It was established on 6 January 1945 to promote the study of speech therapy in the UK, to seek improvement and maintain a high standard of knowledge and to unite all members of the profession.

[2] In 1945, CST fellows and licentiates were granted application[clarification needed] to the Register of Medical Auxiliaries.

[2] Steve Jamieson MSc, BSc (Hons) RN became Chief Executive in April 2023 following the retirement of Kamini Gadhok after 23 years as RCSLT CEO The RCSLT is a professional membership body which promotes for the public benefit the art and science of speech and language therapy, meaning care for individuals with communication, swallowing, eating and drinking difficulties.

The Enderby case led the then Labour government to institute a review of pay and grading scales throughout the health service in the form of the Agenda for Change.

[12] In a 2018 survey of its membership (to which 2,700 responded), the RCSLT found that the mean age of its members was 42 and that 73% were employed by the NHS; the remainder worked in independent practice (11%), schools (3%), local authorities (3%), universities (3%), and in other areas (7%).

[16][17] The Voice Box awards are an annual joke-telling competition for primary school children organised by the RCSLT.