Some people have trouble communicating. Sometimes they’re born with it, other times they develop it due to neurological disorders or traumatic injuries. These are the people speech-language pathologists worth with.
Speech-language pathologists, sometimes known as speech therapists or SLPs, work with their patients to address communication disorders and other mouth or throat problems.
“Our scope of practice is very broad. We see people for feeding and swallowing issues, who may have had a stroke or been in a car accident” says University of the Pacific School of Health Science Professor Madhu Sundarrajan. “We see people who may have neurodegenerative issues like dementia or Parkinson’s. And we see everything in pediatrics. Any child who may have a speech issue, who may have a language issue, who may be deaf, hard of hearing, may be autistic or may be a person who stutters.”
SLPs work with people at all stages of life in schools, hospitals, retirement communities and private practice. And the need for them is growing. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates SLP employment will grow 18% by 2033, much higher than the overall employment growth of 4%. The importance of their work is actually recognized by law, too.
“We are a growing profession,” Sundarrajan says. “Because, by law, children who require communication support have to get services. Schools may be out of compliance if they don’t provide those services, so they’re constantly looking.”
Working with children is just one aspect of what SLPs do, but it is a vital one. Before diving into how to become an SLP, let’s explore what it is they do.
What does a speech-language pathologist do?
Put simply, speech-language pathologists help people communicate. They diagnose and treat a wide variety of problems, including articulation issues, speech impairments and swallowing disorders. Treatments for these disorders can include therapy or assistive technologies.
You’ve probably seen their work without realizing it. The famous scientist Stephen Hawking lost his ability to speak and move due to Lou Gehrig’s disease. But he was still able to talk to others with the help of a high-tech augmentative and alternative communication device, also known as AAC. Some AAC systems are high tech, like Hawking’s voice generator, while others are low or no tech.
“It can be anything that’s considered augmentative,” says Sundarrajan. “It could be texting someone. But we have specific devices and apps that we use. [For] an individual with restricted mobility, we might trial some things that do eye gaze. [For] a child who’s non-speaking but has a lot of physical dexterity, we may use apps that they can swipe very quickly with.”
What a speech-language pathologist does day-to-day varies based on where they work. School systems employ SLPs to work one-on-one with kids or in special education classrooms. In hospitals, they often focus on swallowing and feeding issues in adult or child patients. SLPs in retirement communities often work with elderly people who need higher levels of support.
Those are just a few examples. SLPs also work in corporate businesses, public health departments and universities, which highlights how important their work is across all stages of life. Problems with communications, swallowing and feeding can happen in developing infants, after traumatic injuries, due to neurocognitive disorders and as people get older.
“It is such a vast field,” Sundarrajan says. “And we change settings all the time.”
Speech-language pathology prerequisites
If you want to become a speech-language pathologist, it helps to start preparing for this career as early as possible. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that preparing early for the degree is helpful but it will not make or break your career.
What you do in high school or college helps you get into a speech-language pathology master’s degree program and may even open accelerated learning options. But not every program requires a specific degree. Some only require you to take certain classes such as biology, statistics and sociology.
Sundarrajan, in fact, got her undergraduate degree in computer science before obtaining her speech-language pathology master’s degree. So, you do have flexibility, but preparing early can ease the transition into graduate school or a career.
If you’re still in high school, you can look for volunteer opportunities in speech-language clinics, hospitals or schools. This experience gives you a better idea of what SLPs do, which allows you to make more informed career decisions. Your school might also have honors, Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes in essential subjects including biological, social or physical sciences.
In college, you also have some flexibility with your degree choice. You can get a bachelor’s degree in speech-language pathology to focus your studies on communication disorders, biological sciences and similar topics. This degree can ensure that you’re ready to tackle more advanced topics.
You may see other degrees with similar names, like communication science, communication disorders or even communication sciences and disorders. These are not exactly the same as a speech-language pathology degree, but they have a high degree of overlap.
Some community colleges offer programs for speech-language pathology assistants. In some states, you can work under the supervision of an SLP after completing a relevant associate or bachelor’s degree. After completing an associate’s degree, you can also transfer into an SLP program at a four-year university.
Even if you do pursue a BS in speech-language pathology, you should research master’s degree programs you’re interested in to make sure your degree fits its requirements. Not all programs require this degree, but some may offer accelerated pathways if you do get it.
There are other majors which can also provide a good background for speech-language pathology. Getting a psychology degree, for example, can cover some of the same ground. If you are pursuing another degree, be sure to research master’s degree programs that interest you and make sure your degree covers its prerequisites.
Speech-language pathology graduate programs
It’s never too early to start looking into master’s degree programs. Beyond making sure you’re taking the prerequisite courses, you also want to ask yourself a few questions as you evaluate those programs.
When you look at a program, be sure it’s accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Most states require you to graduate from an accredited program to get your license to practice.
Here are some high-level questions you should keep in mind as you look at SLP programs.
- How much does this program cost? When you’re calculating cost, you should definitely consider tuition, campus fees and program fees. You may also want to include the cost of university health insurance, if you aren’t already covered.
- Where is this program located? You may move to a new town or city for a program. It’s important to consider the cost of living there, expenses like housing, food and transportation.
- What kind of financial aid is available? Assistance like loans, financial aid and scholarships offset the cost of education. Scholarships may be offered by the university or by an outside source. Universities determine financial aid packages after you apply, but you can reach out to a program with specific questions.
- Does the program offer graduate assistantships? This is another good way to offset the cost of education.
- How long is the program? Typically, a full-time SLP master’s program lasts around two years. Part-time programs will take longer. Pacific offers an accelerated 15-month program for students with an undergraduate degree in speech-language pathology.
- Is there a minimum GPA requirement?
- Does the program require the GRE? Not all master’s degree programs require that you take the GRE. If you’re not certain, you should reach out to the program.
- What do I want out of my graduate program? ASHA recommends that you consider your plans after graduation and use them to create personal criteria. These can be questions like, “Does this program offer concentrations?” or “Does it have such-and-such type of clinical experience?”
Once you’ve created your list of options, you should compare the clinical opportunities available at each program. You need at least 400 hours of supervised clinical experience to get certified, which you get during your master’s degree program. You should pay attention to the quality of experiences they offer you.
“We have two free, on-campus clinics for our community here in Stockton,” Sundarrajan says. “Our pediatric clinic. We have our Pacific Speech and Language Clinic in the same space. We also have a Language and Literacy Center, where our 24-month students participate. In that same space, we also have TBI groups, caregiver support groups and aphasia groups. So, we have a lot of different, specialized clinical experiences.”
Master’s degree programs will often highlight their clinical opportunities on their web pages. If you have other questions, you can reach out to the program directly.
With all that in mind, all that’s left to do is apply! Make sure you’re paying close attention to deadlines. Speech therapy master’s degrees are often competitive, so applying by the priority deadline can give you an edge.
Application requirements vary by program, but you’ll usually need to submit your official transcripts, some kind of personal essay and three letters of reference. Another benefit of starting your search early is giving your recommenders plenty of time to get their letters done.
Speech-language pathology certification and continuing education
Once you’ve completed your master’s degree, you still need to pass a test known as the Praxis Examination in Speech-Language Pathology and complete a clinical fellowship before you can get your license to practice. You can, optionally, also get certified.
In some cases, like Pacific, you may take the Praxis before you graduate.
“We want to ensure they’re all passing,” Sundarrajan says. “The Praxis is a combination of all these different topics across the lifespan, across all these disorders. We want to ensure they don’t forget anything before they take their big exam and recommend all our students take it over the summer before they go out for externship.”
After passing the Praxis and graduating, you need to complete a clinical fellowship. During this time, you’ll apply your education to refine your skills and start working more independently. To complete this fellowship, you need to work, at minimum, for 36 weeks and complete 1,260 hours.
It is your responsibility to find a mentor to practice under, who must meet certain qualifications. You can learn more about those qualifications on the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s website. In California, you need to apply for a temporary Required Professional Experience license to practice during this time.
Once you’ve completed this fellowship, you are eligible to apply for a license to practice! The exact qualifications vary by state, so be sure to research the state you’re interested in. You can find California’s qualifications on the Department of Consumer Affairs website.
Optionally, you can apply for ASHA’s Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology, known as a CCC-SLP, after completing these requirements.
“It’s not necessarily required to practice, but it is required to bill for insurance in some cases, like Medicare and Medicaid,” Sundarrajan says. “So, most SLPs tend to have both.”
Because speech-language pathology is a constantly evolving field, SLPs need to continue their education while they practice. Every three years, you need to complete at least 30 hours of professional development. Universities that offer SLP master’s degrees may also have professional development courses available.
Become a speech-language pathologist
Your journey to becoming a speech-language pathologist, not counting undergraduate, will take two to three years. It requires planning and commitment, but it’s also a rewarding career where you’ll make a lasting impact on people’s lives.
You might help a child form their language ability, support adults recovering from a medical condition or find ways to help someone regain their ability to communicate. SLPs are at the heart of this essential human trait.
If you’re interested in an always growing and vital health care career, speech-language pathology is worth exploring.