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How to Become a Speech-Language Pathologist in Massachusetts

Healthcare is a vast field with countless opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are one such example of health professionals who help people of all ages improve their speech and communication skills.

If you aren’t familiar with this career, you may want to know: “What does a speech-language pathologist do? Is SLP the right occupation for me?”

Speech-language pathologists treat disorders that interfere with swallowing and communication. While it’s certainly a rewarding job, it’s important to know what the role entails before you pursue a career.

What is Speech-Language Pathology?

Speech-language pathology is the study and treatment of communication and swallowing disorders. Both children and adults can develop conditions that prevent them from articulating sounds, expressing or understanding language, improving fluency, or swallowing correctly. When swallowing becomes a challenge, patients are at risk of malnutrition, dehydration, asphyxiation, infections, and respiratory problems.

To put the impact of the field in context, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) more than three million people in the US struggle with stuttering, while five percent of children exhibit speech disorders by first grade . And every year, roughly 180,000 Americans develop aphasia—the inability to use or comprehend language.

The goal of speech-language pathology is to understand the mechanisms of speech and swallowing, and to use that understanding to improve the lives of patients.

What is a Speech-Language Pathologist?

Speech-language pathologists are therapists who evaluate, diagnose, and treat speech disorders that prevent healthy communication, fluency, and swallowing. They are also sometimes called speech-language therapists, as well as SLPs.

To most people, speech and language may seem like simple skills that develop naturally with few complications. However, speech actually involves the coordination of several complex actions, including the ability to hear, distinguish, process, and form sounds.

After learning these core skills, it also takes ongoing instruction to master reading, writing, fluency, and social communication. Speech-language pathologists work with children who have trouble developing these skills, as well as people with impaired skills due to cognitive-communication disorders, brain trauma, birth defects, or developmental disabilities.

Conditions Treated by SLPs

Speech-language pathologists treat many different conditions. These are often broken into the following groupings:

• Motor speech disorders: Stuttering, apraxia, and dysarthria can cause an irregular flow of speech due to developmental, neurological, or motor muscle difficulties.
• Cognitive-communication disorders: Genetic issues, tumors, or brain injuries can cause cognitive damage.
• Voice disorders: Damage to vocal cords can result in irregular pitch, sounds, volume, or hoarseness.
• Birth defects: Cleft palates and other physical defects can hinder development.
• Stroke or dementia: Deteriorating brain health can cause loss of speech, disordered communication, and impaired oral functions.
• Social communications: Autism spectrum disorder and other social development issues make it difficult to detect language cues.

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Where Do SLPs Work?

SLPs work in a variety of environments, such as hospitals, residential care facilities, nursing homes, rehabilitation clinics, schools, and private therapy practices. Educational settings are, by far, the most common employers of speech therapists.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 38 percent of SLPs work for state, local, or private educational facilities, while 22 percent practice in occupational, speech, physical, or auditory therapy offices .

What does a speech-language pathologist do?

Speech-language pathologist responsibilities vary depending on where they work, but typical tasks include assessing patient needs, diagnosing conditions, developing treatment plans, and monitoring progress. An SLP needs to be patient and compassionate, with the ability to listen well and interpret the behavior of people who struggle to communicate.

According to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), SLPs in schools aim to identify disorders early, so they can implement preventive therapies and advise teachers and families on the best ways to support students . In medical settings, SLPs design exercises to help patients practice fluency, repair lost motor and cognitive functions, or find alternative methods of communication.

Be prepared to handle a fair amount of administrative work as well. Speech-language pathologists have to adhere to state, local, and federal compliance standards. Writing reports, doing research, and keeping detailed logs about treatment plans are crucial tasks that help to improve diagnosis and therapies.

Therapists who prefer to get involved in shaping curriculum may focus on collecting data, advocating for educational reform, and designing large-scale treatment programs at the organizational level.

A Rewarding Career

Like most therapy careers, the speech-language pathologist role revolves around providing the most beneficial experience to clients. SLPs must be attentive and detail-oriented professionals, always willing to grow and search for better methods of delivering treatment.

If you’re still interested in this profession, earning a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology could be a good option for you. Consider contacting a college admission counselor to find out what steps you should take to work in this field. A counselor can help you decide whether to pursue a graduate degree in speech-language pathology or explore related careers.

Speech-Language Pathology (MS)

Speech language pathologists work with clients of all ages and backgrounds, within a wide array of settings including hospitals and clinics, nursing homes, private practices, and schools.

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Learn how to become a speech-language pathologist in MA. Find out the licenses, and certifications you need after earning a master’s degree in SLP.

Wondering what it takes to be an SLP? We’ll explain how to become a speech pathologist, what SLPs do, and how much they can earn.

How Much Do Speech-Language Pathologists Make in Massachusetts? Salary Guide

Wondering how much money you can make as a speech language pathologist? This guide walks you through the average SLP salary in Massachusetts.

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August 20, 2020 

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) provide care to people with speech, language, cognition or swallowing impairments, from infants to older adults and everyone in between. If you are interested in a health care career that offers an array of specialties, practice settings or clientele, speech-language pathology may be the field for you. This resource will outline what a career in speech-language pathology entails, highlight the differences between a speech-language pathologist and speech therapist, and describe the different settings where SLPs offer their services.

What Is a Speech-Language Pathologist?

A speech-language pathologist is responsible for assessing, diagnosing, treating and developing plans of care to help improve, maintain and restore certain skills and functions in their clients. Such functions include:

• Articulation or phonological disorders, such as dysarthria or apraxia of speech.
• Language processing challenges.
• Language fluency, including stuttering.
• Feeding and swallowing difficulties due to dysphagia.
• Social communication pragmatics.

Licensing requirements to practice as an SLP vary by state, but most require supervised clinical experience and at least a  Master of Sciences in Communication Disorders (M.S.).  The  American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)  offers certification once individuals have passed the  Praxis Examination in Speech-Language Pathology.

So, why become an SLP? The path to becoming a speech-language pathologist requires hard work. But the career comes with the opportunity to improve an individual’s overall quality of life, and that can be rewarding.

Working in a high-growth field is another reason some people might consider a career as an SLP.  Speech-language pathologists held about 153,700 jobs in 2018,  according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). By 2028, the BLS projects that the number of speech-language pathology jobs will reach 195,600.

Speech Pathologist vs. Speech Therapist

What’s the difference between a speech pathologist and a speech therapist? Actually, there isn’t one. Speech-language pathology is the official profession of an individual who is commonly known as a speech therapist or a speech teacher. The terms are used interchangeably to refer to someone who evaluates clients’ unique communication impairments or disorders and determines a specialized course of treatment to help them improve over time.

Job Description of a Speech Pathologist

The day-to-day duties of a speech-language pathologist may vary based on the work setting and area of specialization. However, some key responsibilities SLPs share are as follows:

• Conduct screenings to assess a client’s speech and swallowing challenges.
• Evaluate and diagnose speech, language and communication disorders.
• Develop an appropriate treatment plan.
• Provide rehabilitation or communication strategies for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Train, communicate and educate family and caregivers of those with communication or swallowing disorders.
• Offer augmentative and alternative communication systems for clients who experience challenges with severe social expression or language comprehension disorders, such as those on the autism spectrum.
• Use an interdisciplinary approach to address a client’s communication and swallowing needs.
• Complete administrative tasks, including the recording of a client’s progress during and after treatment and the maintenance of client records.

There are a variety of work settings that a speech-language pathologist can choose from. SLPs can work in nursing and residential care facilities, offices of audiologists and physical therapists or have offices of their own.

Some SLPs choose to specialize in treating and supporting clients of a specific age group, such as young children or older adults.  Our Master of Sciences in Communication Disorders (M.S.) program includes applied courses,  such as CD642-Autism: Social Communication Development and Disorder, which introduces students to the development of social communication skills in children. By the time students graduate and become licensed, they will be prepared to work with children with autism and help them to build communication and social skills outside of the typical classroom setting. The knowledge and skills acquired during applied courses may also enable students to support adults with autism who may be joining the workforce. In those cases, the SLP provides direction when it comes to writing cover letters and preparing for job interviews.

Our program also includes  clinical placements . During in-person placements, our students have the opportunity to grow their practical understanding of the communication disorders that they study in the virtual classroom. They also gain exposure to clinical settings and can decide whether they’d like to work in such an environment once they become licensed.

Speech-Language Pathologists in Hospitals vs. in Schools

Hospitals and schools are two of the  most common work settings for speech-language pathologists,  according to ASHA. Both settings come with unique challenges and opportunities.

What Does an SLP Do in a Hospital?

Medical speech-language pathologists work in health care facilities such as hospitals. They belong to an interdisciplinary treatment team that designs and implements a client’s acute or rehabilitation care plan. They may collaborate with physicians, psychologists, social workers, audiologists, or physical and occupational therapists to get the job done. The BLS indicates that  hospital-based SLPs make up 14% of all practicing SLPs.

A hospital-based or medical SLP’s main job functions may include the following:

• Diagnosing and treating cognitive, language, communication and swallowing disorders.
• Working with a range of clients who suffer from chronic diseases or have been affected by neurological events causing trauma to the brain, such as stroke, seizure, cancer or physical trauma.
• Prescribing modified diet plans for clients experiencing difficulty swallowing and symptoms of dysphagia.
• Conducting periodic screenings.
• Providing guidance, support and education to clients and their primary caregivers.
• Informing clinical staff about communication disorders to provide clients with a holistic health treatment plan.
• Conducting research on treatment methods for communication and swallowing disorders.

What Does an SLP Do in a School?

Speech-language pathologists working in education settings constitute 38% of all SLPs,  according to the BLS. Education settings include pre-kindergarten, K–12 public and private schools, and colleges and universities.

SLPs who work in early childhood education settings employ intervention strategies and support students throughout their learning cycles. It is also important for school-based SLPs to advise and work with educators and administrators. This ensures that students’ communication challenges are addressed holistically, so as not to disrupt their learning.

A school-based SLP or speech teacher’s key responsibilities may include the following:

• Conducting diagnostic evaluations and assessing students’ communication skills.
• Working with school-age children or college students with a range of learning, physical and auditory disabilities or disorders that adversely affect their educational performance.
• Identifying students who may be at risk for future communication and swallowing disorders or challenges.
• Consulting with and informing teachers, administrators and families about the prevention of and treatment for communication disorders.
• Performing classroom-based services as well as facilitating small-group and individual speech sessions.
• Working collaboratively to develop a treatment plan tailored to an individual student’s communication and swallowing challenges.
• Developing and implementing Individualized Family Service Plans and Individualized Education Programs.
• Documenting as required by federal, state and local agencies.
• Supervising clinical practicums for students working toward their SLP certification.
• Participating in schoolwide curriculum and literacy teams.

The first step to  becoming an SLP  and achieving your career goals is earning a Master of Sciences in Communication Disorders (M.S.). To learn more about the Speech@Emerson program, including its length, a look into our online campus and what to expect of immersion experiences, visit our  Speech@Emerson program page , contact the admissions team by phone at 855-997-0407 or send an email to  [email protected] .

Citation for this content:  Speech@Emerson, Emerson College’s online Master of Sciences in Communication Disorders (M.S.)

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How to Become a Speech-Language Pathologist

A career in speech-language pathology requires a master's degree and a clinical fellowship.

How to Become a Speech Pathologist

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Speech-language pathologists specialize in treating various speech impediments and addressing language comprehension difficulties.

Humans use their mouths and throats constantly, often unconsciously, to perform basic tasks like swallowing food or speaking aloud, so problems within this section of the body need to be addressed immediately and thoroughly.

Speech-language pathologists assist in these situations, and demand for their services is growing rapidly. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment within this profession will grow 25% through 2029, partly as a result of the aging American population and health ailments that are common among seniors that hinder talking and eating, such as strokes and Alzheimer's.

The median annual wage among U.S. speech-language pathologists in May 2020 was $80,480, according to the BLS, which notes that the usual entry-level academic credential within this field is a master's degree . Licensing requirements for this profession depend upon the state where a person practices, and many jobs within this field require national certification.

What Is Speech Pathology and What Does a Speech Pathologist Do?

The field of speech-language pathology encompasses much more than just communication disorders. The area of study also includes lessons about accent reduction and how to encourage children who are extremely picky eaters to consume food so that they are well-nourished, for example.

Speech-language pathologists specialize in treating various speech impediments and addressing language comprehension difficulties. They teach social skills to people with developmental disabilities, provide guidance to individuals with cognitive disorders and intervene when a person struggles to swallow food or beverages.

These clinicians routinely advise people who cannot hear well on how to understand others and express themselves, and they also show people who cannot speak how to communicate using picture boards and technological devices.

"Speech therapists help toddlers say 'mama' for the first time, assist teenagers who have a fluency disorder (stutter), and help adults who have suffered strokes be able to eat on their own again," Kassie Hanson, a Nebraska-based certified pediatric speech-language pathologist, wrote in an email.

Hanson recalls the beginning of her career and how working with a 2-year-old girl who was unable to talk solidified her career path. "After many sessions with the little girl, she said some of her very first words," Hanson says. "Just months later, she was talking in short phrases and sentences. Getting to help a little girl say her first words was life-changing and confirmed for me that I was in the right career!"

Steps to Become a Speech-Language Pathologist

Speech-language pathologists recommend that people who want to join their field complete all of the following tasks:

• Pursue a bachelor's degree and take college courses that relate to speech-language pathology.
• Search for accredited speech-language pathology master's programs using the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's EdFind Tool .
• Gain relevant work experience and prepare a strong graduate school application with solid grades, essays and recommendation letters.
• Excel on the GRE General Test if the targeted graduate school considers GRE scores.
• Get into a master's program, ideally with a generous scholarship to reduce the cost.
• Obtain a master's degree in speech-language pathology.
• Complete a clinical fellowship in speech-language pathology.
• Take and pass the Praxis Examination in Speech-Language Pathology, a national test that assesses understanding of key content and current practices within the field.
• Secure a state license to practice independently if it is offered or required by your state.
• Get certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, or ASHA.

An undergraduate education in a related subject, such as communication sciences and disorders, may be mandatory for admission into a master's program in speech-language pathology, though academic prerequisites depend upon the graduate school, and some programs have a more flexible policy on college majors .

Speech-language pathology master's students learn about the many health conditions that can interfere with a person's ability to swallow, communicate or eat, including ailments that primarily affect children and diseases that are common among seniors.

Jolene Hyppa-Martin, an associate professor and a speech-language pathologist with the University of Minnesota—Duluth 's Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, notes that master's programs in speech-language pathology generally include lessons about how people who are unable to talk can express themselves via various alternative and augmentative communication devices.

Hyppa-Martin, who has a Ph.D. in speech, language and hearing sciences, adds that speech pathology students often have coursework where they learn how to counsel patients.

Standards set by ASHA's Council on Academic Accreditation mandate that all entry-level speech-language pathology programs allow students to accumulate at least 400 hours of supervised clinical practice experience. These rules also require faculty at such programs to focus on teaching certain core values like accountability, concern for patients, cultural competence and professional duty.

Hawaii board-certified speech-language pathologist Julia Kuhn explains that speech-language pathologists are expected to do a clinical fellowship – which is usually a paid, entry-level job immediately after graduation – so they can supplement their broad academic training with hands-on experience in a particular focus area, such as swallowing disorders or pediatric language issues, before they practice independently within that specialty.

Isa Marrs, a board-certified speech-language pathologist in New York, says that licensure helps to ensure that speech-language pathologists are trained thoroughly enough to care for vulnerable people. "There are so many important things that you are doing in somebody's life that having the proper training is crucial," she says.

What It Is Like to Work as a Speech-Language Pathologist

Although other health care providers such as physicians and nurse practitioners tend to earn higher wages than speech-language pathologists, there are many perks to this profession, including a solid work-life balance and a strong sense of purpose, according to experts.

But Kuhn warns that there are some hassles that come with the territory of speech-language pathology, such as a reliance on government payouts from social welfare programs like Medicare, which occasionally reduce compensation rates substantially.

Another downside to the field is the heavy caseloads that many speech-language pathologists carry, Kuhn says. Pathologists may feel frustrated by a limited amount of upward mobility since they rarely ascend to management positions, and their pay rates don't necessarily increase steadily over the course of their career, she notes.

An interest in social interaction is necessary to enjoy a career in this field, Kuhn says, as is genuine enjoyment of therapy sessions, which encompass the majority of a pathologist's workday.

Most speech-language pathologists emphasize the meaningful nature of their work. Marrs notes that there is a particular satisfaction that comes from teaching a person with a lisp to speak in a way that makes the individual feel proud rather than self-conscious.

She recalls teaching a child with autism how to chew so he could eat food that wasn't pureed. "When we accomplished that, it opened up so much for this child, as far as learning how to eat things other than baby food," Marrs says.

Hyppa-Martin says she uses voice banking tools to record those who will lose their voices due to degenerative health conditions. The software programs produce simulations of patients' voices and can be used to converse with others. Hyppa-Martin notes that one of her former clients who had a terminal illness was able to use voice bank technology to deliver a speech at his oldest daughter's wedding before his death.

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Medical Speech-Language Pathologist

What does a medical speech-language pathologist do.

A medical speech-language pathologist works in health care and diagnoses and treats a wide range of speech, language, cognitive, and swallowing disorders. They work with patients affected by a variety of neurological events, such as brain damage, stroke, seizure, or cancer. They may also work with patients who suffer from chronic diseases or who have experienced a trauma.

Speech pathologists examine patients and create treatment plans tailored to their needs. These patients may have speech articulation issues, voice quality problems, or language disorders. Treatment could be modifying a patient’s diet or prescribing a speech-generating device.

Scope of practice

Medical speech-language pathologists work with doctors and audiologists to treat patients of all ages, from infants to the elderly. This role holds a wide range of responsibilities and can do a variety of tasks each day, including:

• Diagnosing and treating speech, language, cognitive, communication, and swallowing disorders
• Evaluating swallowing ability and prescribing an appropriate diet (foods may need to be pureed or liquids may need to be thickened)
• Helping patients with aphasia find ways to communicate
• Training family members or caregivers, as well as other professionals
• Collaborating with other members of the care team
• Conducting research to develop new treatment methods

Work environment

Medical speech-language pathologists typically work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and rehabilitation facilities. They typically work 40 hours per week during normal business hours. The work they do may differ slightly depending on where they work.

Speech-language pathologists that work in a hospital may do more diagnosis, counseling, and educating. Whereas medical speech-language pathologists that work in a rehabilitation facility typically work on improving skills to function more independently.

Speech-language pathologists that do not work in health care, may work in education providing services to school-age children with a wide range of disabilities. They may also work in government, or even in the corporate world.  

Becoming a medical speech-language pathologist

Compassionate, detail-oriented people with good communication skills and a passion for science might be interested in a career as a medical speech-language pathologist. This role will keep you on your toes and allow you to do something different every day. Speech–language pathologists spend a lot of time with patients evaluating and treating their conditions, as well as time with caretakers and other members of the health care team to explain diet changes and other care instructions.

Higher education requirements

To become a medical speech-language pathologist, you must complete:

• A bachelor’s degree in communication sciences and disorders (or related field with certain prerequisites completed for graduate school admission)
• A graduate degree in speech-language pathology
• A postgraduate fellowship
• A national licensing exam

Certification process

You can get certified by the  American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Council for Clinical Certification once you’ve completed a speech-language pathology graduate degree and fellowship, and passed the Praxis exam.

Career opportunities and outlook

A medical speech-language pathologist can expect a median annual salary of $ 79,060 .

The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the employment of speech-language pathologists to grow much faster than average. This is due to the large baby-boom population ages, there will be more instances of health conditions that cause speech or language impairments, such as strokes and hearing loss. Secondly, medical advances are improving the survival rate of premature infants and trauma victims, who may benefit from speech therapy.

With further education, some speech-language pathologists can become educators or researchers. Others can advance into management or administrative positions with greater responsibilities.

By the numbers

median annual salary

years of higher education

job growth projected from 2020-2030

Medical speech-language pathologist programs at Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic offers several internships and a fellowship to prepare students for a career as a medical speech-language pathologist, including:

• Speech Language Pathology Clinical Fellowship (Arizona)
• Speech Pathology Internship (Arizona)
• Speech Pathology Internship (Florida)
• Speech Language Pathology Internship (Minnesota)

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Medical Speech-Language Pathology: The SLP’s Role in Healthcare

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If you have a shared interest in both science and communication, medical speech-language pathology may be the career for you. 

While many speech-language pathologists (SLPs) choose to work in an  educational setting , there is a need and an opportunity to use a degree in speech-language pathology within various healthcare settings. In fact,  39 percent  of SLPs work in a hospital, residential healthcare facility, or non-residential healthcare facility. In the healthcare industry, speech and language services are instrumental in acute care, rehabilitation, and long-term care. 

Below, we take a look at the topic of medical speech-language pathology and explore the role that SLPs play in modern healthcare. 

What is medical speech-language pathology?

Medical speech-language pathology  is where the medical world meets the communication field. Medical SLPs are communication experts who work in medical settings to help patients with communication and swallowing conditions. Medical speech-language pathologists work collaboratively with a patient’s medical team and contribute crucial information to the overall treatment plan.

“In other words, speech-language pathologists work with people of all ages who have a primary medical diagnosis that has left them with problems in areas of function related to communication and/or swallowing,” says Liz Martin, assistant clinical professor at Northeastern’s  MS in Speech-Language Pathology program . 

What does a medical speech-language pathologist do?

As a medical speech-language pathologist, you’ll diagnose and treat cognitive communication, speech, language, and swallowing disorders as part of a multidisciplinary or interprofessional treatment team.

A medical SLP helps patients that have trouble voicing, speaking, producing, or understanding language—as these difficulties consequently affect communication skills. Medical SLPs also support patients with difficulty eating food or drinking liquids resulting from a neurological event, chronic disease, or trauma. Whether it’s building a tailored diet or prescribing a device that generates speech, medical SLPs will create unique treatment plans specific to the needs and goals of the patient.

Medical speech-language pathologists work directly with patients and their families to provide education, counseling, and support. They also work alongside other healthcare professionals treating the same patient. For example, as a medical SLP, you may need to collaborate cross-functionally with neurologists, audiologists, radiologists, gastroenterologists, otolaryngologists, and dieticians. Collaborating with diverse health care teams offers access to other disciplines you can learn from in real-time. Growing your skillset and broadening your experience as an SLP will increase your value to patients and your employer. The more specialized your skillset, the more leverage you’ll have in landing the job environment you want most. 

While the specific duties will depend on your primary setting, medical SLPs take a patient-centered approach to providing patients with the services they need. Once you’re employed as a medical speech-language pathologist, your duties may include:

• Evaluating patients for language, speech, voice, and swallowing disorders
• Conducting tests such as modified barium swallow study (MBSS) or flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallow (FEES)
• Generating treatment plans for patients
• Educating patients and their families
• Coordinating with other medical professionals
• Participating in departmental and university-wide committees or task forces

Typically, the work environment for a medical SLP is very collaborative, as you’ll join and participate in a number of committees or task forces. These groups are assembled to study topics such as fall prevention, interpreter services, outcomes of aspiration pneumonia, and the benefits of a tracheostomy tube team.

Who do medical SLPs work with?

Medical SLPs work with patients across a span of medical conditions in any medical setting where patients may be suffering from a language, speech, or swallowing disorder. 

These settings can include acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals or facilities, skilled nursing facilities (short-term rehab or long-term care facilities), outpatient departments, or private practices. 

Some specific examples of the kinds of patients that a medical SLP might work with include:

• Infants born with a cleft lip or palate in neonatal intensive care units
• Individuals who have experienced traumatic brain injury
• Individuals who have experienced a neurological event, such as a stroke
• Individuals diagnosed with a progressive illness such as Parkinson’s disease
• Individuals who have experienced trauma to their vocal cords or other structures related to speech

What education and training do medical SLPs need?

To become a speech-language pathologist either in the medical or education field, you must earn your  Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology , Master of Education, or Master of Arts. Some programs may offer a concentration in medical SLP, which can be a great way of gaining the foundations required for this work.

If the program you are enrolled in does not have a specialized medical SLP track, you can also gain that knowledge by taking medical SLP courses offered by your university. Additionally, you can gain experience during your clinical fellowship by finding employment at a medical facility. 

So, if you want to become a speech-language pathologist—but you’re still not sure if the medical, educational, or a different setting is right for you—that’s okay. Ultimately, no matter which location you end up working in, every SLP needs a master’s degree in speech-language pathology. Depending on which concentrations your college or university offers, along with real-world clinical training opportunities, you can choose where you’d like to allocate your efforts as you learn about and experience the different industries that employ speech-language pathologists.

Interested in becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist? Learn more about the  Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders  at Northeastern University.

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