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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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Explore opportunities with Amedisys, part of the Optum family of businesses. We provide home health, hospice and community-based services that help people receive quality care where they feel most comfortable: at home. Rooted in personalized care, we support patients and provide comfort through each stage of their health journey, while building trusted relationships along the way. Find a home for your career here. Join us and embrace a culture of Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Speech Pathologist, you'll provide skilled in-home evaluation and treatment for speech, language, cognition, voice, and swallowing disorders. You'll partner with patients, families, caregivers, and the interdisciplinary team to improve communication, safety, independence, and quality of life through personalized care.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Responsible for working to prevent, assess, diagnose and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive communication and swallowing disorders in adults
- Provides aural rehabilitation for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and provides augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems for individuals with severe expressive and/or language comprehension disorders
- Other duties as assigned
You'll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Current Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) with completed graduate course work and a clinical practicum at a college or university whose program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA)
- Current, unencumbered license to practice speech pathology specific to the state assigned to work in
- Current CPR certification
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 1+ years of experience in Speech Pathology
Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). The salary for this role will range from $70,992 to $106,488 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.
At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare by harnessing technology and innovation to make care simpler to navigate, more affordable and more connected for the people we serve. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued, heard and respected, empowering people to bring their authentic selves to work and strengthening our collective impact through diverse talents, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.
UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.
UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.
INTRODUCTION
Explore opportunities with Amedisys, part of the Optum family of businesses. We provide home health, hospice and community-based services that help people receive quality care where they feel most comfortable: at home. Rooted in personalized care, we support patients and provide comfort through each stage of their health journey, while building trusted relationships along the way. Find a home for your career here. Join us and embrace a culture of Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Speech Pathologist, you'll provide skilled in-home evaluation and treatment for speech, language, cognition, voice, and swallowing disorders. You'll partner with patients, families, caregivers, and the interdisciplinary team to improve communication, safety, independence, and quality of life through personalized care.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Responsible for working to prevent, assess, diagnose and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive communication and swallowing disorders in adults
- Provides aural rehabilitation for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and provides augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems for individuals with severe expressive and/or language comprehension disorders
- Other duties as assigned
You'll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Current Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP) with completed graduate course work and a clinical practicum at a college or university whose program is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology (CAA)
- Current, unencumbered license to practice speech pathology specific to the state assigned to work in
- Current CPR certification
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- 1+ years of experience in Speech Pathology
Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). The salary for this role will range from $70,992 to $106,488 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.
At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and help make the health system work better for everyone. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare by harnessing technology and innovation to make care simpler to navigate, more affordable and more connected for the people we serve. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued, heard and respected, empowering people to bring their authentic selves to work and strengthening our collective impact through diverse talents, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.
UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.
UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.
See all 724+ 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.