HEALTH AND MEDICINE

Speech-Language Pathologist

Treats speech, language, voice, stammering and swallowing disorders, often working with children and stroke patients.

Science: Physics and Chemistry, plus Biology or Maths After Class 12 Regulated profession

Facts checked 29/10/2026

Is this for me?

People in this work enjoy

Helping someone speak, be understood or eat safely, and seeing real progress over weeks and months
Mixing science with people work: how the brain, ears and voice work, and how language grows
Working with all ages, from toddlers to older adults, in hospitals, clinics or schools

It may not suit you if you dislike

Progress can be slow, and you need patience with children, families and long therapy plans
It takes 4 years to start working and about 6 for senior and teaching posts, and seats in good government institutes are few
Emotionally tiring cases, such as severe disability or loss of speech after a stroke, and you must keep your own energy up

Class 11–12 subjects: At AIISH Mysuru, the top government institute, you need Class 12 with at least three subjects from Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Maths, Computer Science, Statistics, Electronics or Psychology. You need 50% marks overall, or 45% for SC/ST. Its entrance test covers Physics and Chemistry plus either Biology or Maths. Other colleges set their own rules, so check each college and its RCI approval.
First degree: BASLP (Bachelor of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology), 4 years: 6 semesters of study plus a 1-year internship. Then a 2-year master's, called M.Sc (Speech-Language Pathology) in the latest RCI curriculum and MASLP at some colleges.
Entrance exams: AIISH Entrance Examination (computer-based) for AIISH Mysuru. AIISH does not use NEET. Other colleges run their own tests or admit on Class 12 marks, so check each one.
Licence or registration: Registration on the Central Rehabilitation Register (CRR) of the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), under Section 13 of the RCI Act 1992. Without it you cannot hold a rehabilitation post in government or practise in India.

Subjects that keep this door openClass 11–12: Physics + Chemistry + Mathematics or Biology.Science: Physics and Chemistry, plus Biology or Maths.Way back: You can add the missing subject later as an extra subject (for example through NIOS) and still apply, but check the exam's and college's rules. A longer road, but open.Check your subjects against every career

What the work is like

Assessing and treating children and adults with speech, language, voice, fluency (stammering) and swallowing problems. Examples are delayed speech in children, speech loss after a stroke or brain injury, and voice problems in teachers. You also counsel families, work with doctors, teachers and audiologists, and keep clinical records.

A day in the work
You start by reading the case files for the day. The first client might be a four-year-old who is not yet speaking in sentences, so you play and use picture cards while watching how the child makes sounds. Later you work with a man recovering from a stroke on finding words and swallowing safely, and you teach his family exercises to do at home. In the afternoon you write your notes, talk with a doctor or teacher about a child's progress, and plan tomorrow's sessions.

Professional qualificationRun by Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). You can start after: Class 12 with science subjects. Minimum time: 4 years after Class 12 (BASLP, including internship).

The full route: exams, training, registration

Step 1 · Class 11–12Take science with Physics and Chemistry, plus Biology or Maths. AIISH needs at least three subjects from its list and 50% overall (45% for SC/ST). Psychology and Computer Science also count as eligible subjects at AIISH.
Step 2 · Class 12 (spring–early summer)Apply for the AIISH Entrance Examination, a computer-based test. In the 2026 cycle the last date to apply was 17 May and the exam was on 26 May (reported). AIISH has 80 BASLP seats. Also look at other RCI-approved colleges, which have their own admission rules. (reported — check with the official body)
Step 3 · 4 yearsBASLP at an RCI-approved college: 6 semesters of classes and clinic work, then a 1-year internship. At AIISH the internship carries a monthly stipend.
Step 4 · Within 6 months of finishingRegister on RCI's Central Rehabilitation Register. RCI allows pre-registration while you are still studying. RCI revises its fee and renewal rules from time to time, so check the RCI website before you apply.
Step 5 · 2 years (usually)M.Sc (Speech-Language Pathology) or MASLP. It is needed for senior and teaching posts, and it lets you specialise. AIISH takes M.Sc (SLP) students through its own entrance test.
OptionalPhD for research and college teaching. You can also build experience in one area, such as child language, stroke rehabilitation, voice or swallowing.

Recently changed, or still changing

Register with RCI within 6 months of finishing an approved course. Pre-registration is possible while you study (RCI norms for 2023-24).
RCI is reported to have revised its registration and renewal rules in October 2025. Check the RCI website for the current fee, validity and CRE-points rules. (reported)

Time and money

Stage	Time	Government college or body	Private college	Help available
Class 11–12 (science with Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Maths)	2 years	Your school's fees	Your school's fees	—
AIISH Entrance Examination (computer-based, Class 12)	1 day exam	Application fee ₹1,625 (General/OBC/EWS); ₹1,225 (SC/ST/PWD) per 2025 leaflet; check the notice for 2026 fee	Other colleges: check each college's own test notice	5% marks relaxation for SC/ST/PWD candidates at AIISH
BASLP at AIISH Mysuru (government), including 1-year internship	4 years	₹24,701 (year 1), ₹18,951 (years 2–3), ₹19,572 (internship year); about ₹82,000 total. University of Mysore fees and hostel are extra	—	AIISH stipend ₹800/month for 10 months in years 1–3; ₹5,000/month in internship year (₹6,000 in North-Eastern states), per 2025-26 prospectus
BASLP at private college (e.g. Manipal SOAHS / MCHP), 4 years	4 years	—	Manipal SOAHS/MCHP: ₹9,46,000 listed for the 4-year programme (reported; 2026 year not stated). Other private colleges: check the college's fee page	—
Register on RCI Central Rehabilitation Register	Within 6 months of finishing	Check the RCI website for current fee and renewal rules	Check the RCI website for current fee and renewal rules	—
M.Sc (Speech-Language Pathology) or MASLP, optional for senior and teaching posts	2 years	Check the college's fee page	Check the college's fee page	AIISH takes M.Sc (SLP) students through its own entrance test; check for any stipend

Total timeAbout 4 years after Class 12 for BASLP, including internship; about 6 years if you add the 2-year master's

Total costAt AIISH Mysuru the 4-year BASLP costs about ₹82,000 before hostel and university extras, while private colleges can cost much more (Manipal listed at ₹9,46,000).

Good to knowOnly RCI-approved courses lead to registration, so check the college's approval before paying fees; RCI registration rules may have changed recently.

Fees from: AIISH Mysuru: B.ASLP programme and fees · AIISH Prospectus 2025-26 (stipends) · AIISH Entrance Examination Leaflet 2025 (official PDF, application fees) · Manipal SOAHS BASLP programme page (official college site). Fees change every year — check the college's own fee page before you pay.

What people earn

Earnings usually start modest and grow with a master's degree, experience and a clear speciality; they differ by city and by employer, whether a hospital, school, government institute or your own clinic.

Myth and fact

Myth: ~~Speech therapy is only for small children who stammer or speak late.~~

Fact: Children are a big part of the work, but speech-language pathologists also treat adults after strokes and brain injuries, people with voice problems and people who have trouble swallowing. AIISH describes its clients as people of all ages with communication disorders.

For girls and students with disabilities

AIISH gives 5% marks relaxation to SC/ST/PWD candidates and has a PWD quota for benchmark disabilities under the RPWD Act 2016. A candidate qualifies if, with assistive devices, the disability is 40% or below (30% or less for speech, language and hearing disability would not qualify; those must be brought down to 20% or below). Candidates with disabilities below benchmark can be admitted outside the quota. Two seats are also kept for holders of RCI-recognised 1-year diplomas in hearing aid and ear-mould technology, or in hearing, language and speech.

Try it now

Class 7–9Run a small listening project. Record yourself and a family member reading the same short paragraph, then compare pace, loudness and clear sounds. Notice what makes speech easy to follow.
Class 10–12Read the AIISH admission page and the free model question papers. Check how the entrance test uses Physics, Chemistry and Biology or Maths, so you can pick your Class 11 subjects with this in mind.Open link ↗
College or afterRead RCI's registration norms and pre-register with RCI while you study. Ask your college to let you observe therapy sessions or help at a hospital speech clinic or special school.Open link ↗

Good to know

Only a course approved by RCI leads to registration. Before paying fees, check that the college and course are on RCI's approved list.
BASLP trains you in both speech-language pathology and audiology (hearing). You can focus on one at the master's stage. If you like hearing and machines more than speech and language, look at audiology.
Teaching posts in speech-language pathology ask for an M.Sc (SLP) or MASLP, valid RCI registration and some experience, according to RCI's curriculum document.
AIISH Mysuru has only 80 BASLP seats a year. Many students go to other government or private colleges, so compare their RCI approval, clinical facilities and fees.

Sources: AIISH Mysuru: B.ASLP programme details, seats, fees and PWD rules · AIISH Prospectus 2025-26 (eligibility, stipends, M.Sc and PWD rules) · AIISH Entrance Examination leaflet 2026-27 · AIISH admission notification 2024-25 (B.ASLP and M.Sc seats) · Rehabilitation Council of India: Norms and guidelines for CRR registration · Rehabilitation Council of India: M.Sc (Speech-Language Pathology) curriculum 2024-25 · Vikaspedia (Govt. of India portal) on the AIISH entrance exam, 2026 dates (reported)