To become a speech therapy assistant, you must complete four steps: postsecondary education, related work experience, job application, and job interview. A speech therapy assistant is a member of the health-care team who assists a speech therapist or speech language pathologist in their work. A speech therapy assistant’s primary responsibility is to assist the patient in completing exercises and performing preliminary diagnostic tests.
This type of work is satisfying for people who are interested in the health care field, enjoy working with people, and want to work a standard business day with occasional weekends. The main benefit of this type of work is being able to observe the patient’s progress. Because speech problems can take a long time to resolve, you’ll need a low frustration threshold. This is a good career fit for a high-energy person who is naturally optimistic.
To work as a speech therapy assistant, you must first complete a post-secondary education program. A wide range of community and career colleges offer speech therapy assistant programs. Hearing and speech tests may be part of the admissions criteria for this specialty.
A job placement program is usually used to obtain related work experience. Look for schools that have a speech therapy clinic on campus that offers job placement or internship opportunities. Working as a medical assistant or in a customer service position in the health services sector are two other options for gaining relevant experience. Working as an office assistant or in an office management position allows you to gain experience dealing with patients, suppliers, and other business issues.
You must find and apply for suitable jobs in advance in order to become a speech therapy assistant. Three to four months before graduation, most students begin looking for a full-time job. Look for employers who have posted positions with the school in the career center at your school. Inquire with your instructors and internship supervisor about providing a reference letter to potential employers.
Make sure to proofread your resume and cover letter for any grammar or spelling errors before applying for a job as a speech therapy assistant. Remember that during the job interview, the employer will most likely have a standard list of questions and will be looking for complete, concise responses. Remember that everything you say will be recorded and analyzed. Consider your responses, remain calm, and concentrate on how you can help.