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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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31112.02 – Speech language pathologists

Speech-language pathologists diagnose, assess and treat human communication disorders including speech, fluency, language, voice and swallowing disorders. Speech-language pathologists who are supervisors are included in this occupation.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Educational speech-language pathologist
  • Speech therapist
  • Speech-language clinician

Core competencies

  • Learning and Teaching Strategies, and Instructing to effectively educate patients and family members about various topics, such as communication techniques or strategies
  • Social Perceptiveness to design, develop or employ alternative diagnostic or communication devices or strategies based on patient needs
  • Hearing Sensitivity to listen to patients' speech impairments during sessions to determine progress of treatments
  • Verbal Ability and Speech Recognition to communicate with patients through lessons and educational or therapeutic games to improve speech, communication methods and strengthen facial muscles
  • Attention to Detail to analyse hearing or speech and language test results and medical or background information to diagnose and plan treatment for patients
  • Knowledge in Languages to conduct research on speech or hearing topics to advance knowledge of procedures, technologies or treatments in the field

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

  • Administer tests and examinations and observe patients to diagnose and evaluate speech, voice, resonance, language, fluency, cognitive-linguistic and swallowing disorders
  • Develop, plan and implement remedial programs to correct speech, voice, language, fluency, resonance, cognitive-linguistic and swallowing disorders
  • Establish group and personalized care plans working as a member of an interdisciplinary team
  • Educate and counsel patients and families regarding communication and swallowing disorders
  • Conduct research on speech and other communication disorders and on the development and design of diagnostic procedures and devices
  • May instruct and supervise communicative disorders assistants, students and other health care personnel.

Additional information

  • Progression into management positions, such as chief audiologist or director of speech-language pathology, is possible with experience.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

3 – Health occupations

TEER

1 – Occupations usually require a university degree

Major group

31 – Professional occupations in health

Sub-major group

311 – Health treating and consultation services professionals

Minor group

3111 – Dentists, optometrists and audiologists

Unit group

31112 – Audiologists and speech-language pathologists

Occupational profile

31112.02 – Speech language pathologists

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.