Speech pathology is the study of oral communication disorders. A master’s degree is required to begin a career as a speech pathologist, followed by a doctorate if desired. Most programs include clinical experience, which is also expected at the post-graduate level. The final step is to pass a certification exam. It demonstrates that the individual has met the jurisdiction’s minimum educational and experience requirements and is thus qualified to work as a speech pathologist.
A career in speech pathology begins with a visit to the website of the credentialing organization in the aspiring pathologist’s jurisdiction. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), for example, is a credentialing organization that offers certification through the Council on Academic Accreditation in the United States. These organizations provide an overview of the industry as well as the educational requirements for becoming a speech pathologist.
In the field of speech pathology, a master’s degree is the norm. As a result, the next step in pursuing a career as a speech pathologist is to look into schools that offer speech and language programs. If you’re unsure whether or not a school is accredited, contact the credentialing organization for the pathologist’s jurisdiction for a list of schools. This is advantageous because most credentialing organizations update their accreditation lists on a regular basis, providing accreditation verification even if an institution’s website or promotional materials have not yet been updated.
Individuals with a bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders are preferred. The standard curriculum includes linguistics, behavioral science, anatomy, psychology, sociology, physiology, and general science. Take a standardized graduate school entrance or qualifying exam, such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), after finishing your bachelor’s degree and enroll in a master’s program in speech pathology. Most professorships, research, and private practice positions require a doctorate.
In speech pathology, hands-on experience is essential for success. As a result, most speech pathology programs require students to complete a certain number of clinical experience hours during their final year of study. A minimum of 300 hours is required in the United States. Following that, the speech pathologist must usually obtain post-graduate clinical experience, such as the nine-month requirement of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).
Once a speech pathologist has met the credentialing organization’s minimum educational and clinical experience requirements for his jurisdiction, he can apply to take the certification exam through the organization. The exam may be divided into several sections, in which case the pathologist must pass all sections in order to be certified.