Ariv Academy logo Ariv AcademyEmpowering Minds, Enriching Futures
← All careers with PCB
PCB streamEntrance: TN paramedical counsellingAllied health & therapy

Speech / Occupational Therapist

Speech therapists help people speak, understand and swallow; occupational therapists help people do daily tasks independently after injury, illness or disability.

Class 11–12 subjectsPhysics, Chemistry, Biology
Entrance / admissionTN paramedical counselling / AIISH admission
DegreeBASLP (speech) or BOT (occupational therapy)
Duration4–4.5 years including internship

Your route, step by step

  1. 1Class 11–12: take PCBBiology is essential for both therapies.
  2. 2Choose your degreeSpeech therapy: BASLP (4 years, RCI). Occupational therapy: BOT (about 4.5 years with internship).
  3. 3Apply through Tamil Nadu paramedical counsellingGovernment quota seats are allotted on Class 12 marks by the Directorate of Medical Education — NEET is not needed.
  4. 4Register and workSpeech therapists register with RCI. Specialise with M.Sc (SLP) or MOT.

What a speech / occupational therapist does

  • Assess speech, language, swallowing or daily-living skills
  • Plan therapy for children with autism, cerebral palsy or delays
  • Help adults recover after stroke or injury
  • Advise families, schools and workplaces

Entrance exams & admission

  • TN paramedical counsellingOn Class 12 marks, via tnmedicalselection.net
  • AIISH admissionBASLP at AIISH Mysuru — see its yearly notice
  • University admissionSome private and deemed universities run their own admission

Where you may work

Hospitals, rehabilitation centres, special and inclusive schools, child development centres and your own practice.

Well-known colleges in and near Tamil Nadu

  • MERF Institute of Speech and Hearing, Chennai
  • All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysuru

Official links

Links checked: Oct 2026. Always confirm dates and rules on the official site.

Outlook

Awareness of autism and early intervention is growing fast, and there are far too few trained therapists.

Specialise later

  • Child language therapy
  • Autism & developmental therapy
  • Stroke rehabilitation
  • Swallowing therapy
  • Hand therapy