Is Speech Therapy the Right Career Path for You?

Becoming part of a speech therapy group can be one of the best experiences of your life and a career path you will not regret. But is it the right path for you? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, speech and language pathologists are expected to increase 29% between 2020 and 2030, which is quicker than other professions. Therefore, it’s a future worth considering, but here are several things to consider before becoming one.

Do You Want to Help People?

You will be working with people, as speech therapy is part of the healthcare industry. You must diagnose problems and treat your patients with patience, communication, and hard work. Pathologists must encourage people to overcome their issues which they might be self-conscious about now. If successful, you’ll end up with a patient who can form connections through language with the rest of the world. Do you think that would be satisfying to achieve? If so, you should join a speech therapy group.

How to Become a Speech Therapist

You’ll need to invest much of your youth and education in becoming a speech therapist. Firstly, you will need a bachelor’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology or a B.S. in Communication Disorders. Deciding between both paths can be difficult for some people, but it’ll depend on what they expect to become in the future.

Afterward, it would help if you had a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology or something relevant. You should also have a post-graduate clinical fellowship and pass the praxis exam to get a license and ASHA certificate in your state. Therefore, you’re looking at around eight years of studying and working.

What You Can Expect Salary-Wise

People need money to survive; salary is vital when deciding on a profession. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a speech therapist can make between $80,500 and $122,750 per year. But many factors will contribute to your income, such as your experience, where you work, etc.

Now that you know what it takes to be part of a speech therapy group, you can decide if it’s the right career path for you. If you’re looking for more information about speech therapy, contact Ramsey Therapy Group today!