Anyone who wants to become a school speech-language pathologist must have an accredited degree, state licensure and the right training. Speech-language pathologists must have a master’s degree in speech pathology. Almost all of these speech pathology master’s programs will prepare students for state licensing exams.
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
Most degree programs offer specializations for either children or adults with speech disorders. Speech-language degree programs usually combine classroom instruction with in-person clinical practice, so graduates know how to diagnose and treat patients with a wide range of speech difficulties and disorders. The Bachelors of Science in Speech-Language Pathology and Communicative Disorders are the two most common degrees offered. After completing general education courses, most speech pathology degree programs will include classes in phonetics, linguistics, audiology, language disorders and sign language. Common electives are related to education, …show more content…
Graduates of a master’s degree programs are automatically eligible to apply for certification. This may involve clinical fellowship training, passing a certification exam and satisfying any other mandated requirements like passing a drug test and background check. Some states and schools may have their own employment requirements. For example, an urban elementary school may require job applicants to hold a state teaching certificate. Some states will accept a bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology, a master’s degree in a related education or medical field and professional work experience in speech, language or communication Disorders. Many school districts only hire one or two speech-language pathologists, so they may require candidates to possess a valid driver’s license to visit multiple