One quick questionWhere are you right now? Pick one and every career page opens with the path for your stage, and the right Compass career assessment for you.
Speech and language therapist
Also called: Speech therapist, Audiologist, SLP
Helps children and adults with speech, language, hearing and swallowing difficulties.
What the work is
Speech-language pathologists (and audiologists, who specialise in hearing) assess and treat people who stutter, children with delayed speech or autism, adults who lost speech after a stroke, people with hearing loss, and people who have trouble swallowing. They work in hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centres and private clinics.
The degree is BASLP (Bachelor in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology), and practitioners register with the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). India has very few trained therapists for its population, so demand is high.
A typical week
- Assess speech, language and hearing
- Plan and deliver therapy sessions
- Fit and adjust hearing aids (audiologists)
- Guide families and teachers
It suits people who
- Are patient and caring
- Enjoy working with children and adults
- Like language and science
Your path to get there
School (Class 8-10)
- Take Science (PCB or PCM)Biology helps
Class 11-12
- BASLP through the AIISH Mysuru entrance, AYJNISHD or state entrances
College or fresher
- Complete clinical postings
- Register with RCI
- Consider MASLP or specialise in autism, stuttering or audiology
Working or switching
- Special educators move into related therapy roles with further study
- Start with a skills refresh of 6 to 12 weeks: one short course and one TalentMeter assessment to show where you stand today.
- Use returnship and second-career programmes; many large employers in India run them for people back after a break.
- Explain the gap in one honest line on your CV and LinkedIn, and list what you did in it (caregiving, freelancing, courses, volunteering).
- Contract, part-time and freelance roles are a common way back in; they turn into full-time offers often.
Exams and certifications
| Name | What it is for | When |
|---|---|---|
| AIISH entrance ↗ | BASLP admission at All India Institute of Speech and Hearing | After Class 12 |
| RCI registration ↗ | Licence to practise | After the degree |
Exam names, eligibility and dates change. Always check the official website for this year's notice.
Job market
Job titles to search
Who hires
Where the jobs are
These buttons open a live search for "Speech-language pathologist" on each job site. TalentMeter does not list or vouch for the jobs there.
Outlook
High demand with a large shortage of therapists, especially for children with autism and for older adults.
Know which careers fit you
Create a free account, take the Compass career assessment for your stage, and every cluster and career here will show how well it fits you.