Speech-language pathologists evaluate, diagnose and treat people with speech, language or swallowing difficulties. They work with many types of patients, including stroke victims who are relearning to speak, babies who have trouble swallowing, people who speak with a stutter and children with language delays.

“Our field is so broad,” says Karen George, a speech-language pathologist and owner of Chicago Speech Therapy. “We’re trained to work with babies through adults – the entire life span.”

Sometimes called speech therapists, SLPs work in a variety of settings, such as rehabilitation centers and nursing homes. George started her career in a hospital before moving to her own private practice, while Theresa Rodgers, former president of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, spent her career in a public school setting.

“Communication is such an essential skill in life, but certainly in a school environment,” Rodgers says. “It was so rewarding to be able to work on curriculum-based activities and see children become more successful in the classroom.”

Indeed, George says that helping someone communicate can boost their overall standard of living. “Communication is just such a key part of everyday life.” The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 19.3% employment growth for speech-language pathologists between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 33,100 jobs should open up.

Licensure is required in all states, and aspiring speech-language pathologists typically must complete a two-year speech-language pathology master’s program.

After the grad program, aspiring speech-language pathologists may complete a clinical fellowship year, or CFY, which lasts a minimum of 36 weeks or about 400 hours of supervised clinical experience. Some employers prefer job candidates to acquire the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology, or CCC-SLP, from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Although many speech-language pathologists also have an undergraduate degree in speech-language pathology, it’s not required. Students coming to the graduate program from other professional backgrounds or bachelor’s degree programs might have to take some prerequisite courses.