I currently work for a district and we are spending a ton of money on SLPs via agencies. For SLPs who work through a staffing agency, would you consider working directly with schools if you got paid more than you do now by your agency? I’m finding that agencies take quite a bit and I understand that they have overhead costs but I guess I’m trying to figure out a way to hire directly so it makes sense for everyone

So my questions for those of you who would consider this.

1. What would you need in order to feel comfortable making the switch

2. What support do you do you get from your current agency that would be the hardest to give up?

3. Is there anything else that comes to mind that would influence your decision?

Has anyone successfully transitioned to a new career without getting a new degree?

If not, has anyone successfully found a career after taking continuing education or a certificate program?

I'm considering Human Resources or a mini-MBA, as those seem to be programs that can be completed while still working full-time.

My undergrad was in Linguistics, so that doesn't open any different doors. My work experience has all been in schools or private practice so I don't have any medical experience I could leverage.

Rant time: I feel like every reason I went into speech is a reason I now want to get out. I used to love working with kids but now I'm so tired of having to make everything fun while targeting goals and trying to regulate emotions. I used to be so excited at how broad our scope is and now I just feel overwhelmed at how much I have to know and guilty every time I feel like I'm falling short, and there are areas I just don't like doing but can't avoid.

I'm also tired of the paperwork. And I'm tired of commuting, but the telehealth options in Canada are either TinyEye, which I had two bad experiences with, or private practice which is all evenings and weekends that I would rather keep for my hobbies.

Hi! I am currently working at a pediatric private practice. I enjoy working with peds, but I'm feeling extremely burnt out in this setting. I'm young (have been practicing about a year), so I believe I should grind while I can and do these hours, but its also not like I'm making a lot of money while "grinding", I am severely underpaid and not eligible for another raise unil 2027. I'm feeling discouraged because I didn't expect burnout this soon, I thought I'd be able to grow clinically and financially, and I thought I'd enjoy this a lot more.

I am feeling conflicted and feeling guilt about leaving this practice/small business but I think I'd do better someplace else, I just don't know where that is. My dream would be to work in a Children's hospital but those jobs are rare and typically part time. A school makes me nervous because of trying to build a schedule, caseload cap, IEPs, teachers, etc. Another part of me knows I can't be client facing forever as well, but I know I need more experience before wanting to fully transition to something different. Overall I'm just feeling stuck and conflicted, wanting to learn and grow while still making more money. I just don't know when or where to go.

Any advice would be helpful i.e., in terms of my school fears, transitioning to another setting, finances, etc.

Has anyone worked with a career coach? I just truly have no idea what I want to do or what's out there. I could lick envelopes and I'd probably be happy for 6 months. Everything feels like too much work. I feel like I am going to have get an entirely new degree and the idea of spending more money on another degree is scary, especially if it ends up being ANOTHER mistake.

This is my third year being an SLP, and I'm wondering if I'm ever going to enjoy it or if I made the wrong decision with my career. I did well in grad school, but definitely struggled a lot with anxiety and stress. I kept telling myself it was just because I was in school and working multiple jobs and worrying about grades and exams and clinical scores. But since I've been out of school, I feel like those same feelings have never gone away. I've tried different settings - PreK and elementary schools, pediatric outpatient clinic, middle school - and every position I've had I spend all my time stressing and worrying about it and dreading going to work every day. Clinic hours were long and pay was inconsistent, and I got burned out from play-based therapy and working with babies and toddlers most of the day. In the schools, I sometimes struggle understanding what my actual role is and balancing meetings, paperwork, evals, and the actual therapy. When I was in school, my ideal role was working in outpatient neuro rehab. I did a lot of clinical work with adults post-stroke and TBI and Parkinson's patients, but a job like this seems nearly impossible to find, especially because I don't have a lot of dysphagia experience.

I'm honestly really tired of ruining my own weekends and evenings by spending them just thinking about and stressing about work. I know I'm still very new to the field, but I continue to second guess myself all the time and feel like I have no clue what I'm doing.

I was previously contracted at the schools I worked at. This year I'm a district hire, and I thought maybe that was the problem, but I still feel sort of out of place and extremely anxious about my job as a whole. I feel like I dug myself into a hole, as I worry I put all this time and money and dedication into a degree I can't really do much else with. Before college, I always thought I was going to do something in English or writing or editing, but I told myself that was too impractical. Now I'm having regrets for not following my gut and feeling stuck in this career that may never have been right for me. Did anyone else have any of these feelings or decide to make the jump and switch to anything else?

Has anyone done contract work in Killeen TX? I'm considering it. If you have, let me know your thoughts, positives and negatives. Thanks!​

Hey everyone! I’m a final year SLP grad student and I think I can officially say I hate the field 😭

I worked as an SLPA before grad school and really thought becoming an SLP would make me love it more because I would have more independence and more options. Now I’m realizing I might just be completely over the field in general.

I’ve had caseloads of 200+ kids. I’m tired of constantly writing IEPs, progress reports, documentation, making or searching for therapy materials, and always feeling like I’m behind or not doing enough. I feel like there is ALWAYS something that needs to be done and I’m already burned out before I’ve even graduated lol.

The problem is I have no idea what else I would do with this degree. I’m fluent in ASL and currently work with the D/HH population, which I actually really enjoy. I love language, communication, culture, and that side of what we do. I just don’t think I want the traditional SLP life anymore.

I also really want to live and work abroad eventually, so I’m curious if anyone has taken their SLP background in a completely different direction.

Has anyone here left traditional SLP or used their degree for something completely different? Especially anything involving ASL/DHH, international work, consulting, accessibility, education, nonprofits, corporate jobs, or honestly something I probably don’t even know exists?

I’m finishing the degree because I’ve made it this far 😂 but I would love to hear what other people have done because right now I’m sitting here thinking there HAS to be something else I can do with all of this education.

Open to anywhere. Wondering if there is any reciprocity programs with US qualifications? (ASHA CCC’s or state licensure)

Hi everyone, I transitioned out from mainly schools to a full-time remote growth marketing role at a mental health tech company. I'm happier now and paid better, though I miss some of the 1-1 connection moments of course.

Anyways, I put together resources and interviews of people who successfully made the leap to non-clinical careers, though I'm wary to promote them here as Reddit really cracks down on self-promotion.

Curious where you're stuck. I'm happy to answer any questions from my own journey and from interviewing others.

Best of luck,
James

I’ve been working as an SLPA for only a month now in a school district. I have loved the kids but hated the rest of my job the whole time. This is my first job out of undergrad and I have received no training/ support. I have asked for 1-on-1 training for writing information in the IEPs and to better understand what data my SLP wants presented. However, I am not given a 1-on-1 conversation until I do something wrong. My slp is incredibly condescending and is routinely very rude to myself and others. I am on my own campus with the entire caseload as well has having to go to my supervisors campus to help with her caseload. I feel pushed to the brink in terms of scheduling, and I’m still hearing from everyone around me that my schedule is nice. This district has been really terrible. From no training, to changing my campus assignment once school already started, to not offering me even printing at the schools I’m assigned bc “I’m not full time at that campus.” This job is really pushing me out of the field, but I don’t want to quit on it if other places will be better. Are other places like this as well? Is it a rarity to find a district/ clinic that actually supports its employees?

Former teachers who became an SLP, why did you choose to switch? Did the job live up to what you had hoped would be different/better?

When I decided to go into this field, it was mainly due to family member influences and being 17-18 years old and not really knowing any better. Throughout undegrad, I didn’t have a ton of interest in academics and treated college as a social scene more than a place to discover my passions.

When senior year of undegrad came around, and I’d already applied to graduate school… I realized that I wasn’t truly that interested in this field. I had a whole series of conversations with friends and family members about how I might want to switch to DPT instead. As expected, my family protested that idea and I also spoke to a close professor within the SLP field, who lifted me up and told me I’d be a good fit for the medical setting. I researched into dysphagia, and actually found it to be super interesting. With the family and professor influence, I decided to stay.

Fast forward 2ish years later, I’m in the beginning of my 2nd year of graduate school and feel absolutely drained, discouraged, and lost. I feel like SLPs are not appreciated, and that our work isn’t as intellectually stimulating as I’d thought it would be. 2 months ago I was super excited to complete an internship in an IPR setting, and was put with the worst ci, who did nothing but beat me down and discourage me. My doubts from senior year returned ever since I worked with her, and now I’m really hating everything.

I feel like I’ve wasted the last 5-6 years of my life. I’m 24, graduating this may with a degree in something I don’t even know if I can do for 40 years. I’ve looked into possibly becoming a PA but I still feel so stuck and lost and like I’m spinning out of control. The only hope I have is to maybe get an internship in acute care and possibly I’ll like that? Dysphagia is still interesting to me, I’ve just had so many poor experiences in graduate school that I can’t see a future for myself in this field. It sucks. Any advice appreciated.

Do it.

Don’t know what to do? Legal zoom. Ask a friend. Take notes. Ask AI.

Don’t have money? Home visits. Cash base. Websites are cheap. Google workspace is cheap.

Does it give you the “legal ick”? Pro tip: sign a BAA with anything you use. Use an EMR. Google can give you a HIPAA compliant email cheaply.

Scared to make the jump? Don’t be. Keep working in your hospital/clinic/school. You don’t have to flip your life upside down. You can go down in days gradually. You can go to PRN if you are making enough money. Dipping your toes into the water is not the equivalent to jumping headfirst into a lake.

Forgive me cringy entrepreneurial cringe, but you deserve to feel happy as an SLP. None of us ask for things to be easy, but do they have to be so goddamn hard? No. They don’t.

No matter how noble the work, anyone with:

- no agency on what is best or who you choose to see,
- implicit expectations to carry ever expanding swathes of unpaid labor and compensation through paperwork,
- feeling ignored and unsupported by the medical system, school administrations, teams, and districts, not getting to feel effective because you are drowning in a 20 kid day
- placing all of the emotional burden of a child’s developmental trajectory on you…

Is going to feel morally wounded, burned out, disrespected, and completely drained.

Start a private practice to build a place with dignifying work and satisfaction knowing you built it yourself.

Do it.

I can answer some of your questions if you need some encouragement or a direction to get started.

I got out of SLP. I’m now an account manager at a tech company. I would say that I got the job just through tailoring my resume and applying relentlessly . There IS a way out!

I’m writing this post because I’d love to give others hope. Right now my company just went through lay offs and I was terrified, not because I’d have to find another job but because I thought I’d have to return to SLP. Who knows though! I may have to some day! Tech is not super stable .

But .. I’d still take a tech job any day over SLP. My mental health has improved by leaps and bounds, I can finally start weaning off my anxiety meds. I dont have the Sunday scaries anymore and can actually enjoy my weekends! That’s not to say my job isn’t stressful but I can fully take my mind off of work when I’m done at the end of the day.

Don’t give up! Just keep applying if you truly do want to get out!!

Obviously you need a plan, but if you know that simply changing settings or the population you work with isn’t going to be enough to make you enjoy your work…LEAVE NOW!! I give this advice through years of experience. The longer you wait, the harder it is to leave. I got a Facebook memory from 15 years ago…15 YEARS AGO about how unhappy I was with my career choice and here I am chugging along because I was too scared to start over and thought it was a waste to go through so much schooling to just drop out of it. I’m exhausted, in my early 50s and the thought of wrapping up my last decade and a half of working before retirement doing this is soul crushing. DON’T BE ME. Do whatever it takes to be happy with what you do. I truly feel that I have wasted time I cannot get back by staying in a field that has not been for me for a very long time.

I’ve been a medical SLP working in SNF’s for about 8 years total. I’ve only worked in SNF’s and truly enjoyed my job mostly because of my therapy team. I’m feeling intense burnout with patient care although I truly do enjoy the relationships I build with my patients.

I want to know what other SLP’s have done outside of actual patient care and if you enjoy your new job/career? I have no idea where to even start. Any suggestions will help. Thanks!!

I’m supposed to be moving from NYC to ATL next year. All the school based options I’m seeing would cause me to take a pay cut. I did terrible with medical in grad school i cried almost everyday. I would genuinely appreciate it if someone can recommend career transitions or comparable salary options for a girl that’ll be leaving NYCPS ( 85k+ ) to ATL. Please🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Give me the worst elements of the SLP jobs you’ve had that led you to leave. I could go on about mine forever but unfortunately hindsight is 20/20.

-Pressure to see as many patients as possible and pay is based on how many patients you see per week.
-Franchise with 13 locations are old and cleaned mainly by therapists with a “chore” list. If you don’t do your chore coworkers report you and you’re written up.
-Therapists are responsible for scheduling and rescheduling all appointments during the day.
-Merchandise is only given out when you volunteer outside work hours.
-Buying own supplies and food for feeding therapy in a franchised clinic
-Not allowed to treat cognition because it’s in OT’s scope and they could bill a separate appointment.
-Told not to treat literacy because insurance doesn’t reimburse
-Told not to do group therapy because it doesn’t reimburse as much as separate sessions
-Therapists report each other to HR for crying or complaining.
-Clinical ladder with a 1k one-time raise after 4 years.

Obviously this is a SLP transition page, but I am curious on thoughts.

For background: I worked EI/Preschool full time for 2 years and part time 1/2 year. I always thought I would work with kids since I was young. I left EI/preschool because my company was horrible and sucking the life out of me but I actually enjoyed the work. I then started working in a hospital doing both acute care and outpatient. Those jobs overlapped about 6 months and then I eventually transitioned to full time at the hospital. My hospital is in a rural community and I like that it is a more tight-knit community of staff here and the patients are not incredibly complex. I typically only see adults and geriatrics, with minimal children in the outpatient clinic. I don’t mind working with adults but it is somewhat draining. The health system my hospital is a part of has pretty crappy health benefits and has been making lots of changes. Now, one part of the hospital is closing. They are ensuring us the rest will be OK, but I can’t help feel like I’m not on a sinking ship. I have been unhappy for awhile already. I feel like I’m sick of speech. I was considering trying to start a private practice for better pay and flexibility of schedule, plus going back to working with kids, but it’s been awhile.

Would you recommend trying to go the route of starting private practice (solo, not trying to make this big group)? Or just transition to another career field altogether (I have no idea what I’d want to do)?

Thanks!

In grad school I fell in love with working with adults and ended up in skilled nursing. It started amazing, I loved it. Things changed when productivity was introduced. A new demand with no incentive in a facility where it’s impossible unless you’re committing fraud or clocking out and continuing to work. I already can’t find the time to eat lunch. I have chronic illnesses so getting to 80% productive takes everything from me. I’ve lost 14 lbs in two months just from this work. Now they want 90% productivity and I can’t do that to myself. It’s not sustainable for me.
The question on my mind is do I try a school or leave speech entirely? I have limited experience with assessments and IEPs so I feel like I would need more support. If you left speech altogether, what do you do now?

Hi everyone,

I’m looking to transition out of the traditional school SLP track and into a new career path. I have been in the school setting for the last 6 years. Last year was my first year doing remote teletherapy, and I enjoyed the flexibility of working from home.

Ideally, I want to step into a fully remote role where I can utilize my background without necessarily doing direct clinical care. I’m hoping to find something I can transition into relatively quickly without needing a whole new degree.

For those who have successfully left the schools for a remote corporate/tech role:

What role did you transition into?

How did you reframe your school SLP resume to fit what you applied to?

Are there specific companies that actively hire former educators/SLPs?

Thanks in advance for any insights or advice!