Are you considering a career as a speech pathologist but wondering if you can use your psychology degree to qualify? If so, you’ll be pleased to know that you can make use of your psychology degree to become a speech pathologist. In this article, we’ll discuss what speech pathologists do, what qualifications you need to become one, and how to make the most of your psychology degree.
What Do Speech Pathologists Do?
Speech-language pathologists, or speech pathologists, assess, diagnose, treat and help to prevent communication and swallowing disorders in children and adults. Speech pathologists work with people who have difficulty with communication and swallowing, including those with developmental delays, autism, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, brain injury, stroke, and more.
Qualifications to Become a Speech Pathologist
To become a speech pathologist, you will need a master’s degree in speech-language pathology or a related field. The degree must be from an accredited program and include at least 400 hours of supervised clinical experience. Additionally, you will need to be certified and licensed in your state.
How Can a Psychology Degree Help?
If you have a psychology degree, you can use it to qualify for a speech-language pathology degree program. Many master’s degree programs in speech-language pathology accept applicants with psychology degrees, as long as they have completed certain prerequisites courses. These courses include anatomy and physiology, basic science, statistics, and linguistics.
What Other Qualifications Do You Need?
In addition to a master’s degree, you will need to be certified and licensed in your state. To be certified, you must pass the Praxis exam, which is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). To be licensed, you must pass the state board exam and complete continuing education requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions about Becoming a Speech Pathologist with a Psychology Degree
Do I need a psychology degree to become a speech pathologist?
No, you do not need a psychology degree to become a speech pathologist. However, many master’s degree programs in speech-language pathology accept applicants with psychology degrees, as long as they have completed certain prerequisites courses.
What are the prerequisites for a speech-language pathology degree program?
The prerequisites for a speech-language pathology degree program include courses in anatomy and physiology, basic science, statistics, and linguistics.
What qualifications do I need to become certified and licensed?
To become certified, you must pass the Praxis exam, which is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). To be licensed, you must pass the state board exam and complete continuing education requirements.
What are the job duties of a speech pathologist?
The job duties of a speech pathologist include assessing, diagnosing, treating, and helping to prevent communication and swallowing disorders in children and adults. Speech pathologists work with people who have difficulty with communication and swallowing, including those with developmental delays, autism, cerebral palsy, hearing loss, brain injury, stroke, and more.
Final Thoughts
If you have a psychology degree, you can use it to qualify for a speech-language pathology degree program. To become a speech pathologist, you will need a master’s degree in speech-language pathology or a related field, certification, and licensure in your state. With the right qualifications, you can use your psychology degree to become a speech pathologist and make a difference in the lives of people who have difficulty with communication and swallowing.
