?
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Speech pathologists work with patients with physical or cognitive communication disorders, helping with speech issues, social communication and swallowing. A speech pathologist must have a master's degree, complete a clinical fellowship and pass professional exams to be certified.?
For people with speech difficulties — whether physical or cognitive — speech pathologists are an invaluable resource. There is always a need for more experts in the field because just under 160,000 of these specialists are in the United States,?
What is a Speech Pathologist?
Speech pathologists (also known as speech-language pathologists or speech therapists) are communications specialists who work with patients presenting with a wide range of communication disorders. These disorders may be physical, involving problems with articulation, vocal production, vocal fluency and swallowing.?
They may also treat patients with cognitive disorders involving language, including difficulties with word-finding, aphasia, semantics and other language skills.
Depending on their specialization speech pathologists may work in either medical or academic environments. Those working on the educational side hold positions in schools at every level, from preschools to universities. Speech pathologists working in clinical environments may find jobs in hospitals, research laboratories, doctors' offices, senior retirement communities, rehab centers and private clinics.
What Does a Speech Pathologist Do?
Speech pathologists treat speech, language, communication and swallowing disorders in children and adults. They may work with patients to prevent these disorders and assess and diagnose speech and language issues when they occur.
Treatment of speech disorders focuses on problems with the correct production of speech sounds. Speech pathologists also work with stuttering and help people correct other vocal production difficulties. In addition, these professionals work with patients with dysphagia , which encompasses the swallowing difficulties that may follow an injury, stroke or surgery.
Aside from speech disorders, speech pathologists can also treat language disorders . These may involve difficulties understanding spoken or written language and problems expressing thoughts. Treatment usually involves teaching patients how to use language in socially appropriate ways. When working with people on the autism spectrum or that have a traumatic brain injury (TBI) , speech pathologists help clarify rules for conversation and social communication.
Speech pathologists may also work with individuals who don't have any specific speech or language disorders but want to improve their communication through, for example, modifying their accents .
Who Do Speech Pathologists Help?
Speech pathologists help both adults and children. Those who work with adults assist a wide variety of patients, including:
Speech and language pathologists specializing in children's speech disorders may start working with patients as young as 1 year old . They provide early intervention for children who aren't hitting age-appropriate milestones for first words and gestures, whose speech is largely unintelligible and who don't combine words into phrases and sentences correctly.?
As children move into their preschool and kindergarten years, speech pathologists work with those who have difficulty following directions and who don't communicate appropriately, and with stutterers.
Steps to Becoming a Speech Pathologist
Becoming a speech pathologist requires a master's degree, passing a professional exam and acquiring state licensure. Keep reading to learn the details of how to become a speech pathologist.
Earn a Bachelor's Degree
A bachelor's degree is the first step toward becoming a speech pathologist. Majoring in related subjects, such as communication sciences and disorders (CSD) , language development, psychology or linguistics, may help prepare a future speech pathologist for their master's degree coursework.?
However, some master's programs may be open to other undergraduate majors, with graduate prerequisites varying from one program to the next. Most master's programs require applicants to take core courses in biology, chemistry and statistics.
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Receive a Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology
A license as a speech pathologist requires a master's degree in speech and language pathology. During this program, which typically takes two years, students learn about the conditions that hinder communication and swallowing and the treatments that can mitigate those conditions.
A speech and language pathology master's requires clinical experience in addition to academic classes. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) recommends that students spend 25 hours in clinical observation and 375 hours in direct contact with patients during their studies.
Pass the Praxis Exam
Certification as a speech-language pathologist requires a passing score of 162 (out of 200) on the Praxis Exam . Most aspiring speech pathologists take this exam while undergoing their postgraduate clinical fellowship.
Complete a Postgraduate Clinical Fellowship
Graduating with a master's in speech and language pathology isn't enough to start a career as a speech pathologist. Candidates must also complete a postgraduate clinical fellowship that includes 1,260 hours of clinical experience plus 36 weeks of full-time experience. A certified mentor supervises the work done under this fellowship, which allows speech pathology candidates to transition toward independent practice.
Each state issues limited licenses, sometimes called intern licenses, to speech pathology candidates undergoing this clinical fellowship. Only those who have completed their master's are eligible for these licenses.
Obtain a State License and ASHA Certification
The final step in becoming a speech pathologist is gaining ASHA certification and a state license to practice independently in states that require it.?
To obtain the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) , candidates must provide ASHA with their master's transcript, their passing Praxis Exam score and documentation of their clinical fellowship and 400 hours of supervised experience.
Some states may impose additional requirements, especially for speech pathologists hoping to work in early intervention, education or telemedicine. In some cases, states may require fewer than 400 hours of experience for licensure.
How Much Does a Speech Pathologist Make?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics , the average annual salary for a speech pathologist as of 2021 was $79,060. This equates to about $38 per hour. Speech pathologists who opt for positions in hospitals and nursing care facilities tend to make more than those working in elementary and secondary schools. Those who work with home health care services make the most, with an average salary of $110,850.
Where a speech pathologist lives and works can also significantly affect their salary. Topping the list for highest-paying states for speech pathologists are California, at an average of $102,650 per year; New York, at $98,850 a year; and Texas, at $82,940.
Final Thoughts on Becoming a Speech Pathologist
Many people who love helping others improve their communicative skills seek a career as a speech pathologist. This career offers competitive salaries, a healthy work-life balance and the opportunity to help others.
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(Reporting by NPD)
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2 年Love this article, these people do amazing work!