Unraveling the Path to Becoming a Speech Therapist in Flanders
Kaat Kemps
In Europe, university training, particularly in the speech-language pathology profession, can vary greatly from nation to nation. This is both in terms of duration, which can vary from three to five years, and in terms of how the training is structured, with different ways of qualifying for the profession. Finally, it can also vary greatly in terms of the inclusion and space devoted to different scientific content. Each country, however draws knowledge from pedagogy, linguistics, biomedical and behavioral sciences and applies it to the disciplinary core curriculum of speech therapy. Knowing the different international pathways to becoming a speech therapist is vital for comparing and opening oneself to new knowledge, new methodologies, and new clinical and research practices, enhancing personal professional development and that of the speech therapy community. With this in mind, the Belgian training system is presented here, from a global perspective aimed at providing a more comprehensive skill set, enabling speech therapists to best serve clients, both at home and abroad.
Keywords
Speech therapy, University training corse, Professional qualification.