u/QuietCareful

Looking for some advice from anyone who’s gone a similar route.

I’m currently finishing my MBA while working full-time in an office management/HR role at a home health company, making around $63k a year (Dallas, Texas). Lately, I’ve been seriously considering going back to school for the CDIS leveling courses and then pursuing my SLPA license. The total cost would be just under $7k.

A big reason is that the job market has me a little nervous. It feels like office, administrative, and HR roles are becoming more competitive, and with AI changing so many industries, I’d like to have a licensed profession as a backup and another way to earn income.

My thought is to continue building my career in management/HR while having the option to:

Work PRN or part-time as an SLPA for extra income.
Transition to full-time SLPA work if I end up enjoying it more or if it offers better pay and stability.

I’ve also been looking at home health SLPA positions that pay around $40 per visit, and some seem to have plenty of patients esp. my company. Part of me wonders if I should just make a full career switch for the earning potential, but what scares me is the instability of caseload with cancellations/inactive insurance

I honestly don’t know if I’m overthinking all of this or if I’m making a smart investment in my future. If you were in my position, would you keep building a career in HR with an MBA while using an SLPA license as a side income, or would you make the full switch? I’d really appreciate hearing your thoughts and experiences.

I’m 27F in Texas and honestly feeling pretty lost career-wise and financially.

I currently work in healthcare/home health in HR + operations type roles and make around $56k/year. I have a Bachelor’s in Public Health (1st generation) and I’m currently pursuing my MBA part-time (estimated grad date 2028). My hope was to continue growing in the field I already work in and move into higher-level management/administration eventually (ex: hospital/clinic management).

But with AI, layoffs, outsourcing, and the economy right now, I’m starting to question whether the MBA is even worth it anymore or if I’m putting time/money into something that won’t really protect my future.
I also have a complicated background:
DWI from 2021

Separate car accident with bodily injury in 2022

Currently finishing probation

I know those are my mistakes and I fully take accountability for them, but they’ve definitely made me feel like certain career paths are closed off to me now, especially medical fields or anything heavily licensed/competitive.

My undergrad GPA was low (2.8) but I currently have a 3.5 in my MBA program so far. Part of why I went back to school was to prove to myself that I could succeed academically and build a stronger GPA in case I decide to pursue something more competitive later on, like law school, nursing, or another professional path.

Living at home currently while paying debt down/paying out of pocket for MBA

I’m trying to be realistic and strategic now instead of emotional. I messed up but I’m better now and want to do better.

My biggest questions are:

What careers are realistically stable/high-demand over the next 10–20 years?

Are there fields that care more about experience and growth than past mistakes?

Should I stay in healthcare operations/HR and climb?

What careers would you recommend for someone with my background that still have strong income potential and growth?

I’m not expecting life to be easy after my mistakes, but I’m trying to build something stable and meaningful long term and would appreciate honest advice from people who’ve been through career pivots or setbacks.