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How to Become a Speech TherapistMost people think of overcoming speech impediments when they think of speech-language pathology, but the profession of speech therapy or, as it’s commonly called, speech-language pathology, goes much deeper than that. Fluency, the ability to express thoughts and ideas, understanding others, or even swallowing properly are all issues that speech therapists might assess, diagnose, and treat. And they’re not small issues. Trouble communicating makes it difficult to pick up new information or communicate what’s not being understood in the classroom. It makes forming relationships hard, and in the case of swallowing disorders, thwarts social situations in which friendships are formed. Speech therapists help prevent communication disorders early on and identify at-risk students, assess and evaluate communication skills in students, and develop individualized education programs for those students who need them. With how crucial speech language-pathologists are to education, many SLPs opt to pursue career opportunities within school systems.
What is a Speech Pathologist?
Speech Pathologists, also referred to as Speech Therapists or SLPs (speech language pathologists), are professionals who work with people of all ages to improve communication techniques and treat swallowing disorders, amongst many other job responsibilities. Speech Pathologists can be found practicing in a variety of settings including, but not limited to, independent practices, doctor’s offices, schools, hospitals, and residential health care facilities like nursing homes. Jumpstart Your Career in Speech Pathology, Explore Online SLP Programs Online MS: Pursue SLP Certification. Study FT/PTSpeech@Emerson enables you to earn an MS online and pursue SLP certification in as few as 20 mos. Learn the same curriculum as the on-campus program. Study FT or PT.
Want to Become an SLP? Earn an MS Online at NYUNYU Steinhardt’s online master of science program in Communicative Sciences and Disorders prepares aspiring speech-language pathologists with a comprehensive professional education.
Earn Your SLP Master’s Online From BaylorBaylor’s SLP master’s program online can be completed full time in 20 months or part time in 25 months. Bachelor’s required. No GRE required.
Steps to Becoming a Speech PathologistThere are three common steps that every aspiring speech therapist should follow in order to become a working SLP professional. Below, we have outlined the process that is typically followed to become a speech therapist:
Interested in becoming a speech-language pathologist? Read more about earning Masters in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP). Speech-Language Pathologist Salary InformationAccording to the BLS, the average salary for a school speech-language pathologist was around $79,120 per year, or $38.04 per hour, in 2019. Also according to BLS reporting, the highest areas for SLP salaries included Napa, CA, Jackson, MI, San Francisco, CA, Vallejo, CA, and Tulsa, OK. Salary potential for speech therapists depends largely on location they are practicing in, their years of experience in the field, and the work environment in which they operate. Demand for Speech-Language PathologistsThe job growth for Speech-Language Pathologists from 2018 to 2028 is a predicted 27%, a much higher rate than average, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The highest employment of SPLs is mostly big cities— New York City, Chicago, Dallas, Boston, and Los Angeles. But taking population into account, Homosassa Springs, FL, Jonesboro, AR, Gadsden, AL, Little Rock, AR, and Ogden, UT are all big employers of Speech-Language pathologists too. Speech-Language Pathologist Shortages in Schools by StateA shortage area is defined by the U.S. Department of Education as a role in which “there is an inadequate supply” of qualified professionals. The Department allows states to identify their own shortage areas, but encourages them to follow a prescribed methodology based on unfilled positions, positions filled by professionals with irregular certifications, and positions filled by professionals certified in other areas. Because the Department allows states to report shortages as they wish, some states only report teacher shortages while others include administrative shortages as well. Please reference each state’s department of education to learn more about their particular shortage areas. The following states reported a shortage in school speech-language pathologists:
SLP Resources
Last Updated May 2020 Is a degree in SLP worth it?Yes, speech pathology is worth it for many students. The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates 25% job growth for speech-language pathologists over the next ten years, which is much faster than average job growth. This type of work also has nationwide demand.
What bachelor's degree is best for speech pathology?A few examples of popular undergraduate majors for future speech-language pathologists are: communication sciences and disorders, linguistics, language development, education, psychology, and english.
What else can a speech pathologist do?Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders in children and adults.
Is a degree in speech pathology hard?I found it to be a degree with a lot of difficult content and therefore very time intensive. However, if you put in the effort and manage your time efficiently you will find it to be an enjoyably challenging degree.
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