Speech Therapist Jobs

Those interested in or currently pursuing a career in speech and language pathology will be relieved to know that future outlook for this field has been rated as highly favorable according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In fact, what is most surprising is that this field is actually growing at a faster rate when compared with other fields. So how much is it expected to grow then? Estimates put the growth rate at about 19 percent from 2008 to 2018 which is simply staggering considering the state of the economy now.

What this means then is that you are qualified in this field and searching for speech therapist jobs, your chances of finding employment is looking good. The fact of the matter too is that the demand for these professionals is extremely high due to a booming older generation and new laws that require intervention for children with speaking disorders.

Getting qualified to be a speech therapist

While this is definitely encouraging, aspiring speech therapists need to get a master’s degree from an accredited university and put in over 300 hours in a supervised clinical setting. Then a passing grade on the Praxis National Examination is also required for the speech therapist can actually practice.

This is all necessary as the speech pathologist works with individuals who struggle with communication related disorders so they need to be able to diagnose, assess and develop a treatment plan to help them improve their skills accordingly.

Career options to choose from

Upon completion of a graduate program and getting all the necessary certifications, the next step then is to find employment. As you attend the university, it is definitely in your best interest to keep in touch with your professors and alumni as they are an invaluable resource.

Chances are, they may have some pretty good leads that you can follow to find employment in a setting of your choosing. Speech therapists commonly work in healthcare settings such as hospitals, clinics, private practices and nursing care facilities. However, according to recent data more than half of these professionals work in school settings such as elementary schools and preschools.

Benefits from speech therapist jobs

Working as a speech therapist can provide immense personal satisfaction as you are essentially helping people communicate again and that is a skill that is priceless. In addition, the following are also some benefits that you can expect as a full time speech pathologist:

• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Healthcare insurance
• Paid travel expenses
• Professional liability insurance
• Paid housing
• Completion bonuses
• Section 125 cafeteria plan
• Continuing education

These benefits as listed above will be dependent on what type of setting you work for. To find the best speech therapist jobs be sure to search through recruitment agencies or simply by searching online. There are plenty of employment agencies that provide assistance in finding jobs in this field.

Whether you prefer to work in a hospital or a school, most staffing providers will be able to help match you with a job that fits your expectations. This way you know exactly what to expect before you start working and thereby guarantee job satisfaction.

Overview of speech therapist responsibilities

Before you can begin working as a qualified speech therapist, you will first need to meet all the requirements as put forth by the state that you wish to choose to work from. By the time you finish all these requirements, you should be knowledgeable in areas that pertain to speech and language development including the different disorders and how to best treat them.

The following are some of the tasks that you will be expected to perform once you get accepted for speech therapist jobs:

• Diagnose and assess communication or swallowing problem
• Determine a plan of action for the patient
• Track and monitor progress and make changes as needed
• Work with other healthcare professionals
• Work with the patient’s family members to give updates
• Use state of the art equipment to treat problems
• Manage assistants and other personnel if necessary

High demand for those with special skills

As one might expect, there is actually really high demand for speech therapists who are also able to speak a second language such as Spanish. This presents additional opportunities as it means that you are able to work with a wider range of patients who require such services.

Another area that has great need for speech therapists is in schools. If you enjoy working with children and even have teaching experience, then your skills will no doubt be in demand as there are now federal laws that require early intervention for children with communication disorders.

The average speech pathologist salary is at just about $66,130 according to a 2008 statistic from the BLS. Those in schools earned about $60,970 while those employed in hospitals earned about $70,270. These are only average figures so the actual pay will be dependent on experience, geographic location and work setting.

So when searching for speech therapist jobs be sure to check online or contact local recruiting offices as there are a ton of resources available. If you are qualified to be a speech therapist and have the experience needed, then finding a suitable job should not be difficult at all as the demand for these professionals is at an all time high.

Incoming search terms:

speech therapist, asipiring speech therapist jobs, new updates for speech therapy job, SCHOOLS STRUGLE to find speech therapists, speech therapist job satisfaction, speech therapist/job satisfaction