Speech Therapist and Pathologist Careers Information
Speech therapists, sometimes known as speech pathologists, work with various speaking and communicating disorders. These professionals also work with patients with swallowing difficulties. As such, speech therapists’ duties include diagnosing and treating various speech, language, and cognitive disorders, and either rehabilitating patients or helping them learn alternative forms of communication.
Speech Therapist and Pathologist Careers & Degrees
Some pathologists work in research settings or at colleges and universities, where they study speech disorders and research treatment methods. Although speech therapists are often able to effect heartwarming rehabilitations in many patients, this can be psychologically demanding work, and understanding individuals with strong mental constitutions often become the best professionals.
Speech Therapist and Pathologist Careers Path
Speech therapists usually complete a Master’s degree program specifically oriented around speech therapy. The students who choose speech therapy hold a Bachelor’s degree in a major like biology or psychology, but others may hold a Bachelor’s degrees in other subjects as well.
The courses in graduate speech therapy programs largely focus on the many areas of medicine and psychology that relate to the profession, from anatomy, to neuroscience, to linguistics. Following graduation, aspiring speech therapists must pass the Praxis exam in speech pathology offered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Depending on which state a new speech therapist works in, and also where they want to work, various amounts of on-the-job training is usually required.
Speech Therapist and Pathologist Careers: Compatible Personality Traits
Caring, considerate, patient, diligent, careful, observant, focused, helpful, motivating, practical.
Speech Therapist and Pathologist Careers: Salary Expectations
According to the Department of Labor, the median annual salary for speech therapists and speech pathologists is $62,930. Salary, however, will often depend on experience. Those speech therapists who have one to four years on the job should earn a median salary of $49,017 a year, while those with five to nine years’ experience should earn a median salary of $53,687 a year.
Speech Therapist and Pathologist Careers: Job Outlook
The Department of Labor estimates that employment for speech therapists is estimated to grow by 11% by 2016, which is about the same rate the average for all other occupations. Nevertheless, growth should remain steady as demand for the services that therapists provide, whether in hospitals, schools, or private clinics, is expected to rise.
Slightly Off the Footpath
Sources: payscale.com/research/US/Job=Speech-Language_Pathologist/Salary; bls.gov/oco/ocos099.htm
