Getting that First Job as a Speech Language Pathologist

If you’re looking to launch your career as a Speech-Language Pathologist, the job prospects are good. "We consider the outlook strong for the profession," says Lemmietta McNeilly, chief staff officer for speech language pathology at ASHA, the industry's professional association. "We don't have enough speech language pathologists to meet the demand." While many school districts have laid off, cut back or stopped hiring teachers altogether, speech pathologists are paid by Medicaid, and federal law requires that speech-impaired students be tested and treated at no charge.

School staff will sometimes reach out to colleges that teach speech therapy to get the people they need. "They really are difficult to come by," said Clarence Lamanna, Ed.D., executive director of the Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit. "It's a matter of supply and demand. It's really a statewide problem. It's almost as soon they graduate, they're employed," Dr. Lamanna said. Andrea Novak, chairwoman of Marywood University's speech-language pathology program noted that the 2011 graduating class had 100 percent of its students land a job in the field within one year. 

The biggest growth is in speech pathologists who work with children born prematurely or who have specific communication disorders. Within that category, there’s a huge demand for pathologists who are fluent in Spanish. Speech pathologists are needed to determine whether a child is simply having a challenging time learning English or if they suffer from a real speech disorder.

McNalley notes that a career in speech pathology can take a variety of paths. "People aren't aware of the diversity of speech language pathology," says McNeilly. "There are many different settings and different directions you can move in. You can stay in the field for 30 or 40 years, and what you do when you start will be quite different from what you do in the middle or end of your career."

To land that first job as a speech pathologist, you’ll need to take the requisite number of exams and be certified. Check the list of speech-language pathology licensure boards to learn about the licensing requirements in your state. In general the exams and certifications include the following:

• Praxis exam. You’ll need a passing score on the Praxis exam to get your ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology, a state license, and a state teaching certificate.
   
• Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC). You’ll need this to practice as a speech pathologist. The certification includes a clinical fellowship training period and a certification exam. While a CCC is not always required for state licensure, you need it to land a job. The certification is denoted as CCC-SLP.
   
• Teaching Certificate. Since nearly half of all speech-language pathologists practice in a school setting, you’ll need a state teaching certificate to work. Be sure to consult with your state’s education board for a complete list of requirements needed to teach.

While getting that first job as a speech pathologist seems easy once you get the exams and certifications out of the way, you’ll still be competing with many qualified candidates. So fine tune your resume and hone your interviewing skills.

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