How to Become a Speech Pathologist
This fulfilling career requires a master’s degree and can provide stability and a solid work-life balance.
The impact of speech and language cannot be unheard. But not everyone can wield that communicative power to its full potential. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), about 5 to 10% of people in the U.S. may have communication disorders, which has prompted the ongoing growth of the speech pathology profession. If you're someone with an unwavering sense of ethics, a generous capacity for empathy, and are interested in the cognitive, physiological, and social aspects of communication, then you may want to learn how to become a speech pathologist.
Baby boomers—a large section of the population—are getting older (coinciding with a possible rise in speech and language conditions prevalent among seniors), which is one major factor accounting for an extended upswing in this field. But there are other reasons too, including the need for speech pathologists to work with autistic patients, children with apraxia disorders, and people with brain injuries.
In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that the employment rate for speech pathologists should increase by 25% through 2029 (much faster than the average for all occupations). Additionally, U.S. News & World Report has rated this position as number seven in its 100 Best Jobs list and number four within Best Healthcare Jobs.
Are you feeling inspired? Then let's jump into the intriguing realm of a speech pathologist career.
What Does a Speech Pathologist Do?
So, what is a speech pathologist, really? First, keep in mind that the profession can also be referred to as a speech language pathologist (SLP) or speech therapist. But generally, speech pathology is the foundational occupation within the field of communication sciences and disorders (CSD). Speech pathologists assess, diagnose, and treat people with problems related to speech, language, and swallowing.
The workload can be comprehensive too, spanning the entire lifecycle: Speech pathologists are trained to work with anyone from infants with speech challenges and teenagers with selective mutism to adults with stuttering disorders and elderly folk who are stroke victims or have Alzheimer's or some form of dementia. Overall, helping these people to communicate better—or to overcome these afflictions—will ensure that their standard of living is raised and their functioning within society is improved. And this can be accomplished within diverse settings, from rehab centers and nursing homes to hospitals and school environments.
You can also expect the unexpected on a daily basis. You'll spend a lot of time evaluating and treating different patients with distinct disabilities that will make you muster all of your scientific knowledge, communication skills, and compassion in order to succeed. Specifically, speech pathologists:
- perform screenings to detect voice, speech, language, or swallowing disorders
- educate patients and family members or caretakers about those disorders, along with causes
- create treatments and regimens, therapeutic sessions, and individualized education plans (IEPs) tailored to each patient
- keep records of patient conditions and treatment progress
- report any status updates to family members, teachers, caregivers, primary care physicians, and other medical professionals
- spend time with family members or caretakers to recommend at-home care instructions, dietary changes, and socialization tips
- research human communication processes and develop new treatment methods
To discover more about how to become a speech pathologist, try looking up some journals within the field and also check out Monster's sample speech pathologist job ad.
How to Become a Speech Pathologist
Proper education is of utmost importance—and can be challenging—as you'll need to at least acquire a master's degree and a state license. Think of this career as truly polychromed, given how wide and varied both the age spectrum and the types of cases are. You may need to assuage patients who've dealt with traumatic events (such as war veterans), or work on assorted non-traumatic cases, such as accent reduction, speech impediments, and issues involving picky eaters or difficulties swallowing food and drinks.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Speech Pathologist?
Without any breaks between your degrees, it should take about six years to become a speech pathologist. You'll need to first get a bachelor's degree (which should take four years) and then enter a graduate program in speech pathology (which should take two years). But there is a bit more to achieve here to become a full-on speech pathologist. Requirements are hence broken down for you below.
Pursue a Path Toward a Speech Pathologist Degree
Follow our step-by-step guides below on how to become a speech pathologist. Education-wise, you should:
Obtain a bachelor's degree. It's preferable that your undergraduate major is in communication sciences and disorders (CSD), as some graduate programs will mandate this. However, other programs may allow admission with any college major, but you'll need to take prerequisite courses too or add the latter to your graduate course-load, and it may then take longer to complete your master's.
Obtain a master's degree in speech pathology. Search for accredited programs using ASHA's EdFind tool. Be competitive by minding your undergrad grades and gathering some recommendation letters. Think about what you'd want to impart in your application essay. And practice for the GRE General Test since some graduate schools may want to look at GRE scores (so aim for a score above the 50th percentile).
Your master's in speech pathology should prepare you well for the field itself with a highly targeted curriculum covering such topics as phonetics, anatomy and physiology of speech and swallow mechanisms, speech development, the science of language, age-specific disorders, swallowing dysfunctions, and alternative communication methods.
Work Under a Licensed Professional
Once you've completed your education, you'll need to proceed to a clinical, post-graduate fellowship in speech pathology. This means completing at least 400 hours of supervised clinical practice experience (based on the standards set by ASHA's Council on Academic Accreditation). Typically, these positions are paid, entry-level jobs and will allow you to explore certain specialties or focus areas (e.g., using voice-banking technology) while learning how to counsel patients in real-time.
Meanwhile, you should also take the Praxis Examination in Speech-Language Pathology. This national test will evaluate your grasp of essentials and current trends, but you'll also need to pass it if you want to become certified through ASHA.
Get a State License and Get Certified
You're almost ready to practice as a speech pathologist independently. Now you just need to get your state license, which will give you additional training on caring for vulnerable patients. But consider going even further by becoming a certified professional through ASHA. You'll then have a Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC)—a nationally recognized credential that signifies to both employers and patients that you've reached a superior level of knowledge and skills to provide high-quality clinical services.
How Much Do Speech Pathologists Make?
You're launching into a rewarding career—both existentially and monetarily. Currently, the median speech pathologist salary is $78,852, and it can range from $65,686 to $93,767. You can look up the average salary for speech pathologists in your location by using our nifty Monster Salary Tools.
Where Do Speech Pathologists Work?
As previously mentioned, the BLS is projecting a very positive speech pathologist job outlook through 2029, with an estimated 40,500 jobs available during that period. So, now that you know how to become a speech pathologist, the next step is to put together an effective speech pathologist resume and brush up your cover-letter writing skills.
ASHA points out that workplaces with an expanded need for this field include schools and corporate settings. But there should also be lots of work for speech pathologists handling bilingual issues and those opening their own private practices. After you wrap up your resume and cover letter, start applying to speech pathologist jobs available on Monster.
According to the BLS, the top five states for the employment of speech pathologists are:
And the top five metro areas are:
Get at the Forefront of Speech Pathology With Monster's Help
Since you've learned how to become a speech pathologist, create a free account so that you can embark on an enriching journey. Being a Monster member will also get you customized speech-pathologist job alerts and insightful career advice delivered straight to your inbox, as this industry continues to swell with auspicious market trends.