Speech Therapist Resume Examples for 2024

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Speech Therapist Resume Tips

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Google Docs Template #1

Speech Therapist Resume Sample

A speech therapist is just another way of saying SLP. They treat and diagnose children and adults who suffer communication problems to improve those conditions and their quality of life. Most speech-language pathologists work in schools, but others may work in hospitals or clinics. To make your resume stand out, highlight your accomplishments with patients.

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A speech therapist resume template highlighting skills, techniques, and tools.

Tips to help you write your Speech Therapist resume in 2024

Indicate your clinical specialization.

It is essential to indicate your clinical expertise on your speech therapist resume. This way, recruiters can evaluate whether you have the necessary skills to treat certain conditions. Being specialized increases your authoritativeness and reliability. You can also mention multiple areas of expertise. This will make you look multidisciplinary.

Also see: How To Tailor Your Resume To a Job and Write a Targeted Resume

Indicate your clinical specialization. - Speech Therapist Resume

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Quantify your achievements.

It is a great idea to include clinical data and metrics on your resume if you want to increase your value. This way, you will show proof of successful patient cases and help recruiters get a better idea of your potential. You can include proven records of patients’ improvement when mentioning your achievements.

Also see: How to Quantify Your Resume: What Recruiters Look For (50+ Examples)

Quantify your achievements. - Speech Therapist Resume

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Google Docs Template #2

Speech Therapist Resume Sample

A speech therapist is a specialized professional who identifies and treats speech disorders. Speech therapists create and execute unique therapy plans for each patient based on their symptoms. Speech therapists may often work with children with speech impediments or other childhood speech disorders, or they may work with adults recovering from a speech impairment caused by stroke, injury, or something else.

If you want to become a speech therapist, you must have a master’s degree in speech therapy or speech language-pathology. Hiring managers will be looking to see you have completed this degree and are licensed as a speech therapist. Beyond the educational requirements, hiring managers will often require you to have internship or fellowship experience in speech pathology. Hiring managers may also like to see a candidate with additional certifications in speech pathology.

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A resume for a speech therapist with a masters degree in speech language pathology and experience as a speech therapist assistant.

Tips to help you write your Speech Therapist resume in 2024

Consider obtaining the CCC-SLP credential

After finishing your degree, passing the Praxis Speech-Language Pathology exam is a nonnegotiable to getting a role as a speech pathologist. Beyond this licensing, there are optional certifications that can make your resume stand out. The CCC-SLP (Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology) is an additional certification you can obtain that shows a heightened knowledge and expertise in speech pathology.

Gain experience related to your desired speciality as a speech therapist

Lots of people might need to see a speech therapist. Since there are so many niches of speech pathology, it’s wise to decide what environment you’d like to work in, and get some experience there. For example, if you know you want to work with kids, getting a role as an assistant speech therapist at a school will give you pertinent knowledge and experience working with a young population.

Also see: How To Write Your Resume's Work Experience Section

Gain experience related to your desired speciality as a speech therapist - Speech Therapist Resume

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Speech Therapist Resume Tips

We spoke with hiring managers at top speech therapy clinics and hospitals, including Encompass Health and Kindred Healthcare, to understand what they look for in resumes. The tips below incorporate their advice and will help your resume stand out.

Highlight your clinical experience

Employers want to see the depth and breadth of your clinical experience. Include details such as:

Assessed and treated 15+ patients per week with disorders like aphasia, dysarthria, and dysphagia
Conducted 100+ patient evaluations using tests like the BDAE and MASA
Developed treatment plans and goals for a caseload of 20 patients with TBI, stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases

In contrast, avoid being vague or generic:

Worked with many patients
Performed speech therapy evaluations and treatments

Bullet Point Samples for Speech Therapist

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Quantify your achievements

Use numbers and metrics to show the impact of your work whenever possible. For example:

Achieved 90% patient satisfaction scores, surpassing department goal by 15%
Implemented a new dysphagia protocol, reducing aspiration pneumonia rates by 20%
Presented at 3 national conferences on innovative aphasia treatment techniques

Avoid making claims without supporting data:

Provided excellent patient care
Improved dysphagia outcomes
Spoke at conferences

Include relevant certifications and training

List any certifications, advanced training, or continuing education relevant to speech therapy. For instance:

Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP)
LSVT LOUD certified for Parkinson's treatment
Completed 30+ hours of CE courses on dysphagia assessment and management

But be selective - no need to include unrelated or outdated info, such as:

CPR certified in 2010
Attended a nursing conference

Demonstrate leadership and teamwork

Employers value SLPs who can lead and collaborate. Show this through examples like:

Mentored and trained 5 graduate student interns
Collaborated with 10+ member interdisciplinary teams to develop patient care plans
Chaired the Dysphagia Committee to update clinical protocols

Skip cliches or unsupported statements like:

Strong leadership skills
Team player
Dedicated mentor

Tailor your resume to the job

Align your resume with the job requirements for each position. For a school-based role, you could say:

Conducted speech and language evaluations for 50+ students in grades K-5, developing IEPs and providing individual and group therapy.

But for a skilled nursing facility job, highlight different experience:

Managed a caseload of 25 geriatric patients in a SNF setting, providing dysphagia treatment and cognitive-linguistic therapy.

Avoid a one-size-fits-all approach, like a generic resume summary:

Speech therapist with 5 years of experience seeking a new opportunity to grow my career and help patients.

Writing Your Speech Therapist Resume: Section By Section

Summary

A resume summary for a speech therapist is optional, but it can be a valuable addition if you want to provide context or highlight details that aren't already covered in your resume. It's particularly useful if you're changing careers and your past experience doesn't directly align with your current goals, or if you're an experienced professional with a lot of relevant background to showcase.

However, it's important to avoid repeating information that's already included elsewhere in your resume. Instead, focus on adding new insights and tailoring your summary to the specific speech therapist role you're targeting. Incorporate relevant keywords and job titles to optimize your resume for applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Keep your summary concise, ideally no more than a paragraph. Avoid directly mentioning soft skills or using corporate buzzwords like "proven track record." Bullet points are not recommended in this section.

How to write a resume summary if you are applying for a Speech Therapist resume

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1. Highlight specialized speech therapy skills

When crafting your speech therapist resume summary, emphasize the specialized skills and experience that make you stand out in the field. Consider the following examples:

Passionate speech therapist with strong communication skills and a desire to help others
Hardworking speech therapist with 5 years of experience working with diverse populations

While these summaries convey enthusiasm and mention relevant experience, they lack the specificity and depth that will capture a hiring manager's attention. Instead, try highlighting your expertise with particular techniques, disorders, or patient populations:

Speech-language pathologist specializing in evaluating and treating children with autism spectrum disorders, utilizing evidence-based practices such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
Bilingual speech therapist experienced in assessing and treating speech, language, and swallowing disorders in adult patients within acute care settings, with expertise in modified barium swallow studies and dysphagia management

By showcasing your niche skills and experiences, you demonstrate the unique value you bring to the role and help your resume stand out from the competition.

After crafting your summary, run your resume through Score My Resume for instant feedback on 30+ key criteria hiring managers look for, ensuring you're putting your best foot forward.

2. Quantify your impact as a speech therapist

To make your speech therapist resume summary more impactful, include quantifiable achievements that demonstrate the tangible results you've delivered in previous roles. Here's an example of a summary that lacks measurable outcomes:

Dedicated speech therapist with experience developing and implementing treatment plans for patients with various communication disorders. Skilled in conducting assessments, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, and providing patient education.

While this summary touches on important responsibilities and skills, it doesn't provide evidence of the therapist's effectiveness. Contrast that with a summary that incorporates quantifiable accomplishments:

Results-driven speech therapist with 7+ years of experience managing a caseload of 30+ patients per week. Achieved a 95% patient satisfaction rate and helped 85% of patients meet their treatment goals within the targeted timeframe. Implemented a new screening protocol that reduced evaluation time by 20%, improving clinic efficiency.

By using numbers, percentages, and other concrete metrics, this summary paints a clearer picture of the therapist's successes and the value they can bring to a new employer.

When highlighting your achievements, be sure to choose examples that are most relevant to the speech therapist role you're seeking. Tailor your resume to the job description using Targeted Resume to ensure you're emphasizing the right skills and experience.

Experience

Your work experience section is the heart of your speech therapist resume. It's where you show hiring managers that you have the skills and experience to excel in the role. To create a compelling work experience section, focus on highlighting your most relevant and impressive achievements.

In this section, we'll break down the key steps to crafting a work experience section that will make your speech therapist resume stand out.

1. Use strong speech therapy action verbs

When describing your work experience, use strong action verbs that are specific to speech therapy. This helps hiring managers quickly understand your skills and expertise. For example:

Developed and implemented individualized treatment plans for patients with speech and language disorders
Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to create comprehensive care plans
Conducted assessments to diagnose and evaluate speech, language, and swallowing disorders

Avoid using weak or generic verbs that don't effectively communicate your contributions, such as:

Worked with patients
Helped create treatment plans
Responsible for conducting assessments

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Tip: Use Targeted Resume to ensure your resume includes the right action verbs and keywords for the speech therapist role you're applying for.

2. Highlight your specializations and certifications

As a speech therapist, you may have specialized in certain areas or earned additional certifications. Be sure to showcase these in your work experience section to demonstrate your expertise. For example:

Specialized in treating pediatric patients with autism spectrum disorder, utilizing evidence-based practices such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Earned Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)

By highlighting your specializations and certifications, you show hiring managers that you have the advanced skills and knowledge to excel in the role.

When listing certifications, include the full name of the certification and the issuing organization to ensure clarity.

3. Quantify your achievements with metrics

Whenever possible, use metrics to quantify your achievements and demonstrate your impact. This helps hiring managers understand the scope and significance of your contributions. For example:

Developed and implemented speech therapy programs for 50+ patients, resulting in an average improvement of 30% in speech clarity and fluency
Collaborated with a team of 5 therapists to create and deliver group therapy sessions, serving 20 patients per week
Conducted 100+ patient evaluations, accurately diagnosing and developing treatment plans for a variety of speech and language disorders

If you don't have access to specific metrics, you can still use numbers to provide context and scale to your achievements:

Trained and mentored 3 new speech therapists, ensuring they were equipped with the skills and knowledge to provide high-quality patient care

Using Score My Resume can help you identify areas where you can incorporate more metrics and quantifiable achievements to strengthen your resume.

4. Showcase your career growth and promotions

If you've experienced career growth or earned promotions in your previous roles, be sure to highlight this in your work experience section. This demonstrates your ability to take on increasing responsibility and excel in your field. For example:

Speech Therapist, ABC Rehabilitation Center, 2018-2022
Senior Speech Therapist, ABC Rehabilitation Center, 2022-Present
- Promoted to Senior Speech Therapist due to strong patient outcomes and leadership skills
- Mentored and trained a team of 5 junior therapists, ensuring high-quality care delivery

By showcasing your career progression, you show hiring managers that you have the potential to grow and contribute to their organization in the long term.

Tip: Bold your job titles to make your career progression stand out at a glance.

Education

Your education section is a crucial part of your speech therapist resume. It shows employers that you have the necessary qualifications and training to excel in the role. Here are some key tips to follow when writing your education section:

1. Highlight your speech-language pathology degree

As a speech therapist, your most important qualification is your speech-language pathology degree. Make sure to list your degree prominently in your education section, along with the name of the institution you attended and the year you graduated.

Here's an example of how to format your degree:

Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology
University of XYZ, 2018

If you have multiple degrees, list them in reverse chronological order, with your most recent degree first.

2. Include relevant coursework and clinical experience

If you are a recent graduate or have limited work experience, you can strengthen your education section by including relevant coursework and clinical experience. This shows employers that you have hands-on experience in the field.

Here are some examples of relevant coursework and clinical experience to include:

Coursework: Articulation Disorders, Fluency Disorders, Dysphagia
Clinical Experience: Conducted speech and language evaluations for pediatric clients

Only include coursework and clinical experience if it is directly relevant to the speech therapist role you are applying for.

3. List certifications and licenses

In addition to your degree, employers will want to see that you have the necessary certifications and licenses to practice as a speech therapist. Be sure to list these in your education section.

Here's an example of how to format your certifications and licenses:

Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP), American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2019
Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, State of California, 2019

If you have multiple certifications or licenses, list them in order of relevance to the job you are applying for.

4. Keep it concise for senior-level positions

If you are a senior-level speech therapist with many years of experience, you don't need to include as much detail in your education section. Employers will be more interested in your work experience and accomplishments.

Here's an example of a concise education section for a senior speech therapist:

M.S. Speech-Language Pathology, ABC University
B.A. Communication Disorders, XYZ College

In contrast, here's an example of what not to include:

M.S. Speech-Language Pathology, ABC University, 1995-1997
Relevant Coursework: Articulation Disorders, Fluency Disorders, Dysphagia
Clinical Experience: Conducted speech and language evaluations for pediatric clients

If you graduated more than 10-15 years ago, consider removing the graduation year to avoid potential age discrimination.

Skills

The skills section is a critical part of your speech therapist resume. It's where you highlight your most relevant abilities and expertise to show employers you're the right fit for the job. Focus on hard skills, techniques, and tools that are specific to speech therapy roles. Avoid generic soft skills like 'communication' or 'teamwork.'

Here are some tips to help you write an effective skills section:

1. Tailor your skills to the job description

Many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to automatically screen resumes. These systems look for specific keywords from the job description. To get past the ATS and impress hiring managers, make sure you include relevant skills they're looking for.

For example, if a speech therapist job description mentions 'dysphagia treatment,' 'AAC devices,' and 'IEP planning,' include those exact terms in your skills section (if you have those skills). This will help demonstrate you're a good match for the role.

Dysphagia treatment
AAC devices (e.g. Tobii Dynavox)
IEP planning and goal writing
Articulation therapy
PECS

After tailoring your resume skills to the job, try putting your resume through Score My Resume. This tool from Resume Worded checks your resume on 30+ key criteria hiring managers care about, including your skills section. It's like getting instant feedback from an expert.

2. Focus on speech therapy-specific hard skills

Hiring managers want to see concrete evidence of your abilities as a speech therapist. Emphasize technical skills, knowledge areas, and tools of the trade.

Good speech therapist skills for your resume include:

Diagnostic tests (e.g. GFTA-3, CELF-5)
Treatment techniques (e.g. LSVT, PROMPT)
Disorders and conditions (e.g. apraxia, dysarthria, aphasia)
Anatomy and physiology (e.g. oral-motor, swallowing, vocal cords)
Documentation (e.g. SOAP notes, EMR)

Avoid listing soft skills or generic traits like 'hardworking' or 'good communicator.' While these are important, they don't speak directly to your speech therapy expertise. Show these qualities through your work experience and achievements instead.

When in doubt, leave it out. Don't pad your skills section with skills that are outdated, too basic, or irrelevant to speech therapy. For example, avoid listing 'Microsoft Word' (too generic) or an obscure treatment approach you learned years ago but never use anymore.

3. Organize skills into categories

If you have a lot of skills to showcase, break them up into categories. This makes your skills section easier to read and helps highlight your different areas of expertise.

For instance, you might group your speech therapist skills like this:

Diagnostic Tools: GFTA-3, CELF-5, OWLS-II, TELD-4
Treatment Approaches: LSVT LOUD, PROMPT, Floortime, PECS
Specialties: Articulation disorders, language delays, autism, fluency disorders
Documentation: SOAP notes, IEP writing, EMR (Epic)

Avoid doing this:

Skills: assessment, treatment planning, IEPs, Epic, autism, apraxia, dysarthria, articulation therapy, LSVT, PROMPT, GFTA, CELF, SOAP notes, Spanish...

The bad example is an overwhelming wall of text. Grouping your skills makes them more digestible and showcases the breadth of your knowledge.

Tailor your skills categories to your career level too. New grads might have a 'Clinical Practicum Skills' category, while seasoned SLPs could include 'Leadership' or 'Program Development.' Think about how you can use categories to paint a clear picture of your capabilities.

Skills For Speech Therapist Resumes

Here are examples of popular skills from Speech Therapist job descriptions that you can include on your resume.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Counseling Psychology
Mental Health
Mindfulness
Motivational Interviewing
Psychotherapy
Psychology
Behavioral Health
Interventions
Crisis Intervention

Match Your Resume To These Skills

Skills Word Cloud For Speech Therapist Resumes

This word cloud highlights the important keywords that appear on Speech Therapist job descriptions and resumes. The bigger the word, the more frequently it appears on job postings, and the more likely you should include it in your resume.

Top Speech Therapist Skills and Keywords to Include On Your Resume

For more skills, visit Speech Therapist Skills & Keywords.

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