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What are the Requirements to Become a Speech Therapist?

Speech Therapists: Helping Us Communicate Clearly

How to Become a Speech Therapist

Successful communication forms the cornerstone of civilized society. Whether by written or oral means, the ability to get one's point across is vital to maintaining harmony and continuing progress. Speech therapists, also known as speech-language pathologists, are instrumental in nurturing this basic yet critical skill. Their work involves assessing, diagnosing, and treating disorders related to speech, language, and cognitive communication. About half work in the educational system, while the rest are employed by health care and social assistance facilities. Irrespective of their place of employment, all speech therapists devote their professional lives to helping others improve their oral communication skills.

Specific Requirements to Become a Speech Therapist

Requirements to become a speech therapist vary somewhat by state, but are relatively standardized. If you're considering making this your career path, you can significantly increase your employment opportunities by completing the following steps:
  • Earning a master's degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that employers recognize a master's degree as the educational benchmark for prospective speech therapists. Over two hundred colleges currently offer graduate programs in speech-language pathology, which instruct students in anatomy, physiology, speech/language/swallowing disorders, and the psychological aspects of communication.
  • Obtaining a license. According to the BLS, 47 states regulate speech therapists through registration and licensure. Attainment of this license involves passing a national examination on speech-language pathology, between 300 and 375 hours of supervised clinical experience, and nine months of professional, postgraduate clinical experience.
  • Honing your personal qualifications. Because patients' progress may be slow, it is critical that speech therapists exhibit patience, compassion, and good listening skills.


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