Long-Term Opportunities

The most meaningful nine months of your clinical career start here.

If you’ve been looking for a role that reaches beyond the routine of a caseload, this is where it begins. Every school year, a group of licensed therapists makes a decision that reshapes both their work and their perspective. They relocate to Belize City for nine months, providing care where access is limited and the need is immediate.

How You’ll Make an Impact

You’ll spend your days serving children and families in Belize City through our pediatric clinic, based within the Ministry of Education’s Special Education Unit, and at Stella Maris, a local special education school.

What your week looks like:

Monday–Thursday:

Mornings: school-based sessions (individual and group centers)
Afternoons: outpatient clinic sessions

Fridays:

Make-up sessions
Family consultations

You’ll work with children with a range of needs, including speech and language delays, sensory processing challenges, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome.

Who we’re looking for:
Licensed Speech-Language Pathologists and Occupational Therapists with pediatric experience who are ready to commit fully to the volunteer role. You will also take on a leadership role, mentoring short-term volunteers and student clinicians. For many long-term volunteers, this turns out to be one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.

Level I Fieldwork or Clinical Experience

What to Expect

This is a long-term service role designed to expand access to care for underserved communities in Belize. Our goal is to remove as many logistical barriers as possible so you can focus on the work itself.

What’s provided:

Weekly living stipend (paid via direct deposit)
Fully covered housing (shared or private, depending on timing)
Access to a shared vehicle for transportation
International health insurance
One-time relocation bonus upon arrival

Living expenses:

Monthly utilities
Groceries and meals
Gas and other personal expenses

Schedule and volunteer placement details:

Placement runs from September through June (aligned with the academic year)
Scheduled break in December to return home
Participation in short-term volunteer weeks throughout the year with lunch provided during these weeks

Licensure and requirements:

All required licensure is recognized locally
Visa process coordinated in partnership with the Ministry of Education
Professional references and background screening required as part of the application process

Long-Term Opportunities | Therapy Volunteers

Long-Term Experiences | Therapy Volunteers

Life in Belize

Living and volunteering in Belize offers a unique experience that’s both meaningful and memorable. Beyond your clinical work, you become part of a community defined by warmth, generosity, and connection. While leading short-term service trips, you’ll have opportunities to explore the country – snorkeling along the Belize Barrier Reef, visiting Mayan sites like Altun Ha, and experiencing daily life in and around Belize City.

For many clinicians, it’s the relationships they build that stay with them long after the placement ends.

Volunteer Testimonial

“I worked as a long term volunteer Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) in Belize with Therapy Volunteers. It was an experience that I had been looking forward to for a long time. Therapy Volunteers prepared me for the experience and offered continued support throughout my stay. My time in Belize was life changing in so many ways. Being able to bring my experience to serve families who may not have had access to therapeutic services was such a privilege. I met so many amazing people and learned a lot about myself in the process. I would highly recommend this opportunity if you want to serve others and step outside of your comfort zone. You won’t regret it!”

- Tamara Pattison MS, CCC-SLP, 2025

Interested in learning more?

Fill out the short form below and a member of our team will be in touch within 3 business days to answer all of your questions, including compensation and logistics details, and walk you through what the role looks like day to day. No commitment required to start the conversation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a work visa to practice therapy internationally?
Therapy Volunteers and our local partners will assist you in obtaining a work visa, but you are responsible to renew your visa as needed.

Do I need to arrange my own insurance?
Therapy Volunteers will cover the costs associated with obtaining international travel and health insurance, but please note that you will be required to provide your own US health insurance.

Do I need to find housing abroad?
We will cover the cost of your living arrangements, where you’ll reside alongside fellow Therapy Volunteers clinicians.

Volunteer at Tropical Education Center in Belize

Work alongside American clinicians at our clinic in Belize City and at a local school. You will get first-hand experience and learn from the people behind all the incredible work being done for the most vulnerable in Belize.