Careers in Health Care: Become a Speech-Language Pathologist

School of Health Professions and Human Services

Careers in Health Care: Become a Speech-Language Pathologist

“Each student in our Speech-Language Pathology program is rotated through a number of specialty clinics that allow them to participate in assessment and treatment from the moment that they arrive in their first semester.

Coming through one of our programs will really get them set up for post-graduate opportunities in the job market.�

Jenny Roberts, PhD Chair, Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences Hofstra University

Careers in Health Care: Become a Speech-Language Pathologist

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What do they do? “In our Speech-Language Pathology program, we have a really outstanding clinic, truly something I would I highly recommend. The Saltzman Center houses a number of what we call specialty clinics.

Students in our SpeechLanguage Pathology program rotate through a number specialty clinics that allow them to participate in assessment and treatment from the moment that they arrive in their first semester.� — Jenny Roberts, PhD Chair, Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences Hofstra University

Speech-language pathologists, or SLPs for short, treat individuals who have difficulty communicating or swallowing.

They provide therapy for children and adults who struggle with speaking clearly, understanding spoken or written language, social skills, stuttering or stammering, memory problems, as well as eating and swallowing disorders.

Individuals who struggle with these issues may be dealing with the aftermath of a stroke or brain injury, or they may have developmental delays, a birth defect, a hereditary condition, or endured a traumatic event.

Speech-language pathologists provide therapy at hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, assisted-living facilities, and through private practice. SLPs frequently work as part of a team of health care professionals to provide care for patients. They create and implement individualized treatment plans for their patients, and often work with specific age groups, including children and seniors.

Careers in Health Care: Become a Speech-Language Pathologist

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What are my job prospects in this field?

Burning Glass Technologies estimates that the job market for speech-language pathologists will grow by

21.3% through 2027 , which *

is considerably more than the 7.4% expected growth for all other occupations during the same period. Requirements vary, but all 50 states and the District of Columbia require practicing speech-language pathologists to obtain a license.

“Every student takes on individual clients that they will work closely with through the year in the Saltzman Center clinic. The thing about our specialty clinics that’s unique and really makes our graduate program special is that they are embedded in the local community. For example, we have one clinic that takes place at a local elementary school and serves the needs of a diverse community of children, mostly kindergarten up to about second grade. These are children who are at risk for speech and language problems. The proximity of the clinic to the school allows our students and their supervisors to walk over to the school and work with the children. They get an immersive field experience and close mentoring from our own clinic supervisors.”

— Jenny Roberts, PhD Chair, Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences Hofstra University

*Source: Burning Glass Technologies, March 2019

Careers in Health Care: Become a Speech-Language Pathologist

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Job prospects for Speech-Language Pathologists Metro area with the largest number of job postings for speech-language pathologists according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics*:

New York

Median annual salary in the NY metro area according to Burning Glass Technologies**:

$69,269

Projected growth of jobs in the NY metro area for speech-language pathologists according to Burning Glass Technologies**:

21.5%

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, states with the highest employment level in this occupation: State

Employment

Employment per thousand jobs

Annual mean wage

Texas

14,330

1.18

$75,800

California

13,220

0.78

$93,510

New York

12,750

1.36

$90,820

Florida

7,380

0.86

$76,820

Illinois

6,820

1.14

$77,120

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, states with the highest salaries for this occupation: Employment

Employment per thousand jobs

Annual mean wage

6,340

1.57

$95,000

310

0.43

$93,570

California

13,220

0.78

$93,510

Connecticut

1,870

1.13

$92,280

Colorado

3,540

1.35

$90,980

State New Jersey District of Columbia

*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2016 **Source: Burning Glass Technologies, March 2019

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What kind of education do I need?

In addition to an undergraduate degree in communication science and disorders (CSD), speech-language pathologists are expected to earn a graduate degree in speech-language pathology from a program accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation (CCA) in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. Graduates of CAA-accredited and candidate programs learn the skills and knowledge needed to enter into professional practice. If you don’t have an undergraduate CSD degree, you may still be able to apply to a graduate speech-language pathology program after completing the required undergraduate college courses at the school you wish to attend.

After earning a graduate degree, aspiring SLPs must complete a supervised postgraduate clinical fellowship that lasts 36 weeks or more, and includes at least 1,260 hours of clinical experience. They must also pass the Praxis examination in speech-language pathology. The Praxis exams are a requirement for state certification, as well as certification by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA’s) Council for Clinical Certification in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CFCC). ASHA certification is preferred by most employers, regulators, and consumers.

Rebecca Ragusa, a 2017 Hofstra University graduate, encourages speech-language pathology students to get involved in the field while attending their classes.

“Look for opportunities to get involved in your field as early as possible. Take the time to shadow current health workers and ask them questions. The course work will be challenging and rigorous, but the results will undoubtedly be rewarding,” says Rebecca.

“I think the rigorous academic opportunities that we provide to students make them feel well rounded and mentored. They have a full year in our clinic, which is a thriving place with lots of opportunities for students, and the ratio of clinical supervision to student training is something you don’t see in other places. We give them a tremendous amount of one-onone time and gradually reduce that time as they become more skilled so that they have the ability to work independently.

Students find us very accessible.

We have an open-door policy, so students feel very welcome.”

— Jenny Roberts, PhD Chair, Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences Hofstra University

What should I look for in an educational program?

When deciding on a speech-language pathology graduate program, it’s important to consider the percentage of students who pass the Praxis exam, the percentage of students who graduate on time, and the percentage of graduates who are hired immediately after graduation. The CAA requires graduate schools to post student outcomes for the three most recent academic years, so this information is readily available online.

The Speech-Language Pathology program at Hofstra University is highly regarded by students because of its small class sizes, personable professors, and on-campus clinic – the Joan and Arnold Saltzman Community Services Center.

Careers in Health Care: Become a Speech-Language Pathologist

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ALUMNI PROFILE: STUDENT PROFILE: Megan Patierno, Hofstra Class of 2018 Rebecca Ragusa Major: Training ClassAthletic of 2017

Hired: TK

Student-athlete Megan Patierno that Rebecca Ragusa knew she knew wanted Hofstra’s athletic training program would be to become a speech-language the perfect wayafter to combine her passions for pathologist witnessing an SLP biology andthe sports. improve quality of life for her 2½-year-old cousin.

athletic training program at my Hofstra.

Jayne RR: “Every one of professors and Kristin have always encouraged and deeply challenged me to think more supported in my studies.” aboutmethe topics of study related to

this incredibly fascinating field. With

As she prepares to graduate, Megan, an infielder on Hofstra’s softball team, is one RR: “A speech-language pathologist of the first female students to be chosen working for my cousin’s school district for a paid, postgraduate athletic training started going to his house twice a internship with the New York Jets, a position week,” she says. “The progress my she’ll start this summer.

cousin made over the course of a single was unlike I MP: “I’llyear be working directlyanything with the players had ever seen before.

His tantrums, during pre-season, setting up practices, resulting from not understood, doing treatments, and being all aspects of sports began to decrease, and his parents’ medicine.” fear for their child’s future began Shesubside.” credits strong m entorship from Hofstra to

After logging more than 1,000 hours of their office doors always wide open, experience between her freshman and they provided me with the perfect senior years, Megan feels ready to meet the amount of support and guidance demands of working for an NFL team.

needed to excel in my studies,” she says.

“In addition, many of my MP: “Every semester, you’re assigned professors invited active SLPs, to work with a different college team or working in a variety of settings, to speak doctor. I also helped manage the doctors’ to our aboutathletes current practices, clinicsclass for Hofstra and was able tosince the field is always changing.” assist them with orthopedic and general medicine.”

Softball Head Coach Larissa Anderson and

two professors in the Department of Health After researching the field of speechProfessions, pathology, Jayne Ellinger Ragusa and Kristindecided language LoNigro. on Hofstra University because of the extremely favorable word of mouth MP: “Jayne and Kristin recommended me she encountered in the professional for the opportunity and were instrumental community.

in helping me get my foot in the door ...

Athletic training really wasn’t considered RR: “I checked out Hofstra University’s a profession for women. They’ve worked Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences in the field for 20 years and pioneered the

There were myriad opportunities for SinceRagusa her freshman year, Megan has done to gain hands-on experience athletic rotations three Hofstra at training Hofstra, whichwith ultimately led to sportsher teams, Molloy College’s softball team, becoming a speech-language and Nassau Community pathologist at aCollege’s middlefootball school in team,New as wellYork as a physical therapy rotation City’s District 25. with ProHealth.

RR: “After talking to me about my

MP: “I’ve had the opportunity to work interests regarding the population under a lot of athletic trainers and have I would like to work with, Wendy learned so much. I’ve built a large network Silverman, clinic director at the of professionals in my field and hope Saltzman Center, set me up at to continue to make connections at my Transitions of Long Island for my first internship and beyond.”

externship experience, followed by a program because the speech-language second externship at an elementary pathologists I spoke with raved about school in Suffolk County,” Ragusa its excellent reputation. After attending says. “Hofstra’s Speech-Languagean open house, I knew right away that Megan’s story isn’t unique – 100% of 2015-2016 School of Health Professions and Hearing program set me upHuman for this was the place for me.”

Services undergraduate degree recipients who responded to ourcareer graduation or a successful as a survey speechlanguage pathologist in the Ragusa given the (64% toolsknowledge to otherwas reliable sources rate) reported that they were employed or New have York City Department of Education.” succeed during her time at Hofstra, started or were planning to start graduate school within one year of graduation. and the speech-language pathology staff was tremendously supportive of her academic endeavors.

Careers Healthcare: an Athletic Trainer Careers in HealthinCare: BecomeBecome a Speech-Language Pathologist 6

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School of Health Professions and Human Services

Click here to learn more about Hofstra’s Speech-Language Pathology program