How to Start a Career in Texas as a Speech Language Pathologist
When a person develops a speech problem as a result of an injury it is due to trauma in the face or brain. Speech language pathologists are the professionals that work with these individuals in regaining their speaking abilities and learning to cope with any permanent disabilities that may be a result of the trauma. Due to the demands placed on them to provide appropriate therapy, speech language pathologists require a significant amount of education and experience before being able to obtain their license. In fact there are many things a person must do if they are on the path of how to become a speech language pathologist in Texas.
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Instructions
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Obtain your undergraduate degree. Since there is not a degree in speech language pathology at the bachelor level, many students choose to major in concentrations similar to the field. Communication sciences is very popular for students planning to become speech language pathologists in Lubbock, TX while others prefer to get an education degree since they plan to work in schools with children.
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Get your master's degree in speech language pathology. There are a number of universities that offer degree programs at the master's level in speech language pathology in Texas. Lubbock is home to Texas Tech University, which houses one of the finest programs in the state. Although attending Texas Tech isn't a requirement to become a speech language pathologist in Lubbock, many students find it beneficial later when they are trying to find a job since they already are familiar with many of the hospitals and other facilities in Lubbock where they can serve in their chosen profession.
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Apply to the state of Texas for a license to intern in Lubbock. The internship license application can be found on the website of the Texas Department of State Health Services. Attached to your application should be a copy of your transcript from your master's program and proof that you completed a minimum of 375 hours of clinical experience while getting your degree. All programs in the state of Texas include the clinical hours as part of the curriculum, but you will need to maintain the documentation of those hours. In order to get your license as an intern you will need to provide the contact information for the location in Lubbock where you will be working as well as the name of the licensed speech language pathologist providing supervision.
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Complete your internship in Lubbock. The internship requires full-time working experience for at least nine months in the setting in Lubbock listed on your intern license application. When you are finished you and your supervisor will be required to submit a report showing completing of your internship to the Texas Department of State Health Services. This form must be submitted within 30 days of the last day of your internship.
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Pass the Praxis exam. Speech language pathologists throughout the United States take the Praxis exam to get licensed, and Texas is no different. Any person desiring to work in Lubbock must score a minimum of a 600 on the exam.
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Complete the application for your license to practice in Lubbock. The application to become a speech language pathologist in Lubbock, TX is available through the website of the Texas Department of State Health Services. You should complete the application after completing your internship in Lubbock and passing the Praxis exam.
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Tips & Warnings
After getting licensed in Lubbock, Texas you do have the option to get additional certification through the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, a national organization for professionals in the field. This certification is beneficial if planning to relocate to another state since most state licensing agencies recognize ASHA certification as meeting the qualifications necessary to become licensed.
Application for official licenses must be made within 30 days of completing your internship in Lubbock.
