OPT Speech Pathologist Jobs
Speech Pathologist OPT jobs are available across hospitals, school districts, rehabilitation centers, and private practices, but most require or are actively pursuing ASHA CCC-SLP certification. Your 12-month OPT window starts the clock, so targeting employers already familiar with visa sponsorship for clinical roles is critical from day one.
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Primary City/State:
Glendale, Arizona
Department Name:
Thrpy-Acute-Hosp
Work Shift:
Day
Job Category:
Clinical Care
The future is full of possibilities. At Banner Health, we’re excited about what the future holds for health care. That’s why we’re changing the industry to make the experience the best it can be. If you’re ready to change lives, we want to hear from you.
Banner Health was named to Fortune’s America’s Most Innovative Companies list for the second year in a row for 2024 and named Most Trustworthy Companies in America by Newsweek. We’re proud to be recognized for our commitment to the latest health care advancements and excellent patient care.
Banner Thunderbird Medical Center has served the Northwest Valley for more than 25 years and our unrelenting focus on excellent patient care has helped us become one of the most preferred hospitals in the Valley. In addition to being a Level 1 Trauma Center, the facility also includes a heart and vascular center, state-of-the-art surgical suites and a new Emergency department.
As a Speech Pathologist, you will have the opportunity to work with our adult patient population and utilize your skills in a fast-paced setting. You will also have the chance to observe, learn and grow as you expand your skills in multiple departments throughout the facility. Banner Thunderbird's team culture creates a dynamic opportunity to provide excellent patient care and collaboration. If you wish to learn more about this incredible opportunity, apply today!
The Speech Pathologist is a full-time, day shift position: 40 hours per week. It is 5 8 hour shifts per week. The shift is Monday through Friday. Previous NICU experience is preferred.
Your pay and benefits (Total Rewards) are important components of your Journey at Banner Health. Banner Health offers a variety of benefit plans to help you and your family. We provide health and financial security options so you can focus on being the best at what you do and enjoying your life.
Banner Health’s premier West Valley Level I Trauma for adults and Tertiary Care destination for all ages. Banner Thunderbird Medical Center (BTMC) and Banner Children’s Hospital at Thunderbird provide a preferred destination for surgical, oncological, cardiovascular, neuroscience, orthopedic, pediatric, and women and infant services achieved through best-in-class 5-star CMS rating to provide patients with high quality, safe care for the best possible experience. Our campus is one of the largest campuses in the Banner network with over 3000 employees. BTMC was voted Best of the Best in 2023 by Banner Health out of 30 hospitals. This is the most prestigious award one of our largest hospitals can receive for consistently meeting our annual targets. If you would like to contribute to truly leading edge caring, we invite you to bring your experience and skills to Banner Thunderbird.
Position Summary
This position provides screening, evaluation, and rehabilitation services for patients with speech and language disorders related to speech, language, cognitive-communication, voice, swallowing, and fluency. This position plans and carries out specialized treatment programs, documents treatment, and maintains data regarding patient care. This position demonstrates the clinical competence and knowledge necessary to provide treatment appropriate to the age of the patients served.
CORE FUNCTIONS
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Evaluates patients’ functional abilities and limitations to determine appropriate intervention. Develops a plan of care and treatment goals, as ordered by physician or other referral source.
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Implements individualized treatment plans that consider patients’ physical, social, spiritual, cultural, educational, and age-specific needs. Ensures that treatment plans are supported by standard practices and/or current literature. Re-evaluates treatment plans, as needed, to ensure maximum patient benefit.
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Educates patients, family, and other care providers to promote patient participation and attainment of therapeutic program goals. Provides individualized home programs with clear instructions.
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Documents patient treatment according to professional and regulatory standards.
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Participates in the provision of training to other staff and students.
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Follows plan of care to accomplish functions within established procedures and scope of practice. Makes independent judgments based on specialized knowledge. Confers with supervisor on any unusual situations. Internal customers: All levels of nursing management and staff, medical staff, and all other members of the interdisciplinary health care team. External Customers: Physician offices, patient families, third party payers, and medical supply companies.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Masters degree in Speech Language Pathology from an accredited university program.
Current licensure in the state of practice. Certificate of Clinical Competence or documented acceptance in Clinical Fellowship Year. BLS certification required.
Requires the ability to work collaboratively with physicians and other healthcare providers. Must have strong interpersonal communications and human relation skills.
Must have the ability to become proficient with computer software applications commonly used in an automated patient care environment. Employees working for Banner Home Care AZ must possess an Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card at the time of hire and maintain the card for the duration of their employment.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Additional related education and/or experience preferred.
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See all 856+ OPT Speech Pathologist Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship in Speech Pathologist
Target employers with existing H-1B sponsorship history
Hospital systems, large rehabilitation networks, and school districts with dedicated HR teams are most likely to sponsor after OPT. They have established immigration counsel and have navigated clinical visa sponsorship before, which significantly reduces friction during the transition.
Get your ASHA CCC-SLP certification timeline in order
Most employers willing to sponsor H-1B visas for speech pathologists require CCC-SLP certification or active candidacy. Completing your Clinical Fellowship Year during OPT and tracking your CFY hours precisely positions you for sponsorship before your OPT authorization expires.
Pursue STEM OPT extension if your program qualifies
Speech-Language Pathology programs classified under CIP code 51.0201 qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, giving you up to 36 months of work authorization. Confirm your program's CIP code with your DSO early so you can plan your sponsorship timeline accordingly.
Address licensure requirements state by state
State licensure for speech pathologists varies considerably. Some states grant provisional licenses to CFY candidates, while others require full CCC-SLP before issuing any license. Research your target states licensure rules upfront so employer sponsorship conversations are not derailed by unexpected credentialing delays.
Leverage school district and university settings
Public school districts and university speech clinics are cap-exempt H-1B employers, meaning they are not subject to the annual lottery. This makes them strategically valuable OPT employers because sponsorship can happen outside the April filing window without lottery risk.
Communicate your OPT timeline clearly during interviews
Employers unfamiliar with OPT often underestimate how quickly decisions must be made. Come prepared with a one-page summary of your authorization dates, STEM extension eligibility, and H-1B filing deadlines so hiring managers can loop in HR and immigration counsel without delay.
Speech Pathologist OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Speech Pathologist on OPT without full CCC-SLP certification?
Yes, but with important caveats. Many employers will hire CFY candidates on OPT under provisional or temporary state licenses, provided you are actively completing your Clinical Fellowship Year. However, some states and employers require full certification before they will initiate H-1B sponsorship. Confirm your state's provisional licensure rules and the employer's sponsorship policy before accepting any offer.
Do Speech Pathologist jobs qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
They can, but only if your specific degree program is classified under a qualifying STEM CIP code. Speech-Language Pathology programs coded under CIP 51.0201 are on the STEM OPT eligible list. Confirm this directly with your Designated School Official because not every SLP program is classified identically. A successful STEM OPT extension gives you 36 months of total work authorization.
Which types of employers are most likely to sponsor H-1B visas for Speech Pathologists after OPT?
Hospital systems, pediatric therapy networks, and school districts with dedicated HR and legal teams are the most consistent sponsors. Critically, public school districts and universities operate as cap-exempt H-1B employers, meaning they can sponsor outside the annual lottery. Browse Speech Pathologist roles on Migrate Mate to identify employers with a track record of sponsoring clinical professionals.
What happens to my OPT authorization if I finish my Clinical Fellowship Year and change employers?
OPT authorization is tied to your visa status, not your specific employer, so you can change jobs during OPT as long as the new role is directly related to your degree field. You must report the employer change to your DSO within 10 days. Gaps in employment longer than 90 cumulative days can jeopardize your status, so plan transitions carefully.
Is a Master's degree required to work as a Speech Pathologist on OPT in the United States?
Yes. The Master's degree is the standard entry-level requirement for clinical practice in speech-language pathology in the United States, and ASHA certification requires it. Your OPT authorization is issued based on your completed Master's program, and that same degree forms the foundation for any subsequent H-1B specialty occupation petition your employer would file.