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This section lays out various pathways you can take to launch your healthcare career. Explore the field of allied health, college options, where certifications fit in, and how to get started while still in high school.
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Allied Healthcare Careers
Speech Pathologist
Do you like...
- Helping people communicate effectively to better express themselves?
- Making observations about people and analyzing problems?
- Working collaboratively with different people?
Consider A Career in Speech Language Pathology
- Speech-language pathologists, also known as speech therapists or simply speech pathologists, work with adults and children who have speech and language problems, including related cognitive or social communication problems or swallowing disorders. Common problems speech pathologists treat include the inability to speak, speaking too loudly or softly, stuttering, and challenges with understanding language.
- ‘Pathology’ refers to the study of causes and effects of diseases, illnesses, or injuries. Speech-language pathologists (SLPs for short) investigate the origins and impacts of those problems, to better inform what types of therapy they use with their clients to resolve different problems.
Try it Out
Let’s Dive a Bit Deeper to Understand the Work of a Speech Language Therapist
What’s it like to stutter? Watch this 2 minute clip
Watch the first minute of this video
Lots of people stutter - President Biden, Kendrick Lamar, Marc Anthony, Tiger Woods just to name a few famous people.
What do you think it’s like for a person who stutters? If you meet someone, what could you do to be supportive? What do you think might help the person?
- List some strategies you think could help people sound out words
- For example, one strategy is called the stretched syllable, where you break every part of a word into small syllables and say each one very slowly. How would you do this for the word “believe”? Why do you think breaking it down could help someone who stutters?
- List some strategies to help people who stutter develop confidence with speech. What kind of behavior is supportive to someone who stutters?
- Stuttering is not the only kind of speech problem that SLPs deal with - but it is a pretty common one.
What do speech language pathologists (SLPs) do?
- Evaluate: The first thing SLPs do when meeting a new client is evaluate their level of difficulty with speech, language, and swallowing. To do this, they observe their clients in natural environments, record their speech, and/or use formal assessments that have been designed for this purpose.
- Plan: Once the SLP has a good idea of their client’s problem, they help their client identify goals for treatment and develop a specific plan for how to address their speech issues.
- Counsel: Once an individualized treatment plan has been created, SLPs begin therapy sessions with their client. These counseling sessions could include things like helping clients make certain sounds, learn certain vocabulary or grammar, or strengthen the muscles used to swallow. They may also counsel clients and their families on coping skills and how to better communicate with one another.
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A Day in the Life
In these videos professionals describe why they chose their career and explain their daily tasks. What part of their work interests you the most?
Where you can work
The majority of speech pathologists in the US work in schools or other educational settings, but speech pathologists can also work in healthcare facilities like hospitals, clinics, rehab centers, social agencies, or nursing homes.
Some speech pathologists also open their own private practice to treat clients. Often, speech pathologists work with their clients in office settings, but may also travel to their clients’ homes for sessions.
Some speech pathologists also open their own private practice to treat clients. Often, speech pathologists work with their clients in office settings, but may also travel to their clients’ homes for sessions.
These were the largest employers of speech-language pathologists in 2021, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Educational services; state, local, and private
Offices of physical, occupation and speech therapists, and audiologist
Hospitals; state, local, and private
Self-employed workers
Nursing and residential care facilities
Offices of physical, occupation and speech therapists, and audiologist
Hospitals; state, local, and private
Self-employed workers
Nursing and residential care facilities
The Job Outlook
The majority of speech pathologists in the US work in schools or other educational settings, but speech pathologists can also work in healthcare facilities like hospitals, clinics, rehab centers, social agencies, or nursing homes.
Some speech pathologists also open their own private practice to treat clients. Often, speech pathologists work with their clients in office settings, but may also travel to their clients’ homes for sessions.
Some speech pathologists also open their own private practice to treat clients. Often, speech pathologists work with their clients in office settings, but may also travel to their clients’ homes for sessions.
These were the largest employers of speech-language pathologists in 2021, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Speech Pathologist is a “Bright Outlook” career. Jobs are projected to grow 21% in the next 10 years, much faster than the average for all occupations.
- The median salary for a speech pathologist is $84,140. This means that 50% of speech pathologists in the United States make less than that amount, and the other 50% of speech pathologists make more.
- Salaries can range based on how many years of experience you have, your skills, and where you work.
Career Pathways
There are many entry points and pathways you can take within the field of speech pathology. See the table below for different careers and their degree requirements:
Associate’s Degree
-Speech Language Pathologist Assistant * only legal in certain states*
Bachelor’s Degree
-Speech Language Pathologist Assistant * only legal in certain states *-Audiologist Assistant-Laboratory Assistant-Special Education Teacher-Voice Coach
Master’s Degree
-Speech Language Pathologist
*Note: Speech pathologist assistants are only able to work in certain states. To check career pathways and requirements for a specific state,
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What Skills do you need to be successful as a Speech Pathologist?
Take stock of the skills you already have to see if being a Speech Pathologist is a good career choice for you:
- Analytical skills. You liked to deeply evaluate problems to understand what’s happening and develop the best plans and solutions to solve them
- Communication skills: You are good at explaining complicated ideas in a way that people can understand; You like to write in a clear and concise way.
- Compassion: You are supportive, patient, and empathetic with people who are experiencing frustrating problems. You prioritize treating people with dignity and care.
- Critical-thinking skills: You approach situations with curiosity and thoughtfulness; you consider many different viewpoints before making the best decision possible
- Detail oriented: You are organized and good at keeping specific records that track information and convey ideas in detailed ways.
- Listening skills: You have a good ear and can pick up on different sounds; you are focused and an active listener
Education & Training
Nutritionists and Dietitians need to be licensed by the state in order to practice. These are the general requirements:
Education
As with most Allied Health career paths there are 2 options for aspiring professionals to begin.
- 1 Begin at a 2-year school like Kings-borough Community College (KCC) or Medgar Evers College (MEC)
- At KCC, faculty value the importance of education, knowledge acquisition and love of learning, and encourage students in their recognition and responsibilities as members of society.
- At MEC, the school has created a supporting and scholarly environment for students through various events and activities, including the Annual Student Research Competition, the Minority Health Issues Seminar, and the Women in Science and Math Seminar.
- 2 Begin and/or continue on at a 4-year school like Brooklyn College (BC)
- At BC, The Brooklyn College chapter of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association conducts professional and social events for undergraduate students in the major, including résumé-writing workshops, graduate application information sessions, and “meet and greet” with masters and doctoral students as well as holiday and graduation celebrations.
Training
Nutritionists typically receive supervised training, usually in the form of an internship following graduation from college. Some schools offer coordinated programs in dietetics that allow students to complete supervised training as part of their undergraduate coursework.
Speech Pathology Licensing
In order to work as a speech pathologist, audiologist, or speech pathologist assistant, you will need to pass an exam to get a license. To be eligible to sit for the exam, you must:
- Complete a degree in speech pathology
- Meet the training requirements outlined above
Training
During your time in college and/or immediately after you graduate, you will also likely need a certain amount of ‘practicum’ hours (a practicum is very similar to an internship). For a master’s degree in speech pathology in New York, you will need:
- 400 supervised practicum hours making observations and working with clients.
- 36 weeks of supervised work experience
To see the specific training and experience requirements in New York State, click here.
Info about requirements in all other states can be found here. (Click on a state and then review the links listed under “Summary of State Requirements”).
Info about requirements in all other states can be found here. (Click on a state and then review the links listed under “Summary of State Requirements”).
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Your Path to becoming a Speech Pathologist
Are you ready to begin your journey toward becoming a Nutritionist? There are lots of pathways available to you - right here in Brooklyn - or beyond.
2-year College Pathway
Students who choose to begin their degree at a 2-year college tend to start in Liberal Arts and major in Speech Pathology. A Liberal Arts education does not prepare you for one specific job but for many jobs you may have throughout your life. As a community college student, you have an opportunity to learn skills like interpersonal skills, speaking, critical thinking, evaluating.... all through liberal arts courses. Then you may or may not continue your education in Liberal Arts or perhaps something else. Either way, you have a great foundation for your future.
Students who choose to begin their degree at a 2-year college tend to start in Liberal Arts and major in Speech Pathology. A Liberal Arts education does not prepare you for one specific job but for many jobs you may have throughout your life. As a community college student, you have an opportunity to learn skills like interpersonal skills, speaking, critical thinking, evaluating.... all through liberal arts courses. Then you may or may not continue your education in Liberal Arts or perhaps something else. Either way, you have a great foundation for your future.
Fall Year 1
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Fall year 2
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Spring year 1
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Spring year 2
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4-year College Pathway
Students can transfer to Brooklyn College under an articulation agreement to continue to study Speech Pathology. There are requirements - for example, you need to earn a ‘B’ grade or better in your Phonetics and Language Development courses.
At Brooklyn College you can earn a B.A. Degree In Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, Speech and Hearing Sciences.
The table below outlines which courses you will take in Brooklyn college (as of Spring 2024), and which courses from KCC can be transferred and used for Brooklyn College course requirements:
The table below outlines which courses you will take in Brooklyn college (as of Spring 2024), and which courses from KCC can be transferred and used for Brooklyn College course requirements:
Take Your first step to become a Speech Pathologist
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