r/SLPA

So I am seeing a lot of people say that their hourly rate looks good, but their actual take home does not reflect that. I am in Texas, and I will be graduating soon. How much are y'all actually making vs how much you expected to make? I'm not changing courses, but I am looking to set my expectations. Obviously $35-40+ an hour sounds good, but that should equate to $72k+ a year with full-time hours. Any input is appreciated.

So i'm 24 and considering both options. I can likely go to the UK for two years, come back, be an SLP. Or I can stay in ontario and do the 1 year CDA program. it's just that tuition for SLP masters in the UK is 70-100k CAD total (depending on school) for two years in the UK. and I'm not even gonna live in a big city there. And i wanna finish school asap as well.

Hi all! I start a new teletherapy position soon and I’m looking for resources!

I’ve been an slpa 5 years and did a year of that as a teletherapist for a charter school. I also have a background in ABA ( I was an RBT).

Anywho, I’ve been out of work for a year with my baby and feel like I’m starting all over!

I’ll be working with level d behavioral middle - high school students.

What are you doing to manage behaviors in teletherapy?
How are you keeping this age range engaged?
What does your daily schedule for sessions look like?
Favorite websites ? I know of most but hoping someone has some new ones.

Just would love to hear how other people are having success with this population in teletherapy

Thanks !:)

Hey all! I’m in a bit of a pickle and could use some advice. I recently started at a teletherapy job that I’m really liking. It’s out of a private clinic I see clients 1:1 and I have afternoon hours so mornings off.

I’m coming from 9 years in the schools so the charge of pace is nice BUT not liking that I don’t get paid for cancellations (only half time for no shows) & I only get paid for session time so I have to do all notes within that time as well.

I was recently offered a hybrid remote school position with a competing wage (the tele is less hourly) and the commute would be about 25 mins each way. 2 days remote 2 days at the school. 8 hours a day contract so 8:30-5pm (feels like a long day for a SLPA)

Honestly I was really looking forward to telehealth but not sure if the hybrid position is too good to pass. My only fear is that since it’s contract work there’s no guarantee I’ll be renewed and one of the reasons I wanted to leave schools is bc in my area it’s almost all contract SLPA work and doesn’t feel like real job security since ive been in districts where they just decide the following year not to renew. The telehealth position would be year around/ mornings off/ and fully remote. But less pay hourly and has the job security but a little inconsistent. I also have health struggles which is a big part of why I want a remote component. Truly don’t know what to do but need to give an answer like yesterday!!!. Any advice or insight would be so helpful!! Posting in the SLP Reddit too since there’s not many remote SLPAs out there

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.

My recent SLP supervisor had this expectation of me and it seemed kinda strange. My first week on the job this supervisor vaguely mentioned that it's something the SLPA's are expected to do because she gets so busy and can't get her own lunch. This behavior among many other red flags has me scratching my head, wondering if it's common in the field?

I have experience working in another highly professional field and I've never been expected to run personal errands for any of my superiors unless it was directly concerned with a business related meeting involving clients and I was always reimbursed for mileage. But in an office, it's much easier to leave in the middle of the day to pick-up food than it has been as a SLPA when I'm trying to finish documentation and prep for my next sessions.

This particular supervisor told me that she doesn't prep and pack lunch the night before because she's too busy. I'm in the process of parting ways despite an offer to hire me on full time. I feel like her behavior tends to abuse the power dynamic but the other SLPA's were much more eager to please and always offered to go get her food or coffee almost daily. This gave me the impression of normalcy, but I just don't feel the same way.

Update:

Thank you all for the sanity check!

Hello there👋 I have been a paraeducator at an elementary school for the past three years and have really enjoyed working with our SLP and am considering doing the PSU Communication Sciences and Disorders Certificate and then getting certified as an SLPA. I don’t know yet whether I will want to continue on to try and get a masters in SLP or not. My question is, are there even jobs in Portland right now for SLPA’s? I have been looking around a little bit and I can’t seem to find much. I just wanted to know my options before I commit to school again. Thanks for the help and any advice you have!

Hi, I’m starting out as an SLPA very soon and I’m a bit nervous about it. Can anyone provide a general idea of their day to day looks like? I’ll be working at a private clinic. Additionally, is there any tips or resources I can look at to prepare myself for my future clients? I’m unsure what to expect and how much I need to know beforehand. Thank you 🥰

I’ve been so excited about this career for years. All my interests and skills make it perfect for me on paper. I’ve been a nanny for 10 years, I have plenty of experience with kids.

I just graduated with my BS and I’m 6 weeks into my internship at a clinic. I chose a clinical setting because from what Ive heard, I prefer it to school setting with multiple kids at a time. My supervising SLP is patient and so knowledgeable, but also slightly intimidating. Part of me is really enjoying the experience but the other part of me is starting wonder if this field is right for me. Why?

I’m expected to write up lesson plans for each session a day. We must have an activity listed for each goal we’re targeting, the materials used, and how we’re going to do it. I also have to write up homework assignment sheets to give during parent education. I’m not allowed to use flashcards or anything of the sort, she wants me to “be creative”. This also applies to any telehealth sessions- she does not want me using any online resources or games, only creative activities over the camera with the child.

I understand why we have to do all this, it’s to prepare us to be great SLPAs once we’re in the field. But it feels impossible right now. I spend 9-10 hours a day at the clinic (including staying after to prep for the next day), hours and hours on weekends and on weeknights trying to lesson plan new creative ideas since she does not want to see the same things over and over. I’m feeling really defeated, because it’s impossible to get these lesson plans and homework assignments written out between sessions while also giving parent education, charting data, and writing up SOAP notes. I’m frequently working through my lunch break and forgetting to eat. I have barely any toys and activities to use for session so I’m constantly searching for toys/games to bring with me to session but obviously I’m broke because I’m not getting paid. And of course, I’m suffering from the same anxiety all new SLPAs have since no one ever teaches us HOW to do therapy, they just throw us in there and expect us to “be creative” without teaching us basics like methods for articulation, etc.

This is so so hard. The SLPAs who work there don’t have to do any of these extra things the interns are asked to do, so I suppose that makes me feel slightly more optimistic about it being easier when the internship ends? I don’t know. Is this normal? Please, send words of encouragement!!!

Can you guys recommend some online and affordable SLPA coursework programs? I don’t need the one with the included 100 hours. Please and thank you 😭

Edit: I have a ba in psych

So far about four schools has reach out to me for an interview through email and when I emailed them back about my availability they just completely ghost me. I've been unemployed for about a year now so when a recruiter ghost me it sets me off. Since it happened back to back I needed answers on why this is happening. 3 out of the 4 of them all had the same answer which was that the jobs have not been cleared by HR. Where they scams or am I just the worst luck. People in Massachusetts south shore area is this normal? I applied for all these jobs on school spring.

Is it too old for someone to think about starting MS SLP at 55 at any of the CSUs? They have worked in medical research for 20+ years and now want to switch to patient care.Please be kind

Hi! I don’t know if someone has already asked this, but, how are your hours as an SLPA? The clinic I work in promised I would be working FT. I’ve been there for three months and I am LITERALLY working 25-30 hours. I have updates in my schedule almost every day , and I do not get paid for those cancellations unless they’re last minute. Also sometimes I have two hour breaks between my sessions and I don’t get paid for those either so I am in the clinic without getting paid for my time there. HELP

I am becoming a full time slpa in an elementary school. Will I be doing slpa work for the full 40 hours or will I be also like a classroom para? Will I have a lot of free time outside of work or will I be doing a lot of paperwork? What is the setup like?

Hey all!

Thank you for reading!

I (25) am currently a little under halfway through my Early Childhood Education associates online with Purdue Global. I work as an RBT with early learners on the Autism Spectrum (at an incredibly comprehensive 'modern' care clinic). I myself have Autism and ADHD, and being around neurodivergence 24/7 (was previous a bartender) has changed my life immeasurably for the better. I love them kids, and it's teaching me new ways to love and treat myself.

I want everything I do in the future to come from a solid basis of understanding early childhood development. My belief is that the generations we will be serving for... a long time to come, even the older kids, will be serverly lacking proper early childhood development. I see it akin to trauma informed care, considering the need for this growth doesn't go away if you don't get it, its just delayed.

So this being said... I really want to complete my ECE associates!

I'm moving back to my hometown for more stability (with my Mom oop), and the major university there offers an Online SLPa associates program. They do have a bachelors in Communication sciences and disorders, but this would require me to be in person, which is ~ an hour drive from where I would be living.

My Mom who is helping me with college, and is (future) helping me with living expenses (I am so furtunate) says you don't get ahead collecting associate degrees.

Some Pro's for ECE assoc. + SLPa assoc.

- I feel like it will give me an edge in a difficult job market? Not just once I'm an SLPa but also to get a good job while working for my degree.

- If I work as an RBT for the school districts up there, they offer tuition reimbursement + mentorship for continued education, and my understanding is that it would apply to SLP stuff even if I'm 'currently' in an ABA role

- I could work while I go to school online

- I could pursue a different bachelors and still continue on to an SLP masters if thats what I want (I have lots of things I want to learn + want the options of different jumping off points! Linguistics, writing, recreation administration, special education, social work, teaching)

Pro's for Bachelors

- My mom would support me being a full time student if I had to commute 2 hrs to classes 🙃

- they might be able to let me take the SLPa specific classes hybrid if the system is already in place

- I wouldn't need more qualifiers to go on to a masters if I choose

- It's what my Mom would prefer and she is offering financial help

Secret 3rd option

She actually wants me to drop my ECE associates entirely and switch what I can to SLPa associates rn and complete that. I would get the benefits of being able to choose my bachelors, but I wouldn't have the ECE knowledge that I really feel like will be impactful for the rest of my working career (and personal parenting dreams).

And I cannot start this SLPa program until I move up there in a year, because the new university is region specific. I would be about finishing up my current courses anyway.

Conclusion

I know ECE by itself doesn't tend to be a lucrative degree, but am I insane to think that it helps with a killer resume to get me closer to achieving my dreams? Is this worth being in school for longer?

Do any of yall have multiple degrees + how do you think that helps or hurts your current role in SLPa

I appreciate you all!

If anyone could offer some insight it would be greatly appreciated. I’m going into ENMU’s SLPA program and was wondering if everything will be fulfilled for me to work as an SLPA once it’s all done. I’ve gotten some contradictory information so I wanted to ask the professionals.

I’m graduating with my bachelors in CDS next June and I was hoping to move to California to be closer to my boyfriend. However, I was looking into grad school cost and decided it would be easier to take a year off, get in state tuition and then apply to grad schools in a year and work as an SLPA in the meantime until I saw the requirements to be an SLPA in California. I don’t feel like taking extra classes just to be an SLPA for a few years before grad school. What are some other options I have before grad school that is similar?

What do you guys think? Am i able to find a job as a SLPA relatively well like less than a year? Is it better to try to become a SLPA or to just focus on getting experience in something related and a job that’s more accessible to get/secure in education? Specifically in SOCAL, San Diego area?
EDIT: even if you’re not in socal, your perspective is welcomed