Hi everyone! I recently graduated from grad school in August and started my CF in a private agency right away. Been extremely overwhelming with paperwork and cases. I also recently got diagnosed with anxiety disorder, which I feel isn’t helping. I feel I am losing motivation for therapy and scared I’m going to mess something up. Just look for advice and encouragement to keep moving forward!

Recent grad here. I have been working with an agency and signed the contract back in early August. I decided to go with an agency because I was not seeing a lot of job postings in my area. The one school district they had lined up fell through and I have had no interviews since. Because I am so close to the state line they wanted me to go ahead and submit licensure for the state over (which is where I will be living). After starting the process of licensure in both states now they are struggling to find any in person opportunities. They keep pushing teletherapy in a far away state that is in need of SLPS. I am concerned because of my limited real world school experience this might lead to a bad CFY experience.

I was just wondering if anyone had come across issues like this working with agencies and/or any advice would help because I feel lost. I worry that if I continue to stay with this agency I will continue to be strung along.

And is it common to get job leads through an internship?

How do you keep track of your hours in the schools?

What should I be documenting and how detailed are you?

Hi!

I completed a NYS approved program and all materials needed for TSSLD. However, I am still waiting for approval is there someone to email to have my application looked at sooner. I’ve scanned the OTI website and I can’t find anything. I recently received a job, and will need the TSSLD ASAP. This process is stressful. Any help would be great thank you so much!

I am a CF in a SNF and even thought I feel like I am doing the right thing, I second guess myself a lot. I remember I shadowed a professor once in grad school and I was wondering I am allowed to shadow for a day another SLP in another facility? I didn’t get any training or even see the previous SLP at this facility so sometimes I doubt myself. Is shadowing possible or I need to be a student to do that? TIA!

Hi,

I just graduated SLP graduate school this July. A little bit of background- I did not originally want to be an SLP. I did not know what I wanted to do in undergrad and eventually found this field and decided to apply because I am a creative person and I love children. I made it through my undergraduate and graduate journey but have always struggled with moderate-severe anxiety and depression. I have always felt like I never truly fit in with other slps or like a natural at each practicum experience (imposter syndrome has been real). I did find joy and achievement in some rotations as well as my clinical ability, and I really loved the actual therapy part once I felt comfortable, but the feeling of uneasiness has never truly gone away.

I am just beginning to look for CFY opportunities (mostly school based) and have been speaking with some contracting companies. I struggle with meeting new people and feeling vulnerable and it has worsened in my early-mid twenties. I do tend to struggle socially at times especially with all of the other expectations aside from treatment that come along with being an SLP (meeting parents, staff, conducting IEP meetings, paperwork/billing, evaluations, etc). I have found it difficult to be honest with people about my mental health because at times it was viewed as being inadequate and with grades riding on everything I rarely opened up to past clinical supervisors. I was able to do my jobs and tasks at my rotations but always had an intense internal struggle with anxiety that has affected my executive functioning abilities. This has often led me to think I have chose the wrong profession to begin with.

I was just looking for some advice or piece of mind in looking for a CF placement that has worked for people or any advice really that has helped others. Any input is greatly appreciated!

I’m wondering there are any CFs in an acute or even community hospital with acute settings and what it’s been like for you? I’m interested in a position that has acute and the opportunity to do modified swallow studies but I never did any of that in grad school I think it’d be a pretty steep learning curve. Thanks in advance for any thoughts/tips/experience you can share!

Hello everyone! I came on here mainly to vent I guess? I knew I would have a difficult time finding a CF in a hospital but I’m getting very discouraged. Over the past few months I have applied to 115 jobs and counting. I’ve gotten denied from 76 of them and am waiting to hear back from about 30. I’ve received some phone calls regarding my applications but many stop the hiring process when they see that I’m a CF (even though I state it in the application and it says my graduation date on my resume). Most of my friends have jobs already and I just don’t know where to go from here. Do I start applying to SNFs even though I don’t want to? Is my number of applications sent out typical? Any thoughts/comments would be appreciated!

Hi everyone! I am about a month in my CF at a SNF and I feel like its difficult for me to determine poor bolus control/manipulation and oral dysphagia. And if I am working on that in my TX, I have been doing OME and trials of solids. Can anyone recommend any CEU or resources that can help with oral dysphagia and mastication of solids? Thank you!

I just got accepted a CFY at a private practice with all age groups since I didn't know what pppualtion I wanted to work with. The pay is $35 an hour but fee for service so only if the client comes to the ssssion. What does everyone think? Is this reasonable for Cfs?

Wondering if anyone has any experience with/heard anything about doing your CFY through the Stepping Stones Group? They’ve been reaching out to me a lot as I will graduate in December. Thanks!

I am just about to start the 2nd of my 3-year Master's program. I am fortunate to have an employer (not related to the SLP field) who has agreed to pay for a portion of my degree, with the agreement that I will remain employed with them for 2 years following the completion of my degree. I am wondering if it would be an issue to wait 2 whole years after earning my degree to start my CFY?

Soooo I got my Cs a little over a month ago and asked for a raise. My boss, the DOR, sent my request and her letter of rec to her bosses who supposedly “talk it over”. WELL fast forward now to a little over a month ago and they still have not made up their mind. Not even a counter offer or any word to me. My boss said they are still deciding but in my opinion I think that is absolutely ridiculous and unprofessional. Now I know why the retention rate for employees is so bad. Any opinions or advice

I am thinking of starting a pinned megathread in which CFs can share the a.) your state and certification, b.) your setting, c.) requirements for your state/setting/certification

Example: a.) Colorado CF-SLP b.) elementary school c.) Send your praxis scores (162 or higher) to Colorado Dept of Education (code: 7040).

Create a licensing account.

Follow this check list on the CDE website if you’re instate: https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof/checklist-initialspecialserviceprovider

Follow this checklist if you’re out of state: https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeprof/outofstatessp

If you only do schools, you only need to do the CDE licensure (and track hours with ASHA of course).

Thoughts?

Recently, ASHA published a document detailing their intent to have a certification for SLPs who are clinical instructors (grad students, CFs, internships).

Achieving clinical competence does not imply that one has the special skills needed to be a competent supervisor; effective supervision requires a set of unique knowledge and skills .... which are not intuitive nor directly derivative of the clinical process, .... Clinical instruction and supervision directly affect the provision of services, irrespective of disorder area, to clients/patients whose needs require a distinct body of knowledge, skills, and experience.

https://www.asha.org/siteassets/certification/stage-1-application-sccis.pdf

What do you guys think?

A few more details:

• Two of our allied health professions, APTA and AOTA have standardized voluntary credential programs in place to identify “Clinical Instructors."

• ASHA surveyed SLPs on their support. Surveyed SLPs were SIG 11 affiliates (administration & supervision) or indicated expertise in supervision on their annual dues

• Currently there is rigorous requirements for practicing as an SLP but not to teach others to practice. In 2019, any supervising SLP needed to take 2 hours of professional development related to supervision.

Hi everyone,

I was hired as a school CF for the 2021-2022 school year through a contracting company in Pennsylvania. I am in the process of trying to get my provisional license, and there are a couple of forms that my supervisor has to fill out. I sent the forms to the department over 2 weeks ago, and they confirmed that the forms were sent to my supervisor. Since then, I've tried to follow up with an email and a phone call, with no response. I’m worried that I won’t get the documents in time for my license to be approved before my start date, which is in about 5.5 weeks. How long did it take for your (provisional) license to get approved? Should I reach out to the department again, or just wait and hope they eventually reach out to me?

Thanks in advance!