As a licensed speech-language pathologist who has completed a nationally recognized online SLP program, you have an abundant and varied choice of different employment settings from which you can practice your craft.
What are some of your options? You may consider working in educational settings such as early childhood centers and kindergartens, preschools, and K-12 schools, as well as colleges and universities. In addition to this, there are also many career opportunities available to you within the healthcare sector - with employment avenues in hospitals and both residential and non-residential healthcare facilities. Another option is to seek employment within a private practice, corporate consulting, or even, public health departments and government agencies.
Let’s explore.
Educational Career Settings for SLPs
Being employed in educational settings is very common for speech-language pathologists. Indeed, more than half of SLPs - some 56% - are employed in schools, colleges and universities. So, what are some of the functions of a speech-language pathologist in an educational setting? These include:
- Working with young people of all ages - from infancy to young adulthood - in both private and group settings.
- Screening students for signs of speech impediments or communication difficulties.
- Assisting patients with communication skills and language comprehension - including reading and writing, as well as speaking.
- Creating treatment, care, and development plans for patients.
- Conducting evaluations and writing reports on patients’ progress and potential areas of improvement in language, speech, and comprehension.
Healthcare Career Settings for SLPs
Although not as many SLPs enter employment in healthcare settings as they do in educational settings, the employment opportunities for SLPs in healthcare are still significant. The best part? There are a variety of different locations in which speech-language pathologists can choose to work within the healthcare industry. Some of these include:
- Hospitals - where SLPs will often perform a rehabilitation function, such as assisting patients in developing and relearning language and communication skills after a stroke or other types of brain damage.
- Residential healthcare and assisted living facilities - where SLPs will often develop long-term relationships with their patients.
- Non-residential healthcare settings - like outpatient doctor’s clinics, or speech and hearing clinics.
- Private practice settings, or even, self-employment.
Corporate Career Settings for SLPs
In some instances, a speech-language pathologist may choose to become a consultant for a corporate company. This will allow them to assess and train the employees of that company. Some of the responsibilities a corporate SLP consultant may be tasked with? These can include providing training around various aspects of language, speech, and communication, such as:
- Speech sound production - including fluency, tone of voice, professional diction and grammar, accent, and use of language.
- Social interaction and presentation or public speaking skills.
- Business communication skills, including interviewing and business writing.
Public Health and Government Agency Settings for SLPs
In addition to consulting in the corporate world, licensed speech-language pathologists can also choose to work as consultants for public health departments or government agencies. Some examples of these types of government agencies? These can include:
- The US Air Force.
- The US Navy.
- The US Army.
- US Public Health Services.
In these examples, the SLP in question will often be employed on a contractual basis and will provide speech-language pathology treatment to both active military personnel and also veterans. Just like in other employment settings, however, an SLP who is employed by a government agency such as the examples listed above will still be responsible for assisting patients with developing and enhancing their speech, language, and communication skills.
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If you’re qualified as a speech-language pathologist, the good news is that you won’t need to be boxed into any one particular employment setting. On the contrary, the career pathway options for qualified SLPs are both abundant and varied.
From choosing to work in an educational setting such as an early childcare center, a school, or a college or university, working in the healthcare sector or private practice, or even, being employed by a corporate company or government agency, the choice is yours to make. The best part? The earning potential for SLPs in each of these employment settings is considerable. In the US, a licensed speech-language pathologist can expect to earn up to $104,500 annually.
