The journey toward becoming a speech therapist begins with being accepted into a bachelor's program in either communication sciences or communication disorders. After students have graduated with their bachelor's degree, the next step is to earn a master's degree. In addition to the master's degree, students must complete between 300 and 400 hours of clinical training, pass a national exam and complete at least nine months of professional experience after graduation.
Speech therapist are trained to diagnosis and treat various disorders involving speech, voice and language. They also works with people who stutter. Speech therapy students learn language development and function, how to create and start treatment programs, and how to counsel and support clients and their families. Educational courses include: child language disorders, stuttering, neurological-based speech disorders, adult language disorders, dysphasia, anatomy, physiology, acoustics, and development of the parts of the body that influence speech and language.
Students must pass the national exam to be licensed to practice as a speech therapist. Forty-seven states require a license to practice, and 41 states require speech therapists meet continuing education requirements in order to renew their license.
Speech therapists training in a professional environment learn to implement treatments, develop speech exercise programs, and often work alongside a psychologist. Therapists are trained to counsel and support clients and their families through the treatment process. They're also required to maintain records of a client's treatment and progress. Being an effective team member is also important because speech therapy involves working with specialists such as neurologists and psychiatrists.
Speech therapists have a variety of career choices. Speech therapists receive similar training as speech-language pathologists. So, switching to that profession is common. Other career-related opportunities involve work in audiology, special education, private rehabiliation, physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychology and recreational therapy. Administrative positions are also possible in schools, health departments, clinic and hospitals. Work in research is another option that often appeals to speech therapists who are nearing retirement.