How to Become a Speech Therapist

A school-based speech therapist is a trained expert who works to identify and treat communication challenges in students. If you’re interested in becoming a speech therapist, you’ll need to have the right education and experience to earn your license. Here, we’ll share how you can become a speech therapist.

Pediatric Therapeutic Services (PTS) works alongside speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and places them in schools as part of the educational team. If you want to engage with us as an SLP, explore our career pages or fieldwork placement opportunities!

Obtain the Right Qualifications to Become a Speech Therapist

The journey to becoming a speech therapist starts with you. As a speech therapist, you must be passionate about advocating for and working with those who have speech and/or language disorders or communication difficulties. In a school-based setting, you’ll work primarily with children who require additional support to fully access their education.

Your first step along this career path involves ensuring you have the right educational experiences and qualifications.

Education

You’ll need to obtain both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree to become a certified speech therapist.

PTS offers a university fieldwork placement program that can help you get real-world experience in a school-based setting. Contact your fieldwork coordinator to ask about participation in this program.

Along with completing your education, you’ll need to participate in a clinical fellowship year to earn your permanent certification. This is your opportunity to be mentored by a certified speech therapist and start the transition from student to practicing provider.

Work Alongside a Staffing Agency That Can Help You Land the Right Role

Becoming a licensed speech therapist is a big accomplishment! Now, you can begin to practice your skills in an environment unique to your career preferences.

Speech therapists who engage with PTS enjoy a fulfilling school-based experience. When you work alongside PTS as an independent contractor, you’ll have the freedom to choose your work hours and the opportunity to work directly with students within your age preference. SLPs engaging with PTS will:

• Provide speech language therapy using various service delivery methods
• Identify at-risk students who may require additional supports
• Perform comprehensive speech language evaluations
• Develop and implement IEPs (Individualized Education Plans)

If working directly with students and collaborating with like-minded school-based providers sounds like a good fit for you, begin exploring a career with PTS!

Engage with PTS and Kick-Start Your SLP Career!

Begin your career as a speech therapist with PTS and enjoy flexibility, support, mentorship, and more while loving what you do.

Apply to partner with PTS today!