How to Work in the U.S. As a Foreign-Educated Speech Pathologist

Speech pathology is a rewarding field for many, and the individuals that work in this career study hard to ensure they are equipped to provide stellar services to their patients. In the U.S. speech pathologists benefit from stable careers and decent pay; according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, speech pathologists make an average salary ranging between $51,310 and $125,560, with median annual pay falling around $79,060. If you were educated in speech pathology outside of the U.S., you might be wondering if it is possible to move your practice here and take advantage of these benefits. Our guide helps you understand this process and answers your questions about becoming a foreign-educated speech pathologist in the U.S., such as:

• What Is the Process for Working in the U.S. As a Foreign-Educated Speech Pathologist?
• How Much Does It Cost to Work as a Foreign-Educated Speech Pathologist in the U.S.?
• How Long Does It Take To Work as a Foreign-Educated Speech Pathologist in the U.S.?
• Are There Any Restrictions to Working as a Foreign-Educated Speech Pathologist in the U.S.?
• What Are the State-Specific Requirements for Foreign-Educated Speech Pathologists?
• What Are the Immigration Requirements for Foreign-Educated Speech Pathologists?
• Where Can I Get a Certified Translation?

What Is the Process for Working in the U.S. As a Foreign-Educated Speech Pathologist?

This process involves several steps that ensure you have met U.S. education, experience, and examination requirements for speech pathologists, and that you are properly licensed to practice speech pathology. Keep in mind that states handle licensing for speech pathologists individually, so it’s a good idea to know which state you wish to work in before starting this process. The steps for becoming a foreign-educated speech pathologist include the following:

1. Individuals who have been educated in a foreign country must submit an application to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to receive a Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). The documents you will be required to submit include undergraduate and graduate transcripts (both original and certified translations where applicable), course descriptions, verification of supervised work hours with your mentor’s information, and a credential evaluation completed by a member organization of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES); your credential evaluation must not be more than two years old.
2. In addition to the above documents, you will also need to take the Praxis Examination for speech-language pathologists. This examination tests your education in the subject, and not only will your scores be required as part of your CCC-SLP, but most states will also require proof of your passing scores as part of basic speech pathologist licensing requirements.
3. After you have received your CCC-SLP from ASHA and you have ensured that you have met all examination and supervised experience requirements, you will be eligible to apply for state licensing. Every speech pathologist must be licensed in the state they wish to work in, and states do have differing requirements when it comes to licensing applications, fees, and ongoing education or license renewal steps. Make sure to check directly with the state speech pathology licensing board of the state you wish to work in for more detailed information.
4. The final step in the process of becoming a foreign-educated speech pathologist in the United States is making sure that you meet all immigration requirements and obtain a visa or green card that allows you to work in the U.S. without restriction. A consultation with an immigration lawyer is often your best option for understanding your immigration choices and starting this process.

How Much Does It Cost to Work as a Foreign-Educated Speech Pathologist in the U.S.?

The costs of this process include your CCC-SLP application, fees for the Praxis Examination, and state licensing fees. On average, you will need around a thousand dollars for these items, as the CCC-SLP application is around $500, the Praxis Examination is $146 not including preparation materials, and the cost for state licensing is typically a few hundred dollars. You will also need to factor in the cost of immigration, something that can be a few thousand dollars or more depending on if you need legal help to complete this process. If you need to complete any additional education requirements or meet state ongoing education and licensing renewal requirements, you may also add several hundred dollars total to this process.

How Long Does It Take To Work as a Foreign-Educated Speech Pathologist in the U.S.?

The process for working as a foreign-educated speech pathologist in the U.S. typically takes a couple of years on average to achieve. Your CCC-SLP will take around 8 weeks to process once you have submitted the application, but you may need to take several months to gather items and pass the Praxis Examination before submitting your application to ASHA. In general, a couple of months is recommended to prepare for the Praxis Examination. Additionally, you will need several weeks to a month for your state licensing application to be accepted, and you may need between 1 and 2 years for your visa or green card application to be accepted, depending on the type of immigration documents you are submitting. Overall, expect the entire process to take between 1 and 3 years.

Are There Any Restrictions to Working as a Foreign-Educated Speech Pathologist in the U.S.?

Once you have met all education, experience, and examination requirements to obtain your CCC-SLP from ASHA, you have applied for and received your state speech pathologist license, and you have completed any applicable immigration steps, you will be able to work as a foreign-educated speech pathologist in the United States without restrictions. Make sure that you keep up with ongoing state licensing or immigration requirements to ensure that your practice in the U.S. continues without restrictions year after year.

What Are the State-Specific Requirements for Foreign-Educated Speech Pathologists?

Every state handles licensing for speech pathologists individually, so you will need to consult with the specific speech pathology licensing board in the state that you wish to work in for more detailed information. ASHA does provide a state directory for you to easily browse the licensing requirements in all U.S. states. In general, state-specific requirements will involve submitting your proof of education, references from your educational programs, passing examination scores, proof of your supervised experience hours, your CCC-SLP obtained from ASHA, and paying a licensing fee. You may also need to complete additional state ethics examinations and keep up with ongoing education or license renewal requirements as needed.

What Are the Immigration Requirements for Foreign-Educated Speech Pathologists?

Speech pathologists are typically considered health care workers or skilled workers, a classification that dictates which type of visa individuals looking to immigrate and work in the U.S. might be eligible for. In most cases, the H-1B visa for specialty occupations is a good choice, and you will need to fill out the accompanying health care worker certification with this visa. Speech pathologists might also be eligible for employment-based visas, like the EB-3 visa, or a student visa if more education is required in the U.S. before you are eligible to apply for a state speech pathologist license. If you are confused about this process or need assistance selecting the best visa type for your situation, don’t hesitate to contact a U.S. immigration lawyer.

Where Can I Get a Certified Translation?

Certified translations are an essential part of the process of becoming a foreign-educated speech pathologist practicing in the U.S. without restrictions. You will need to submit certified translations of your original documents to obtain your CCC-SLP, and you will most likely need them as you apply for state licensing and applicable visas or immigration documents. To receive reliable and accurate certified translations of all of the important documents you will need during this process, visit our online store. We translate documents such as:

• Diplomas
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