Employers

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are about 93,270 health care support workers employed in the United States. Speech-language pathology assistants work in the offices of speech-language pathologists and other health care providers; hospitals; nursing and residential care facilities; and in educational services.

Starting Out

Speech-language pathology assistants may get their start through an apprenticeship in a speech-language pathologists office or other medical facility while in school. They usually receive training while on the job. Ask your schools career services office for help with the job search. Also look for jobs posted on professional associations Web sites, such as the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (https://www.asha.org/careers), as well as on employment Web sites such as Indeed, LinkedIn, and Simply Hired. You may also contact clinics, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers to find out about employment opportunities.

Advancement for speech-language pathology assistants comes in the form of advanced education. They hone their skills and knowledge by taking continuing education courses and obtaining certification. If they work in a large practice or hospital, they may advance to become senior assistants. They may also go back to school for an advanced degree and train to become speech-language pathologists. With years of experience, they may become teachers in vocational schools and write about the field.

Find job listings and other career-support resources on the American Speech-Language-Hearing Associations Web site, https://careers2.asha.org/search.

Join professional associations for access to education, training, publications, and networking opportunities. Helpful groups include the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and National Student Speech Language Hearing Association.

Attend the Career Fair at the annual convention of the ASHA to network and interview for jobs. Find information at https://convention.asha.org/Exhibit-Hall.

Get a part-time or summer job in a speech-language pathology clinic or office.