Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
How to become a speech and language therapist
Help people with communication difficulties to regain their voice.
What is a speech and language therapist?
As a speech and language therapist (SLT), you'll support people of all ages, helping to treat issues related to speech, language and communication.
How do I become a speech and language therapist?
To practice as an SLT, you'll need to be registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) after completing an approved course.
An HCPC-approved programme means:
- An undergraduate degree in speech and language therapy
- Or, if you have a degree in another relevant subject, a postgraduate course in speech and language therapy
For a place on an undergraduate course, you'll usually need:
- Three A-levels (or equivalent) – these may include English, languages, psychology or sciences
- Five GCSE passes at grade C/grade 4 (or equivalent), including English, maths and a science subject
To study for a postgraduate qualification, you'll need a relevant undergraduate degree. This could include:
- Psychology
- Human biology
- Linguistics / languages
- Education
- Social science
- Medical sciences
What would I do as a speech and language therapist?
As an SLT you'll work with people of all ages to improve their ability to communicate.
You could work in a hospital or clinical setting with a wide range of people – from babies, through to adults and the elderly. You'll provide treatment and care for a variety of speech and language disorders. These could include cleft palate, stammering and language delay, as well as problems with eating, drinking or swallowing.
Your responsibilities may include:
- Identifying the nature of the problem and its causes
- Developing a suitable treatment programme for each of your patients
- Monitoring and reporting on your patients' progress
- Working as part of a wider team of healthcare professionals
- Liaising with family, carers and teachers to support treatment
- Managing your own caseload and the admin that comes with it
Becoming a speech and language therapist could be for you if...
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You connect
Working in a healthcare setting with a wide range of people, you'll need empathy and a good ear for listening.
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You stick with it
Patience is a virtue in SLT. Progress can be slow and some of your clients will need a lot of attention.
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You think creatively
Your patients will have very different challenges, so you'll need to be flexible in devising the best treatment.
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You're on the team
You're a good communicator, well-organised and definitely a team player.
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You want to make a difference
What you do has a significant and positive impact on the lives of the people you work with.
What are the typical working hours for a speech and language therapist?
If you're working within the NHS, you'll typically work 37.5 hours a week. In other settings, you may need to work some evenings or weekends depending on your patients' needs.
Jobs in the NHS follow nine pay bands and are usually covered by the Agenda for Change (AfC) Pay Rates.
Starting salaries for qualified SLTs range from £24,907 to £30,615 (Band 5).
As a specialist SLT you could earn between £31,365 and £37,890 (Band 6).
At advanced or highly specialised levels (Band 7), you can earn between £38,890 and £44,503. Some very senior roles can attract Band 8 salaries.
