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Speech pathology jobs are expected to see a rise in coming years due to the growing population of aging people, who may end up more prone to conditions requiring a speech pathologist's care. In this respect, you may be considering a career in speech pathology, and wondering how to get speech pathology jobs. There are a number of factors to consider like education and the nature of a speech pathologist's work before you start looking for speech pathology jobs.

First, you should have an understanding about what speech pathology jobs entail. Speech pathology jobs usually entail assessing, diagnosing, and treating speech disorders. Also, there is a preventative aspect to speech pathology jobs in which the speech pathologist will work to prevent speech, language, cognitive, communication, swallowing, and other disorders. Most speech pathology jobs involve the speech pathologist working with those who cannot make speech sounds at all or those who cannot make them very clearly. A common example of a potential speech pathologist's client would be a person struggling with a stuttering problem.

If you are looking for employment in a comfortable setting, speech pathology jobs can allow you to work in your own office. However, speech pathology jobs in hospitals or other medical settings will also allow you more flexibility and mobility as you are able to go from patient to patient. Even in schools, speech pathology jobs can involve going from classroom to classroom. Also, most speech pathology jobs will require you to work full-time, though there are some speech pathology jobs that allow you to work part-time or on a contract basis.

Speech pathology jobs are currently on the increase, and they can be found in a variety of settings. In 2002, almost half of all speech pathology jobs were found in educational settings ranging from preschools to universities. The remaining speech pathology jobs were found in medical facilities like hospitals, nursing care centers, and outpatient services. Some speech pathology jobs can even be found in day care centers and in private practice.

Almost all states require that a speech pathologist have a master's degree before being offered speech pathology jobs. Also, speech pathology jobs in those states will require you to pass a licensing test in order to be able to accept speech pathology jobs. Other requirements for speech pathology jobs and licensing involve between 300 to 375 hours of supervised clinical experience and 9 months of post-graduate clinical experience. Plus, 38 states require continuing education so that you can keep renewing your license. Also, if you find speech pathology jobs where Medicaid, Medicare, and health insurance are factors in reimbursement, then licensure is a necessary requirement.

Speech pathology jobs are expected to grow faster than the national average for other occupations through 2012. Since the baby boomer generation is entering into middle age, they may become more prone to neurological disorders affecting speech. Since this is a rather large population, speech pathology jobs will also continue to increase. Also, there is new legislation requiring that newborns be screened for hearing loss and receive services right away, also increasing the number of speech pathology jobs available. If you are willing to put in the time and schooling required to be a speech pathologist, the amount of speech pathology jobs available will offer you many options for your employment outlook.