speech pathology research internship

Speech Pathology Internships – Your Complete Guide to Selecting the SLP Internship That’s Right for You

One of the most exciting parts of your training to become a speech language pathologist is taking part in internships. No matter how interesting and exciting your classroom experiences are, they don’t hold a candle to the thrill of actually stepping into the job of offering speech therapy to real-world patients.

That’s what an internship gives you. You are placed in a real job, handling the real challenge of speech language therapy on a daily basis. All those examples you read about in the classroom are suddenly walking in the door. You get the intense experience of interacting with patients who need you, and the important guidance of colleagues who have come before you.

It’s not all wine and roses, though. Becoming a speech language pathologist is serious business, and an internship is hard work. You need to be a sponge, soaking up everything you see, absorbing knowledge and skills. You need to model your behavior and practices on the experienced professionals around you. At the same time, you need to constantly be thinking about how you can do it different, do it better, once you are licensed and responsible for your own patients.

It’s a lot to wrap up in a few months, but it’s an experience you’ll have to master on the path to becoming an SLP.

Speech Language Pathology Internships Are Important On-The-Job Training

As a profession that lives and breathes clinical practice, speech language pathology follows the same educational path as other medical and psychological roles. That is, in addition to extensive classroom and simulation training, it includes practical, on-the-job training as a standard part of learning how to be an SLP therapist.

In fact, every graduate SLP program will include some kind of internship arrangement for practical experience. The ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA) requires that accredited programs include supervised clinical experience of sufficient depth and breadth to fulfill the standards expected in knowledge and skills. That clinical practice is almost always only accomplished through internship rotations.

Your SLP internship will help build the skills you need to succeed in the industry and will shape your entire career as a speech therapist.

Most schools include more than one rotation as a part of the typical master’s program. That gives you not only the breadth of experience, but also a chance to sample the potential specialization areas within the field. It also exposes you to different work settings, so you can decide what kind of patients and what sort of jobs you are interested in pursuing after graduation.

Do SLP interns get paid?

There is no hard and fast rule about internship pay for speech language pathology placements. Whether or not your internship hours will be compensated, or if you will effectively be trading your time for on-the-job training depends on the specific internship arrangement.

How long do SLP internships last?

SLP internships typically last from a few months up to a year. The placement is designed to give you enough time to absorb some of the real-world lessons that come with active clinical practice, so you can expect an internship to last long enough for you to get comfortable in your work and deliver some real assessment and therapy services.

What is an SLP medical internship?

According to ASHA, over 40 percent of SLPs work in schools or educational environments. But there is also a sizable percentage of SLPs who work primarily in medical environments such as hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, or long-term care settings. An SLP medical internship takes place in one of these settings rather than a school or independent therapy practice. Although qualifications for medical SLPs are no different than regular speech therapists, the work setting does mean dealing with different types of problems and working with different kinds of care teams. These internships are valuable for anyone heading to medical practice instead of educational or private settings.

Speech Pathology Internships for Undergraduates

Direct internships in speech pathology are not usually available to undergraduate students, even if you are majoring in SLP or audiology for your bachelor’s. The kind of work that SLP internships involve really require that you have at least started your graduate education in the field. Even senior undergrad students just don’t have the kind of skillsets required.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t find volunteer or sub-clinical employment opportunities as an undergrad that can serve as a sort of shadow internship in SLP. Or you can find non-clinical internship opportunities in organizations that offer speech language therapy, working as an office assistant or in caregiver positions. Any of these options help you get exposure to the field and boost your chances of being accepted into a graduate program in SLP.

SLP Internships vs Other Kinds of Clinical Experiences

One of the more popular options you will hear about is the externship. Externship placements give you observational positions in hospitals, clinics, schools, or other environments where SLP services are offered. They give you a short-term exposure to the realities of SLP therapy work without completely immersing you for long periods. That makes them a great choice for getting an idea of what type of specialization you might be interested in pursuing in SLP.

Externships offer a preview of what life is like in a particular kind of SLP position without actually putting you in that position.

An SLP clinical fellowship is an option after graduation, but it is not the same thing as an externship. Fellowships are a type of time-limited job that are designed as a way to get highly specialized training in a particular area of SLP. Examples include:

• Intensive Care
• Neurological Rehabilitation
• Pediatric Care

Fellowships typically last a year. You are paid for your work there, but it’s as much a learning and training experience as a functional position. Instead, it’s just a longer and more intensive kind of on-the-job training than an internship, at a more advanced level.

What’s the difference between a speech pathology internship and externship?

An SLP internship is designed to deliver practical, on-the-job experience working with patients as a speech-language pathologist. An externship, on the other hand, is built to offer you an overview of the position. Externships may last only days or weeks while internships are months or more. You have no real responsibility and possibly no patient contact in an externship position, where an internship gives you genuine tasks and responsibilities to complete as part of the learning experience.

Resources for Finding Speech Therapy Internships

Your career in speech language pathology will get a big boost from finding the right internship opportunities early on. So it’s important to start consulting these resources and getting familiar with the options as soon as possible.

Internships for SLP students aren’t all that easy to find, however.

Your first stop in internship searches should be your master’s program. Since internships are a required part of the program, you can be sure they have worked out arrangements with various local providers to place students in a variety of positions. Odds are, they have a good working relationship with most local SLP employers and probably even trained some of the staff at those organizations, so there is already an inside track set up for you.

Hunting Down Internship Opportunities Independently

Sometimes, though, you may be interested in interning in a type of setting that your program hasn’t dealt with before, or outside the local area. Your counselors and professors are likely to be supportive, but you are going to be left to do a lot of footwork on your own if that’s your goal.

Many clinics are happy to have the extra set of hands around at a low cost that an intern represents. But they aren’t always familiar with the process of hiring and managing interns. So you may have to do some convincing to get your foot in the door.

Checking job listings, whether on the ASHA website or just regular job boards, can sometimes net you internship positions. If they aren’t marked as such, it’s sometimes useful to just look for organizations hiring entry-level SLPs. That tells you they are in the market for someone at a beginner level and maybe not wanting to pay a lot—perfect candidates to talk into an internship offer.

Making the Most of Your Speech Language Pathology Internship

Your goals need to be an asset that is low-maintenance and high-value… the person who brings the coffee and donuts in the morning and doesn’t complain about the hours. No one at your placement owes you anything. You need them to want to ask you to sit in on the most interesting cases, to chat with you over lunch about the tips and tricks that have made their careers a success.

Other winning techniques to get the most out of your internship include:

• Learn everyone’s name on day one
• Be excited about what you are seeing and learning
• Be respectful and don’t overstep your bounds
• Go to work with goals for what you want to learn every day
• Be flexible about what you are willing to take on
• Prepare for both your cases and for professional interaction and communication

Although it can be intimidating to show up for the first day of an internship placement, keep in mind that everyone at your placement went through the same thing. They are going to understand your challenges and help you through. You’ll fit in in no time at all.

What Comes After Your Speech Pathology Internship?

Internships for SLP students aren’t the end of the road in your education. You might look for a fellowship opportunity, but most new SLP graduates are likely to put in a few years on the job before making such a serious decision.

After you complete your internship, you’ll need to find a full-time role. Here’s how to prepare for an SLP interview.

Even after your master’s degree and internship experience, almost no employer is truly going to consider you to be fully trained in your first full-time position. You can expect to aim for entry-level positions that are going to include a lot of basic cases and mentorship from other staff while you get up to speed.

But don’t forget what you learn in your internship placements, either. You should treat them as a full dress rehearsal for the reality of day-to-day work in speech therapy. Whether it’s handling yourself as a professional or dealing with a tricky swallowing issue, you can take all that valuable real-world experience with you to build on when you get started in your first real position.

• Emerson College - Master's in Speech-Language Pathology online - Prepare to become an SLP in as few as 20 months. No GRE required. Scholarships available.
• Arizona State University - Online - Online Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science - Designed to prepare graduates to work in behavioral health settings or transition to graduate programs in speech-language pathology and audiology.
• NYU Steinhardt - NYU Steinhardt's Master of Science in Communicative Sciences and Disorders online - ASHA-accredited. Bachelor's degree required. Graduate prepared to pursue licensure.
• Calvin University - Calvin University's Online Speech and Hearing Foundations Certificate - Helps You Gain a Strong Foundation for Your Speech-Language Pathology Career.
• George Mason University - George Mason University's Graduate Programs in Special Education, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and Applied Behavior Analysis. - Prepares you for a rewarding career as a Speech and Language Pathologist.

Fellowship Programs section navigation

Emory voice center summer research internship.

The Emory Voice Center is pleased to announce an opening for a paid Summer Research Intern. Qualified applicants will be speech-language pathology graduate students in excellent academic standing, with an interest in voice research. The internship is directed by Amanda I. Gillespie, PhD, CCC-SLP. The intern will work closely with voice center faculty (specifically Dr. Gillespie), clinical and research staff, and will assist in clinical research projects, which include but are not limited to, learning research methods and techniques, data collection and analysis, and participant management. This experience will potentially result in publication and presentation.

The intern will also have the opportunity to observe all levels of clinical practice at the Emory Voice Center, such as multidisciplinary diagnostic voice, swallowing and upper airway clinics, speaking and singing voice therapy, modified barium swallow studies and FEES exams, and surgical procedures. The intern will participate in weekly voice rounds and Otolaryngology grand rounds.   

Application

Interested applicants should submit  in one pdf  a CV, unofficial school transcript, and an essay (maximum 2 pages) detailing their interest and qualifications to  [email protected]  no later than Dec 1, 2023. This internship does not support foreign visas, nor is it affiliated with the Emory Voice Center clinical fellowship program.  

Internship Dates

The internship runs from approximately mid-June through end-August, 2024. Start and end dates are flexible, to be agreed upon by selected intern & Dr. Gillespie. 

For more information about the Emory Voice Center, please visit emoryvoicecenter.org 

This mentored 10-week program within the Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology runs from June – August.

Program Details

The summer Professional Speech Pathology/Audiology Assistant program has typically invited students each year to work a 40 hour week for a total of 10 weeks. This is a paid position.

Placements may be in the acute care and outpatient settings for both adult and pediatric populations.

The Summer Professional Speech Pathology/Audiology Assistant program is designed to offer students the opportunity to:

• Increase awareness of the scope of practice for medical speech pathology/audiology
• Advance interest in and capacity for providing optimal patient care in a variety of clinical settings and assorted diagnoses throughout the health system
• Develop critical-thinking skills and professional communication skills
• Ongoing observation and mentoring with experienced clinicians

Participants are paid to learn while working a 40-hour work schedule (Monday – Friday) in a combination of inpatient/outpatient and hospital/clinic settings. All participants work on special Departmental projects in addition to having the opportunity to observe all types of clinical speech pathology and audiology practice in a variety of medical settings.

Conferences

Participants have the opportunity to attend multiple continuing education opportunities throughout the program. 

Duke Speech Pathology and Audiology offers monthly hour-long lunch and learn educational sessions on current topics it the field. Local experts present on interesting topics related to speech-language pathology and audiology. 

How to Apply

The requirements for the position are as follows:

• Participants must be enrolled as an undergraduate student and have an interest in audiology or speech pathology

Applications will be accepted mid-February through mid-March. To apply, interested candidates would submit the following information to the Department of Speech Pathology & Audiology’s Human Resources Office, either by email  [email protected]  or by fax 919-613-8230, with subject line indicating SLP/A Summer Student. For further information please call 919-684-6271.

• Brief letter of interest
• Minimum of 3 names to serve as professional references

Program Timeline

• Program typically begins: End of May 
• Program ends: Beginning of August
• Application deadline: Mid-March  

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Home / Speech Pathology Career Guide / Speech Pathology Internships Guide

If you’re considering a career as a speech-language pathologist (SLP), understanding your educational and professional options is key to selecting a training path that matches your goals. This guide will highlight the different real-world training environments available to SLP students and recent program graduates.

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• Prepares you to pursue certification as an SLP generalist
• In-person clinical placements at faculty-approved partner sites
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Want to Become an SLP? Earn an MS Online at NYU

NYU Steinhardt’s online master of science program in Communicative Sciences and Disorders prepares aspiring speech-language pathologists with a comprehensive professional education.

• Prepares students to pursue SLP licensure 
• Accredited by ASHA’s Council on Academic Accreditation 
• As few as six terms to complete 
• Full-time and part-time plans of study

Speech Pathologist Internships vs. Externships 

An internship provides  master’s in speech-language pathology  students with an opportunity to gain valuable experience in the field before  becoming a certified speech pathologist  and get a taste of what a  career as a speech pathologist  would be like. Internships are typically:

• An opportunity for employers to train potential SLPs in their specific methods
• Limited to no more than one year
• Less formal than an externship

At various points during your  graduate SLP program , you may be required to complete an externship as part of the degree plan. Externships are typically :

• Prearranged between the academic program and the externship site
• A way for students to gain and demonstrate knowledge and skills learned during the academic program
• Shorter than internships, lasting a few days or weeks

Both types of off-campus training are usually held at clinical sites.

Difference Between SLP Clinical Fellowship and Externship

After  getting into speech pathology school , you may be required to complete an SLP externship as part of a clinical doctoral program. The academic program will have a formal agreement with the externship site that outlines expectations of the school, site supervisor and students. Part of the arrangement requires the site to confirm you are demonstrating required competencies set by the academic program. Most externships are unpaid, but some may be paid. 

Clinical fellowships  are reserved for individuals who have already graduated from an SLP program. These opportunities may take the form of a paid employment position.

Each educational opportunity allows the individual to take what they’ve learned and apply it to a real-life setting.

Finding and Matching with an SLP Internship

Locating an SLP internship that’s a good fit takes effort. A good place to start is the  ASHA website  and  career portal . Click “Find a Job link,” then browse by experience level to view open internships across the country.

You can also ask your academic program clinic directors about internship opportunities. While discussing options, consider whether this person could serve as a mentor. They might be willing to do more than make a referral for an internship. A mentor can provide you with additional suggestions based on their experience in the field.

Speech Pathology Graduate Internship Checklist 

Assess your readiness for your speech pathology graduate internship with this handy checklist. Before your first day, be sure you:

• Read the internship policy manual, ideally before your first day. Knowing the site’s expectations can reduce awkward interactions and demonstrate that you appreciate the opportunity to complete the internship at their location.
• Confirm the work attire. Inappropriate clothing can give the impression that you don’t respect the site or clients. First impressions are hard to erase and can color the rest of your time at the internship. 
• Prepare your support materials. One key to staying organized is having the right tools. Materials might include note pages, language guides, calendar or planner pages, SLP reference handouts, etc. Bring a binder on your first day so you can add to it and take notes.

Guidelines for a Rewarding Speech Pathologist Internship

Below are some common suggestions for how to get the most out of your speech pathology internship: 

• Put a name to each face. While it might be overwhelming to learn each person’s name on your caseload, taking the time is worth the effort. Set a goal to learn the names and faces of your clients within a set time. If the site has pictures in its database, you might start by reviewing files and learning five unfamiliar names, faces and client goals a day. 
• Give more than the minimum. Show your commitment to the field by going above and beyond the minimum requirements for the internship. Express your desire to help in other areas. The exposure will increase your professional knowledge, and you may also learn more about yourself.
• Accept constructive criticism. It’s challenging to grow and mature in the field without receiving constructive criticism. Student clinicians are supervised by seasoned professionals whose role requires them to provide feedback. Dismissing negative, but valid criticism slams the door on learning. Whether you agree with the comments or not, always ask questions to make sure you understand the feedback. Even more important, follow through on any improvement plans created because of the evaluation.
• Voice your goals. This isn’t the time to be shy about your career aspirations. Communicate what you’d like to learn. Your clinician probably won’t be able to make any promises, but they can stay alert to training opportunities that align with your goals.

9 Things To Do During Your SLP Internship

During a speech pathology internship, you may encounter a lot of firsts. Here are some common tips that can help you prepare to meet some of those challenges head-on.

1. Be aware of how you’ll communicate

Know when you’re going to meet with your clinician. Will it be once a week? At the start of the day? Can you text your clinician off-hours? Learn all this so you can keep lines of communication open.

2. Be clear about your role in meetings

If you have not been given any duties in an individualized education program (IEP) meeting, it may be wise to observe and take notes. 

3. Be familiar with the layout

You’ll be learning a lot, but make sure you know where classrooms and therapy materials are located. You might want to keep a map of the location until you feel more comfortable.

4. Be humble 

You may fail at some things. You may also face criticism from your clinician. Know that this is how you learn, so try to take this feedback well. 

5. Be mindful of your time

After all, it’s your supervisor’s time, too. Aim not to be late, even a few minutes. This may demonstrate a lack of preparation or difficulty with scheduling. You don’t want to sow doubts about your abilities.

6. Be open about your goals

Make sure you communicate with your clinician about specific aspects and caseload expectations you’d like to experience. It might not happen, but you might get special opportunities.

7. Be prepared and be flexible

Your supervisor is watching to see how you will plan therapy. Be ready to implement a plan, but know that you may need to adjust it. 

8. Be respectful of your master clinician

Show respect and listen. Your clinician is a professional who has been in the field and has a lot of experience and knowledge to share with speech pathology students. Don’t miss this enriching opportunity.

9. Be thankful for this opportunity 

Supervisors don’t usually get paid extra for helping you out, but internships are invaluable to students. Don’t spend your time complaining and critiquing the process.

Tips for Supervising Speech Pathology Graduate Interns

If you find yourself fortunate enough to supervise speech pathology school students, apply these tips to help your graduate intern thrive.

Set expectations early . When your student knows what’s expected of them at the internship site, they can succeed. If they have to guess about the dress code, session procedures or clock in/out policies, disagreements and ill-feelings are likely to develop. Students who feel they can meet established expectations may perform better and share their positive experiences with others.

Encourage critical thinking.  Students will need these skills to effectively problem-solve for their clients. Figuring out how to select appropriate therapy materials, design effective treatment plans and interpret evaluation results requires critical thinking. If you provide answers to student questions before encouraging them to think through their options, they may have a tough time working as a professional SLP. Respond to their questions with a question. Encourage competency by guiding them on the path to the correct answer instead of merely responding.

Stick to a routine . Schedule your time in blocks to ensure you have time to give direct feedback to your students. If you commit to the same time each week, you can avoid unnecessary stress for you and your student. It keeps both you and your student accountable. Try not to reschedule booked time for anything other than an actual emergency.

Perform a self-assessment . Use ASHA’s  Appendix E: Self-Assessment of Competencies in Supervision  form to uncover your strengths and weaknesses. Turn the results into a training plan to improve your supervision skills. It can help you as you continue in your role supervising SLP students.

Resources for Finding Speech Pathology Internships

American speech-language-hearing association (asha) career portal.

This national professional, scientific, and credentialing association boasts 211,000 members and affiliates representing audiologists, speech-language pathologists, students and more. The  ASHA career portal  provides links to help you find externship opportunities and employment in the industry.

ASHA has additional resources for individuals seeking fellowships, internships and jobs in the field. Some include:

• Speech-Language Pathologist Job Search
• Job Search Tips and Tactics
• Building Your Professional Brand
• 7 Tips to Help You Get the Most Out of a Career Fair
• 5 Tips to Help You Shine in Your Next Job Interview
• 6 Tips for a Great Cover Letter
• How to Write a CV

Ridge Zeller Therapy Blog

The  Ridge Zeller Therapy blog  welcomes SLP interns and features helpful articles for parents, caregivers, and those interested in the field or already pursuing training. They also offer clinical fellowships, internships, externships and job shadowing opportunities. Recent blog posts include:

• Five-Step Speech Pathology Graduate Internship Checklist for Success
• Ways to Help Your Angry Child
• Better Hearing and Speech Month

SLP Now  is run by a school-based SLP who offers tips and tricks she’s learned. Content focuses on caseload management, speech room organization and therapy planning. She also runs a podcast where she interviews other SLP professionals about their experiences and industry trends. Recent posts and podcasts include:

• 10 Tips to Survive Your SLP Clinical Fellowship in the Schools
• Podcast: Stress Management Strategies for SLPs
• Podcast:  Tips and Tricks for Working with Bilingual Students

Information last updated September 2020