{"id":22376,"date":"2026-09-03T00:51:22","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T00:51:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.degreequery.com\/?page_id=22376---bd439101-f6cf-4dc9-bcee-f22d47083efb"},"modified":"2026-09-28T22:53:57","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T22:53:57","slug":"right-path-to-becoming-speech-therapist","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.degreequery.com\/speech-language-hearing-sciences-degrees\/right-path-to-becoming-speech-therapist\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the Right Path to Becoming a Speech Therapist?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Speech therapists are in-demand across the United States and have a projected job growth rate of 27% by 2028<\/a>. \u00a0Their median annual salary of $77,510 per year is enticing for many students who are thinking about entering the field.<\/p>\n

However, the steps to becoming a speech therapist are more involved than many students realize. Before you find a degree program, you should understand that it will require a great deal of commitment to earn your certification and land your dream job. Read on to learn how to achieve your goals and set off on the best path to becoming a speech therapist.<\/p>\n

How long does it take to become a speech pathologist?<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n

The requirements to become a speech pathologist vary from state-to-state. However, most states require prospective speech therapists to earn a master\u2019s degree before allowing them to practice. Your learning speed will come into play as well: Some programs allow students to complete their programs at an accelerated pace, and you may be able to make things move along faster by taking an extra course or two each semester.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at all the steps you\u2019ll have to complete before landing your dream job as a speech pathologist. Generally, if you choose to meet all the following requirements at an average pace, it will take around seven years of education to become a speech pathologist.<\/p>\n

Step 1: Earn your bachelor\u2019s degree.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Earning your bachelor\u2019s degree is the first step to becoming a speech therapist. Many students choose to major in Communication Sciences and Disorders<\/a>, but this isn\u2019t required. As long as the program you choose is related to speech therapy in some way, most master\u2019s programs will accept your credits.<\/p>\n

During your bachelor\u2019s program, you\u2019ll learn all the basics of working with clients and preparing individualized exercises. You\u2019ll also be required to take many math, science, and language courses to prepare yourself for graduate school.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve already chosen some graduate schools that appeal to you, it\u2019s a good idea to contact the schools about their speech therapist degree requirements. The best time to prepare for your master\u2019s in speech pathology is during your undergraduate program.<\/p>\n

Step 2: <\/strong>Earn a Master\u2019s in Speech Pathology.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The next step to becoming a speech therapist is to earn your Master\u2019s in Speech Pathology. To earn your license, you must choose a program that\u2019s accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (also known as the CAA)<\/a>. Be sure to check with all potential schools to see if they\u2019re CAA verified.<\/p>\n

Your master\u2019s program will focus on more advanced concepts, such as specific techniques and complex phonology. You\u2019ll expand on everything you learned during your bachelor\u2019s program, and become an expert on everything related to speech pathology. Some students choose to focus on a specialty, such as Resonance or Feeding and Swallowing, during their master\u2019s program as well.<\/p>\n

At the end of your master\u2019s program, you should know how to treat a wide variety of speech disorders and how to effectively communicate with clients and caregivers. To graduate, you\u2019ll be required to complete a certain amount of clinical hours as well.<\/p>\n

Step 3: <\/strong>Complete all required clinical hours.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

All accredited SLP graduate programs require you to complete a minimum of 400 clinical hours to graduate. You\u2019ll work closely with experienced speech therapists and learn to address specific issues in a clinical environment.<\/p>\n

Your clinical hours will include:<\/em><\/p>\n