How to Become A Speech Language Pathologist In Canada

Last Updated on April 1, 2023 by

There are many things to consider when pursuing a career in Canada as a speech language pathologist. It is not easy to become one. To achieve this goal, you will have to find a school that suits your needs, then request information from them and hopefully end up with solid choices. You will be competing with other students in the process of becoming one and finding the right school helps make it more bearable. Through this article, you’ll discover how to become a speech language pathologist in Canada and what top schools can offer to help get you through the process.

In order to become a Speech-Language Pathologist, you will need to earn a 4-year Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university and then spend another two or three years studying to earn a Master’s degree in SLP. Any undergraduate programs would suffice as long as they offer the prerequisite courses that a Master’s program commonly requires.

Continue reading to find more on speech language pathology programs online Canada, speech language pathology Canada salary, how to become a speech pathologist in bc, speech language pathologist toronto, University of Toronto speech pathology admission requirements. Also, you can find more related information on Collegelearners.

Many people take the ability to communicate for granted until we experience problems with it. If you’d like to help others deal with speech-language issues such as stuttering or difficulty swallowing, becoming a Speech-Language Pathologist may be the right job for you. This blog will help you understand the requirements to become a Speech-Language Pathologist in Ontario.

Speech language pathologist with little girl pointing at picture book.

What is Speech-Language Pathology?

Speech-language pathology, sometimes referred to as speech therapy, or speech-language therapy, is the assessment and management of communication and swallowing disorders. Speech-language pathology (SLP) is a field of expertise practiced by Speech-Language Pathologists—professionals equipped with knowledge, skills, and clinical experience to help patients with congenital and/or acquired communication and swallowing disorders.

What Services do Speech-Language Pathologists Provide?

The job of a Speech-Language Pathologist includes preventing, identifying, evaluating and treating communication and swallowing disorders. Speech-Language Pathologist can practice in different settings including schools, hospitals, clinics, research centres, rehabilitation centres, private practices, or through in-home visits.

Generally, a Speech-Language Pathologist provides assessments, treatments and consultations of:

  • Language disorders
  • Cognitive communication disorders
  • Voice disorders
  • Swallowing disorders

Speech-Language Pathologists can also work with other professionals, such as audiologists, dietitians, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and more, to provide clients with the best treatment possible.

How to Become A Speech Language Pathologist In Canada

In Canada, the minimum education requirement for speech-language pathologists is a master’s degree in speech-language pathology.

The University of Alberta in Edmonton offers a Master of Science degree program in Speech-Language Pathology that has a course-based option and a thesis- based option. The entrance requirement is a four-year bachelor’s degree (in a discipline other than speech-language pathology) with specified prerequisite courses (for example, linguistics, psychology) and a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0/4.0.

A clinical practicum in a hospital, private clinic, rehabilitation centre or health care facility is required before graduation.

Universities and colleges throughout Alberta offer four-year bachelor’s degree programs that can provide suitable preparation for a master’s degree program in speech-language pathology. Admission requirements vary from one post-secondary institution and program to another.

Additional Canadian Master’s degree programs in speech-language pathology are offered by:

University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC
Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS
Université Laurentienne in Sudbury, ON
University of Ottawa (instruction in French) in Ottawa, ON
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières in Trois- Rivières, QC
University of Toronto in Toronto, ON
University of Western Ontario in London, ON
Université de Montréal (instruction in French) in Montreal, QC
McGill University in Montreal, QC
Université Laval (instruction in French) in Québec City, QC
NOTE: Regulatory bodies compare international education and experience to Canadian standards.

how to become a speech-language pathologist in ontario

Requirements to Become a Speech-Language Pathologist in Ontario

In order to become a Speech-Language Pathologist, you will need to earn a 4-year Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university and then spend another two or three years studying to earn a Master’s degree in SLP. Any undergraduate programs would suffice as long as they offer the prerequisite courses that a Master’s program commonly requires.

Admission requirements for a Master program in SLP may vary among universities, but they do share some common criteria, including:

  • 4-year Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
  • A minimum mid-B (3.0 GPA) average in the final 1-2 years of full-time study or throughout the whole four years.
  • Completing 4-6 prerequisites in areas such as child development, linguistics, phonetics, statistics/research design, human physiology, life science, social science, and psychology.
  • Proficiency in English and/or French.

Sometimes clinical volunteer or paid experience working with a registered Speech-Language Pathologist can be an admission requirement. Applications must be submitted through the Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Programs Application Service (ORPAS).

There are currently 4 universities in Ontario that offer speech-language pathology programs for graduates:

  • McMaster University
  • Université d’Ottawa (French)
  • University of Toronto
  • Western University

Programs offered by the University of Toronto, Western University, and Université d’Ottawa are accredited according to the Council for Accreditation of Canadian University Programs in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology. The program offered by McMaster University is new and hasn’t been accredited yet.

Once you’ve gotten a Master’s degree in SLP, you’ll need to register with the College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario (CASLPO) in order to become a regulated Speech-Language Pathologist and legally practice SLP.

Girl in red shirt trying to speak to mom. Mom making open mouth gesture.

salary of speech language pathologist in canada

Average Salary for a Speech-Language Pathologist

Job Bank Canada reported that the hourly wage for a Speech-Language Pathologist in Ontario ranges from $28.06 to $51.72, with a median of $42.56. Annually, a Speech-Language Pathologist in Ontario earns between $58k and $107k, with a median salary of $88k.

Where to Find Speech-Language Pathologist Jobs

If you’re looking to gain experience through volunteering, organizations like Toronto Rehab Intitute/UHN or Aphasia Institute can be a good place to find volunteer positions.

If you’re looking for Speech-Language Pathologist jobs and don’t have a specific organization that you want to work for, looking through career sites like Job Bank, Indeed and Workopolis would be a great start. You can also go to the Speech-Language & Audiology of Canada or the Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists websites to see their career postings.

Speech Language Pathology Programs Online Canada

Speech pathology graduate programs are available at the master’s, doctorate and certificate levels. In order to become a speech language pathologist (SLP), sometimes also called a speech therapist, students must hold a bachelor’s degree, usually in communication sciences.

Speech language pathology is the study of speech and language disorders that can occur in both adults and children. SLPs examine these disorders and help in the diagnosis and treatment of speech and language problems. Speech therapists study best practices effective treatment plans and use vocal exercises and top cognitive therapies to improve the communication skills among the patients.

Speech Language Pathology Programs

Applicants interested in Speech-Language Pathology must first apply to a 4-year undergraduate program; for example: Education, Arts, or Science. Keep in mind that applicants must also complete the prerequisite courses. It is recommended that applicants contact the Faculty of choice to make sure that they have the required high-school courses for admission.

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