How To Write a Speech-Language Pathologist Resume
To find work as a speech-language pathologist, make sure your resume showcases your expertise, job experience, and other key qualifications the employer seeks, such as working with children with special needs or helping older patients through a rehabilitative process. As you craft your resume, start with our list of tips and review our resume examples and templates to give yourself an edge over other candidates.
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-Level
1. Summarize your speech-language pathologist qualifications in a dynamic profile
Condensing your speech pathology skills and experience into a dynamic and succinct paragraph can capture the reader’s attention and prompt them to learn the value you can bring to their organization. Tell your career story using your top three to five achievements, demonstrating that you’ll fit the role well.
For example, if you specialize in working with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients or stroke victims, have experience using innovative therapies, or have collaborated with different teams, such attributes can help you stand out.
Senior-Level Profile Example
A Speech Language Pathologist with 13+ years of clinical experience in schools and healthcare settings. A strong history of developing treatment plans and strategies for communication impairments. Adept at collaborating with medical teams, parents, teachers, and clients to drive positive patient outcomes.
Entry-Level Profile Example
A Speech Language Pathologist with three years of clinical experience, specializing in Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC), case management, and patient relations. A proven track record of delivering compassionate care to patients diagnosed with ASD, auditory, and learning disorders.
2. Add a compelling section featuring your speech-language pathologist experience
The professional experience section of your speech-language pathologist resume should feature your career achievements rather than job responsibilities. Employees want to know you can work well with not only patients but with their caregivers, within interdisciplinary medical teams, or with organization administrators (such as schools or clinics).
The more specific you can highlight your achievements, the easier it is for hiring managers to see you’re an outstanding candidate. Incorporating clinical data to highlight your past success will show prospective employers your proven track record of driving patient growth, exceeding targets, and achieving goals during treatment.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example
Senior Speech Language Therapist, Wake Forest Central School District, Wake Forest, NC
March 2016 – Present
- Oversee speech language therapy services for a 14-school district, develop and implement IEP plans, manage two speech language pathologists, and monitor all meetings with clients, parents, teachers, and therapists
- Counsel approximately 20 students a week, diagnose communication needs and develop practical treatment plans featuring in-school work and home practice
- Aid and educate parents and teachers on ramifications of client disorders and best practices for treatment
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example
Speech Language Pathologist, Boston Speech Services, Boston, MA
September 2020 – Present
- Provide speech and language therapy and evaluations for children ages 0-21 with a variety of diagnoses including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), expressive language disorders, feeding disorders, phonological disorders, and articulation disorders
- Perform individual treatment sessions and co-treatment sessions in the areas of Alternative Augmentative Communication (AAC), apraxia, and autism
- Develop and implement IEP plans for child clients to provide support for learning disorders and educational challenges related to speech language abilities
3. Outline your education and speech-language pathologist-related certifications
Speech-language pathologists must have a specific set of education credentials and licensing to work in the field. Therefore, your resume must include the various degrees and certifications you’ve earned. If you have room on your resume, you could add any pertinent academic accomplishments below your degrees listed, though more seasoned professionals can focus on their ample career experiences.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
Example
- Master of Science in Communication Disorders
- Emerson College, Boston, MA | May 2019
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- Speech Pathologist, State of Massachusetts | License #12345 August 2018
4. Outline your most useful speech-language pathologist skills and proficiencies
Making sure all of your relevant professional skills are listed is one of the most important things you can do. It will showcase the depth of your knowledge and experience and help your resume reach the hiring manager’s desk. Resumes are often screened through an applicant tracking system (ATS), so your resume could fall through the cracks if you don’t have the right keywords.
A good strategy is to read job postings for speech-language pathologist jobs to see what the employers are looking for and include the ones that apply to you. Here’s a list of some common key skills that speech-language pathology jobs require to get you started:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| American Sign Language | Apraxia |
| ASD | Audiology |
| Case management | Certificate of Clinical Competence in speech-language Pathology (CCC-SLP) certification |
| Client relations | Compassionate care |
| Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) | Dysarthria |
| Expressive language disorders | Individualized education plans (IEPs) |
| Patient assessments | Patient care |
| Patient relations | Pediatric care |
| Phonetics | Speech impairments |
| Syntax | Treatment planning |
5. Showcase your areas of clinical expertise
Speech pathologists can work with a range of patients for many reasons, from childhood speech struggles to special needs to patients with brain injuries. If you have worked with one or more of those populations, be sure to highlight your expertise if it’s relevant to the jobs you’re applying for. Also, mention the different people you may have worked with, such as if it’s within a school setting, a hospital rehabilitation center, or if you provide in-home care.
How To Pick the Best Speech-Language Pathologist Resume Template
When choosing the resume template that will work best for you, focus on how readable it is and how well your key sections will fit the template. That’s more important than worrying about font choice, colors, graphics, or other design elements. Be sure to select a single-column format that allows you to feature your professional experience, skills, and credentials prominently.
Speech Pathology Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Joaquin DaLeo
(384) 294-1033
[email protected]
12 W. Dunlap Ave., Phoenix, AZ 10293
Profile
A bilingual (Spanish-English) Speech Language Pathologist specializing in rehabilitative services for patients suffering from strokes, brain injuries, and other health challenges impacting speech. Adept at coordinating with multidisciplinary teams to provide high-quality treatment using a variety of therapeutic techniques.
Professional Experience
Speech Language Pathologist, January 2019 – Present
John C. Lincoln Medical Center, Rehabilitation Clinic, Phoenix, AZ
- Deliver therapy services to 30+ active clients suffering from strokes, learning disorders, and physical challenges
- Perform clinical swallow evaluations and videofluoroscopic swallow studies to determine appropriate feeding guidelines and swallowing strategies for patients, enabling clients to exceed targets for swallowing and speech ability by 15% per quarter
- Educate clients on the use of augmentative alternative communication devices
Speech Language Pathologist, August 2013 – December 2018
Phoenix Rehabilitation Services
- Assisted clients in developing clearer, more easily understood speech following illness or injury that impeded communication or swallowing
- Collaborated with medical and social work professionals to assess clients and determine the best possible treatment plans for high quality of life
- Provided education and training for clients and their families to ensure that recovery continued in the home and after the cessation of clinical treatments
- Primary pathologist for Spanish-language patients, providing services in their native language to ensure proper understanding, and adjusting treatment plans as needed
Education
Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SOLUTIONS Tempe, AZ, September 2006 – May 2010
- GPA: 3.4/4.0
- Participated in highly competitive Pre-Health Internship Program (PHIP)
Master of Science in Communications Disorders
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SOLUTIONS Tempe, AZ, September 2011 – May 2013
- GPA: 3.7/4.0
- Certificate in Communication Disorders in Multilingual/Multicultural Populations
Key Skills
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
- Patient Diagnostics
- Speech Impairments
- Treatment Planning
- EMR / EHR
- Case Management
Certifications
- Licensed speech language pathologist with the state of Arizona, June 2013
- Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), June 2014
Frequently Asked Questions: Speech-Language Pathologist Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for speech-language pathology resumes?-
Making your resume sound amazing starts with choosing a variety of strong action verbs. But it can be hard not to repeat words as you get further into your resume. These are some of the common action verbs that can make your speech-language pathology resume pop:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Analyzed | Counseled |
| Created | Designed |
| Determined | Developed |
| Diagnosed | Educated |
| Evaluated | Identified |
| Implemented | Improved |
| Led | Managed |
| Oversaw | Performed |
| Planned | Supported |
| Taught | Treated |
How do you align your resume with a speech-language pathologist job description?-
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for speech-language pathologists are projected to grow by 19% from 2022 to 2032, faster than average for most occupations. Because many workers in this field are retiring or leaving the labor force, there will be a high demand for new pathologists to fill vacant roles. In addition, with an aging population, there could be more need for speech therapy for older Americans with neurological conditions.
When crafting your resume, be sure to highlight the specialties that a specified employer is seeking. Even if you worked in a different type of setting, most skills are transferable.
What is the best speech-language pathology resume format?-
For a health care field like speech pathology, it’s normally best to use a traditional, reverse chronological format for your resume. This lets you feature your most recent clinical experience at the top of your document. A combination approach may be warranted if you’re entering the field for the first time. In this situation, emphasize your skills and academic achievements, provided they don’t overshadow any clinical fellowships you may have completed.
Craft your perfect resume in minutes
Get 2x more interviews with Resume Builder. Access Pro Plan features for a limited time!
In a competitive field like speech-language pathology, write a cover letter to accompany your resume. This will allow you to discuss your strengths and how they fit the position well. To help formulate your thoughts, look at how our respiratory therapist and physical therapy assistant cover letter examples are crafted. You’ll notice they offer a balance of accomplishments and why the candidate feels aligned with the hiring organization.
