Bilingual Speech Pathologist Salary and Careers

Bilingual Speech Pathologist Job Description: What Is a Bilingual Speech Pathologist?

The journey to becoming a bilingual speaker is unique for all—from when the second language is learned, to how often each learned language is spoken, to how one’s primary language influences how a second language is spoken—as many variables make each bilingual experience its very own. That being said, it is not surprising that many speakers with bilingual speech disorders require care from a speech-language pathologist (SLP) who has a firm grasp of these complexities. Bilingual speech pathologists, referred to by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) as bilingual service providers (BSPs), are SLPs who have the knowledge and skills to address the unique needs of the bilingual speaker and the specific languages that that person speaks.

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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

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Bilingual Speech Pathology Job Requirements

According to ASHA, one must meet several skill requirements, in addition to those already needed to become a speech pathologist, to have a bilingual speech pathology career:

Near Native Proficiency in a Second Language: Bilingual SLPs must know a second spoken or signed language at near native proficiency or better. This includes near native understanding of that language’s vocabulary, pronunciation, semantics (meaning), usage and grammar.

Describe Typical Speech and Language Acquisition in Second Language: A BSP must be able to tell clients what normal speech and language development looks like in the primary and secondary language, in terms of written, spoken and if applicable, signed word.

Assessment Selection and Delivery: BSPs must understand how to select the right bilingual speech and language assessment tools and how to interpret the results properly in the required languages. Assessment of a bilingual speaker considers the history of when the patient learned each language spoken, how often each language is spoken, in what scenarios each language is spoken and more.

Diagnose and Treat in a Second Language: Near native proficiency of the BSP’s language must extend to his or her ability to diagnose and treat bilingual speech disorders, including speech, language, swallowing, vocal and cognitive disorders in the preferred language of each client that he or she serves using the method of communication favored by that client.

Understand Communication Difference vs Communication Disorder: Learning two languages can create normal differences in how a bilingual speaker speaks each language that do not indicate bilingual speech disorder. A BSP must understand this to properly diagnose patients. Examples of communication differences include inferences and transfers—errors in one’s use of a secondary language due to the way his or her primary language is structured.

Silent Period: When children are learning a second language, they often go through a period where they can understand much more than they can put into words, resulting in a “silent period” where the child listens in order to further develop their skills in that language. Some may confuse this with selective mutism.

Code-switching: Switching between languages within a sentence or phrase is very normal for bilingual speakers. A properly qualified BSP will understand when variations are used outside of the typical constraints of code-switching and therefore may indicate disorder.

Cultural Understanding: BSPs must be sensitive to how one’s culture may affect a patient’s needs.

Bilingual Speech Pathologist Salary

While the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not parse out bilingual service provider salaries specifically, they do list the median annual salary for speech language pathologists as $80,480 in May 2020. The top 10% of SLPs earned more than $120,000 per year.

Bilingual Speech Pathology Work Environment

According to a 2020 survey by ASHA (PDF, 340KB), BSPs work in the following settings:

  • Colleges: 4.7%
  • Other Schools: 43.4%
  • Hospitals: 11.9%
  • Non-Residential Health Care Facilities: 29.3%
  • Residential Health Care: 7.4%
  • Other: 8.7%

This is a similar breakdown to SLP work settings as a whole. One difference in BSP employment is that 33.5% of them are employed in private practice, which is only the case for 22.4% of SLPs overall.

In 2020, only 8% of SLPs represented by ASHA met the requirements to be a bilingual service provider (BSP), according to an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Demographic Profile of ASHA Members Providing Bilingual Services (PDF, 340 KB). With the possibility of increased earning potential and the chance to help people across more than one language, it is no wonder that you may be considering becoming a bilingual speech pathologist. Although everyone’s journey is different, here are some typical steps to become a bilingual speech pathologist:

How to Become a Bilingual Speech Pathologist in Four Steps

In 2020, only 8% of SLPs represented by ASHA met the requirements to be a bilingual service provider (BSP), according to an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Demographic Profile of ASHA Members Providing Bilingual Services (PDF, 340 KB).External link:open_in_new With the possibility of increased earning potential and the chance to help people across more than one language, it is no wonder that you may be considering becoming a bilingual speech pathologist. Although everyone’s journey is different, here are some typical steps to become a bilingual speech pathologist:

  1. Complete Bilingual Speech Pathology Education Requirements

    Bilingual speech pathology careers require following the path to becoming a traditional speech pathologist, with a few additional considerations. According to ASHA, some speech pathology master’s programs offer bilingual training programs, but participation in these programs is not required as long as you meet the skill and language requirements. Learn more about the path to becoming a general speech pathologist in our resource, Becoming a Speech Pathologist: A Step by Step Guide.

  2. Consider a Bilingual Extension Speech Language Pathology Program

    ASHA does not accredit any university programs for bilingual service delivery specifically, but some schools will offer such concentrations or opportunities to earn a certificate in bilingual speech pathology. These programs vary greatly, so do your research to find a program that will help you gain the skills required to consider yourself a BSP. The ASHA code of ethics puts the responsibility on you to only claim that you are a BSP if you truly have the skills to do so. Learn more about bilingual speech pathology graduate programs.

  3. Check State and Local Requirements

    According to ASHA, regulations vary state-by-state for bilingual speech pathologists. Always check with your state’s certifying body to determine if there are additional requirements for BSPs in your state. Once you ensure you have the necessary skills to call yourself a BSP and meet any state requirements, it is time to self identify as a BSP.

  4. Self-Identify as a Bilingual Service Provider (BSP)

    Despite no formal certification for BSPs, you can list yourself as a BSP in ASHA ProFind database of ASHA-certified audiologists and speech-language pathologists. There are advantages to self-identifying as a bilingual service provider (BSP). Self-identifying can make you more visible, and ASHA’s tool allows those in need of speech pathology assessment to narrow their search to a bilingual provider. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, speech pathology career outlook shows an increased demand for SLPs over the next decade; the demand for BSPs may be just as high. The aforementioned ASHA demographic profile indicates that, in every state, the percentage of those speaking Spanish at home was higher than the percent of SLPs qualified to provide bilingual services of any kind.

Information last updated July 2021

Sponsored online speech pathology programs

Online MS: Pursue SLP Certification. Study FT/PT

Speech@Emerson enables you to earn an MS online and pursue SLP certification in as few as 20 mos. Learn the same curriculum as the on-campus program. Study FT or PT.

  • Prepares you to pursue certification as an SLP generalist
  • In-person clinical placements at faculty-approved partner sites
  • As few as 20 months to complete

info SPONSORED

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

info SPONSORED