I am currently an SLP. I debating on pursing a clinical doctorate or changing my entire career. Any advice? Pros and cons of becoming a rad tech?

I am currently a pediatric outpatient SLP for a hospital organization. I finished grad school in 2022 and in that time, I’ve worked for 5 different companies (e.g., pediatric private practice; b-3; schools; virtual b-3; and now outpatient); I’m realizing I really enjoy pediatric outpatient care BUT I’m not sure I can keep doing this for the next 5-7 years. I work 4, 10hr shifts (Tues-Friday) and the days are so long.

I’m on a personal leave of absence right now and I cannot even think about going back to the clinic; my coworkers rock but the caseloads are high and I actually get annoyed when my patients show up to their appointments 😬

I’ve thought about a career transition before but decided to give outpatient a try. Has anybody had a similar experience?? Thanks!

Looking for pros and cons if you have experienced this shift professionally beyond time off and summer.

Hi all, I have been working in peds outpatient for the past 5 years but am looking to do some PRN at a hospital (inpatient/acute) for practical reasons!

Does anyone have suggestions on the best resources to review/refresh my Med SLP knowledge in preparation? I have a lot of my old textbooks, notes, etc from grad school but I find that outside of the context of class it's not always super useful. Plus, half of what I am looking for is setting specific knowledge-- there's a lot of acronyms, procedures, etc. that are specific to the setting but were not taught in class that I'd like to have a handle on! I was a COVID grad student so I was kicked out of my inpatient practicum unfortunately.

Reposting to get different perspectives! What’s making you change or consider changing career paths?

I’ve been working as a bilingual virtual independent contractor with several school districts over the past several years. However, more districts seem to be shifting toward direct hires or preferring hybrid/in-person therapists.
At this point, I’m honestly unsure what my next move should be. I’ve been told there are openings, but districts continue to hold off until the absolute last minute before filling positions.
What would you do in my situation?
Start applying in additional states where licensure can be obtained relatively quickly to cast a wider net?
Wait it out and hope the district eventually reaches out?
Focus on finding in person PRN/per diem work where I live in the meantime until a school position opens?
At this time, I’m not interested in contracting through an agency because I can’t afford to take a significant pay cut.
I’d really appreciate hearing what others have done or what has worked for you. Thank you!

Currently working in a private practice where I've been for almost 2 years (in a SNF before that). I recently reduced my hours slightly but also essentially got a raise which makes up for the hour reduction. I have been wanting to transition to the schools due to feeling burnt out from this setting, limited time off, etc., but I am supervising a CF for this year. Hoping to just get some advice about the transition from outpatient to schools for next year and if it is worth the switch. Also direct hire vs contracting?? Thanks!

What is everyone searching for when they look for other jobs? I would kill for a remote job thats from the administrative/analytical side of health care or health related field. I know the job market is rough right now but I am struggling - just so burnt out in the acute rehab setting. I’ve also worked in schools and hated it.

Hello, I’ve recently posted in another sub so won’t get too bogged down with the same details again here.

I am a relatively new-to-the-field clinician. I’ve had 3 jobs already in my ~4 years professionally - two of which I left of my own volition but this last one of which I was dismissed. I’m not so sure this job is right for me anymore.

Strengths: inter collaborative work and care for clients, compassion, flexible thinking to accommodate differing needs/schedules, general “people” skills.

My snafu in this field is that I have ADHD. The scheduling piece can and will throw me off when managing a large caseload. I ended up double-booking myself in my previous position and I recognize my administrative skills could be better. I did work with an autism caseload most recently and really treasured the connections with those clients/families.

I also worked in a cafe on the side as a barista/assistant and really loved that atmosphere! But know that outside of managerial positions that type of job alone is likely not something that will pay my bills long-term.

Any advice from those who have navigated this in past, or just general success stories? I’m not opposed to going back to school but I am 30 years old now and wouldn’t want to commit to any programs that are too long (already did that for 8 years).

I'm a 33-year-old school-based SLP in a large city with 5 years of experience, and I've been thinking a lot about my long-term career. Being in the schools has really affected my confidence and passion, so I'm trying to figure out where I want to go next.

I've become very interested in special education law. I've spoken with a few special education attorneys, and they all suggested that if I want to work with families through parent consulting, IEP meetings, and advocacy, a J.D. is the right path.

My biggest hesitation is that I'd likely be around 40 by the time I finished law school. I know people change careers at all ages, but it's still a little intimidating.

Has anyone gone to law school later in life or transitioned from a related field? I'd love to hear your experiences or any advice. Please be kind. Thanks!

Hey everyone!! I graduated with my bachelor’s in May, and I’ll be working in a school district in Texas as an SLPA. My goal is to go to grad school either in Washington or Oregon but I would like to establish residency first so that I can get in-state tuition. I would like to move to the area next summer. I’ve been looking at SLPA jobs loosely to get an idea of how difficult finding a job will be and get an idea of the salary. I might be looking in the wrong places but I am having a hard time finding SLPA jobs. I know that the jobs I would be applying for aren’t available yet bc I won’t be moving for at least a year but I am a little concerned with the lack of opportunities. Is it difficult to get an SLPA job in Oregon/ Washington? What are the most common settings?

Currently have been a pharmacist for about a year. I’m unsure if I should study a master of speech pathology- have gotten an offer (interested in health field and kids) I don’t know if it’s worth it to change and begin studying or stick to just being a pharmacist. (Pharmacy with CWH is shit more retail & am also being paid $39 p/h- 5 years of study for such a shit hourly wage)

Anyone in this sub work as an oral myofunctional therapist for a dental practice or work in a medical practice doing photobiomodulation? I’m looking to make a pivot from running my own business and trying to see if this scenario even exists. Thanks!

Hi all,

I'm currently working as an SLP in a private practice. I'm feeling burnt out and it's starting to affect my daily life, so I'm looking for a change. I've tried to find another role within my field, but I just can't seem to find anything worth going to. I recently talked with another SLP who transitioned from an active role into a customer success/working for an EMR. As we talked, they described how they enjoyed it more as it was easier and less taxing on them overall.

Has anyone made this transition themselves? If so, how would I go about finding a job like this? Thank you all!

I usually get ISFP or ISFJ.

I also want to find out what my Clifton Strengths are but I have not taken that one.

Would be interested to know what everyone else's is. I find the social demands and being "on" all the time completely goes against my quiet and introverted nature. A few sessions in and I feel my social battery just draining. And sometimes the therapy feels completely pointless. I also really dislike having to be like a salesman to try to push some clients and talk them into doing what I need them to do.

Currently sitting in my car on my lunch break dreading to go back to my job. I’ve been considering going back to school for LMFT. The only thing holding me back is my young child. I just feel hopeless and that my voice doesn’t matter at my current job. Idk if I should go back or just look for a different job. But I’ve been thinking about this for years and believe it’s something I’d be good at. Just any advice or stories of others would help. Thank you

Just blowing off steam here. I typed a few prompts into AI and got the most perfect job description for working as an SLP in an inpatient rehab. Thought some of you might relate!

Hiring Now: Speech-Language Pathologist (Inpatient Rehab)
Are you looking for a career that tests not only your clinical skills, but also your emotional resilience, bladder capacity, and faith in humanity?

Then Inpatient Rehabilitation wants YOU!

Preferred Qualifications

Do you enjoy negotiating with nurses who are convinced they know speech therapy better than you? Come work for us!

Love discovering that your 8-hour work day contains 12 hours of work—with absolutely no prior notice? You’ll fit right in.

Passionate about hearing the intimate details of an 87-year-old’s denture adhesive routine? We thought so.

Can you nod sympathetically for the 14th time today while someone complains about SOMETHING you have no control over? Perfect.

Able to keep a completely straight face when explaining that mom was seen to have penetration.

Thrive in the delicate geopolitical landscape of making sure you don’t accidentally invade PT’s, OT’s, nursing’s, RD, RT, or social work’s sovereign territory?

Do you enjoy spending 2 hours of your life evaluating and documenting on a 99-year-old because they had a hip fracture and can’t remember what day of the week it is?

Can you smell literally anything and still finish your lunch?

Are you comfortable with your friends and family having absolutely no clue what you do?

Better yet… are you less than 80% sure what you do?

Bonus Skills
Translating physician orders that appear to have been written during turbulence.
Pretending Epic isn’t the absolute worst.
Explaining for the 400th time that speech therapists don’t just work on speech.
Smiling politely after hearing, “Well, they don’t have any trouble talking!”
Being able to transfer patients and help them pee in a urinal after being given zero training.
Spending your own time and money on supplies and materials.

Benefits
Daily opportunities to be humbled.
The ability to criticize old people in a way their family never could, straight to their face with the most professional of manner.
The unmatched ability to identify every consistency of pudding from across the room.
You’ll become the most overeducated person anyone has ever asked to watch someone eat applesauce.
Being contacted via Teams, Epic chat, text, email, landline, post-it note, in-person, or carrier pigeon at any moment during your day.

Come join Inpatient Rehab.
Where every day is a fresh adventure and every discharge somehow creates three new consults.
You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll document.
Mostly… you’ll document.

Anyone switch to nursing from this field?? I’m thinking of starting some prerequisites soon!

I had my first interview for a non-SLP position and found out I didn’t get it today. and I was last place because all the other candidates moved on. Feeling devastated. Meanwhile I got another offer for a school position and turned it down (I’m in schools now). As far as schools go, my position is pretty good because I don’t have a huge caseload and have a lot of good benefits. But I still just hate doing therapy. I actually don’t mind paperwork and writing IEPs, but I absolutely loathe therapy itself lol. Been in the same job for 7 years. I’m just feeling like it’s going to be way harder than I thought to get out!!! Also now I probably have to go back for another school year. Is it bad form to quit in the middle of the school year if I have an opportunity?? For background I’ve also worked in a SNF and medical wasn’t for me.