{"id":5585,"date":"2025-08-22T11:55:53","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T18:55:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pacific.edu\/blog\/?p=5585"},"modified":"2025-08-22T11:55:54","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T18:55:54","slug":"how-to-become-a-speech-language-pathologist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pacific.edu\/blog\/2025\/08\/22\/how-to-become-a-speech-language-pathologist\/","title":{"rendered":"How to become a speech-language pathologist\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Some people have trouble communicating. Sometimes they\u2019re born with it, other times they develop it due to neurological disorders or traumatic injuries. These are the people speech-language pathologists worth with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speech-language pathologists<\/a>, sometimes known as speech therapists or SLPs, work with their patients to address communication disorders and other mouth or throat problems.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur 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\u201d says University of the Pacific School of Health Science Professor Madhu Sundarrajan. \u201cWe see people who may have neurodegenerative issues like dementia or Parkinson\u2019s. 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.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> 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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are a growing profession,\u201d Sundarrajan says. \u201cBecause, by law, children who require communication support have to get services. Schools may be out of compliance if they don\u2019t provide those services, so they\u2019re constantly looking.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s explore what it is they do.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does a speech-language pathologist do?\u00a0\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve probably seen their work without realizing it. The famous scientist Stephen Hawking lost his ability to speak and move due to Lou Gehrig\u2019s disease. But he was still able to talk to others with the help of a high-tech augmentative and alternative communication device<\/a>, also known as AAC. Some AAC systems are high tech, like Hawking\u2019s voice generator, while others are low or no tech.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt can be anything that\u2019s considered augmentative,\u201d says Sundarrajan. \u201cIt 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<\/a>. [For] a child who\u2019s non-speaking but has a lot of physical dexterity, we may use apps that they can swipe very quickly with.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those are just a few examples. SLPs also work in corporate businesses, public health departments and universities<\/a>, 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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is such a vast field,\u201d Sundarrajan says. \u201cAnd we change settings all the time.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speech-language pathology prerequisites<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you want to become a speech-language pathologist, it helps to start preparing for this career as early as possible. It\u2019s important to keep in mind, though, that preparing early for the degree is helpful<\/em> but it will not make or break your career.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you do in high school or college helps you get into a speech-language pathology master\u2019s 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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sundarrajan, in fact, got her undergraduate degree in computer science before obtaining her speech-language pathology master\u2019s degree. So, you do have flexibility, but preparing early can ease the transition into graduate school or a career.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re 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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In college, you also have some flexibility with your degree choice. You can get a bachelor\u2019s degree in speech-language pathology<\/a> to focus your studies on communication disorders, biological sciences and similar topics. This degree can ensure that you\u2019re ready to tackle more advanced topics.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s degree. After completing an associate\u2019s degree, you can also transfer into an SLP program at a four-year university.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if you do pursue a BS in speech-language pathology, you should research master\u2019s degree programs you\u2019re interested in to make sure your degree fits its requirements. Not all programs require this degree, but some may offer accelerated pathways<\/a> if you do get it.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s degree programs that interest you and make sure your degree covers its prerequisites.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speech-language pathology graduate programs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s never too early to start looking into master\u2019s degree programs. Beyond making sure you\u2019re taking the prerequisite courses, you also want to ask yourself a few questions as you evaluate those programs.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you look at a program, be sure it\u2019s accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology<\/a> of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Most states require you to graduate from an accredited program to get your license to practice.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some high-level questions you should keep in mind as you look at SLP programs.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n