Careers for SLP Students

Review what it takes to become a speech pathologist, as well as the many diverse career paths available in order to provide you with a guide that can get you on track for the career you desire. The information in this guide can assist you with taking the first steps toward a profitable career in the field.

Speech pathology is a field that blends the science of communication with intensive assessments and treatment planning. If you are intrigued by the services that are provided in this specialized area, you can consider a career through graduate-level training and state licensure.

Click for more online speech therapy programs that are currently taking applications.

Speech Pathology Types

As a study of speech pathology degree programs, you can learn more about some of the most prevalent speech disorders in society. Take a look at a few of the communication disorders that may be targeted in speech pathology.

• Apraxia of Speech
• Dysarthria
• Stuttering
• Lisping
• Mutism

The role of the speech pathologist is to determine the needs base of their clients in order to develop a helpful and beneficial treatment program to improve their abilities. These treatment plans may focus on muscle exercises for better speech articulation or possibly direct instruction on reading and word comprehension.

Speech pathology professionals can work in a wide variety of settings providing diverse services to their clients. The group that you are most intrigued by influencing may help you determine where to exercise your expertise in the field, as well as guide you into working with specific people during your career.

This field has found a place in partnership with general medical care, education, and rehabilitative sciences. Communication is one of the most important aspects of human development, which contributes to how important speech pathology can be for the quality of life of clients in need.

Educational Requirements

If speech pathology sounds like a field that you could see yourself involved with, you should take a look at some of the degree programs offered to help train you. Many professionals that have received certification and licensure in this field began preparations at the bachelor's level - which is recommended for anyone interested in this field.

Speech pathologists should hold a state license before providing their services to clients in the field. Licensing can occur after a student has achieved a minimum of a Master's in Speech Pathology.

At the very onset of your educational experience, you should choose a bachelor's degree that best complements your future career. There are bachelor's programs available that focus on communication disorders, as well as those in speech pathology. Either of these paths can teach you more about the speech disorders and biological foundations relevant to practice in this field.

Students that complete a Bachelor's in Communicative Disorders or other related speech pathology major can then move forward into master's programs. At the master's level, you should ensure that your degree program has received the right type of accreditation required for licensure.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

The accreditation agency responsible for guaranteeing the quality of your learning program is the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA). This agency is a sector of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), which is the largest and most well-known association for speech pathology professionals.

An interesting component of your degree program to consider is within the internship and supervised practicum requirements. Practitioners of speech pathology can receive the educational and practical training they need to succeed through these accredited institutional programs, which include 300-400 hours of practicum hours prior to graduation.

Your experiences in speech pathology educational programs can help prepare you for involvement in influential careers in the field. In the next section, you can review some of the most common and popular career options for graduates of speech pathology major programs.

SLP Licensure

There are licensure requirements to become a Speech Language Pathologist, and it depends on what state you plan on practicing in. The below map gives you an idea of the SLP licensure requirements for each state.

Top 10 Speech Pathology Careers

Key Professional Organizations in Speech, Language, and Auditory

When you are new to speech pathology, you might benefit from connecting yourself to others in your field. This can be achieved through joining professional organizations related to your profession and even in some related agencies that contribute to improvements in your field.

In the list below, you can explore some of the most common and popular agencies for speech pathologists. Each agency may have its own expectations for membership, including differing fees and membership periods. If you are interested in becoming a member for your own career development, our team encourages you to visit the websites of these agencies to learn more about what each can provide you with.

• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): ASHA is the largest organization for speech pathologists in the U.S. Involvement with this agency can provide you with unlimited resources regarding new research, development, and specialized studies in this field. This agency also accredits educational programs in speech pathology and acts as an advocacy provider for its members. Licensees with membership to this organization can gain access to continuing education credits and events to help expand their knowledge in speech pathology and audiology.
• American Auditory Society (AAS): Speech pathologists that move forward into specializations to compound their expertise in communication can join organizations such as the AAS to further their knowledge in the field. This organization specializes in learning more about disorders related to hearing, rehabilitation of individuals with hearing disorders, and innovative treatments for hearing and communication.
• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD): If you become a part of the field of speech pathology, you should expand your membership to alternative organizations such as the NIDCD. This agency explores the scientific foundations of deafness, as well as many other common speech disorders. This agency funds research aimed at increasing the quality of treatment in these fields, which could directly influence the types of treatments utilized by speech pathology professionals.

Average Salaries for Those Working in Speech Therapy

• Speech Language Pathologists: $77,510 on average per year (BLS).
• Audiologists: $75,920 on average per year (BLS).
• Educational Speech Pathologists: $68,270 on average per year (BLS).

SLP Career Settings

Speech pathologists can be extremely helpful assets in centers that focus directly on improving communication for people of all age groups. This type of setting may have structured language training programs for people that have been diagnosed with disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder or even for fully functioning children or adults with mild speech issues.

School systems may also employ the use of speech pathologists for children that require speech intervention for educational success. Some schools hire speech pathologists to work on-staff and hold their own classes during the normal school day.

Other educational agencies may contract the services of speech pathologists on an as-needed basis. Private practice speech pathologists can provide services to several different clients with varying needs and communication abilities.

In the healthcare and rehabilitative setting, speech pathologists can work with clients that have lost the ability to communicate due to serious injuries or accidents, as well as from resulting diseases or illnesses. Many hospitals hire speech pathologists to work on-staff with clients in the medical setting.

Speech Pathology Degrees

• Bachelors
• Masters (MSLP)
• Online MSLP
• Online CAA Accredited MSLP
• Online MSLP, No GRE
• Doctorate

Speech Pathology Programs

• Best CAA Accredited Online SLP Programs
• Online Speech Pathology Programs
• Online Masters of Speech Pathology
• Online MSLP with No GRE Required
• Audiology
• Speech Pathology
• Speech Therapy
• Speech Language Pathology (SLP)
• School Speech Therapy
• Bilingual Speech Pathology
• Speech Rehabilitation
• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Communicative Sciences
• Hearing Sciences
• Occupational Therapy
• AAC Certification Augmentative and Alternative Communication
• CCC-SLP Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology

States for SLP Degrees

• California
• Georgia
• Illinois
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Texas
• + View All States

Speech Pathology Careers

• Career Guide
• SLP Licensure
• State Licensure
• SLP: Speech Language Pathologists
• Occupational Therapy vs. Speech Therapy