Speech Therapist job description.
A Speech Therapist evaluates and treats individuals with speech, language, voice, and swallowing disorders. Working in clinics, schools, or hospitals, they design individualized treatment plans, track patient progress, and collaborate with families and other healthcare or education professionals to support communication goals.
The Speech Therapist job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Speech Therapist Reports to: Clinical Director or Rehabilitation Services Manager
A Speech Therapist evaluates and treats individuals with speech, language, voice, and swallowing disorders. Working in clinics, schools, or hospitals, they design individualized treatment plans, track patient progress, and collaborate with families and other healthcare or education professionals to support communication goals.
- Evaluate patients for speech, language, voice, and swallowing disorders
- Develop and implement individualized treatment plans
- Deliver therapy sessions using evidence-based techniques and tools
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Clinical Director or Rehabilitation Services Manager
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Evaluate patients for speech, language, voice, and swallowing disorders
- Develop and implement individualized treatment plans
- Deliver therapy sessions using evidence-based techniques and tools
- Track and document patient progress toward treatment goals
- Collaborate with physicians, teachers, and family members on care plans
- Educate patients and caregivers on exercises and communication strategies
- Maintain accurate clinical records in compliance with regulations
- Stay current on speech-language pathology research and best practices
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Master's degree in speech-language pathology
- Current licensure/board certification as required by state and employer
- Clinical fellowship experience or equivalent supervised practice
- Strong assessment and communication skills
- Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP)
- Experience with pediatric or geriatric populations
- Bilingual therapy delivery experience
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Speech Therapist job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Speech Therapist job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The mid band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Clinical Director or Rehabilitation Services Manager) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- What licensure does a Speech Therapist need?
- Speech therapists must hold current licensure/board certification as required by their state and employer, typically requiring a master's degree and supervised clinical hours.
- Where do Speech Therapists typically work?
- Common settings include schools, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and skilled nursing facilities, depending on the population served.
Other documents in this neighbourhood.
Speech-Language Pathologist
A Speech-Language Pathologist evaluates and treats individuals with speech, language, voice, and swallowing disorders.
Occupational Therapist
An Occupational Therapist helps patients develop or regain the skills needed for daily living and work activities following injury, illness, or disability.
Physical Therapist
A Physical Therapist evaluates and treats patients with movement impairments caused by injury, illness, or disability.
This Speech Therapist job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.