r/SLPcareertransitions

I have been a SLP-Assistant for 10+ years and I am burnt out. The ROI isn’t high enough to pursue a master’s degree. I have hit my ceiling and I’m stuck in either schools or home health. I initially wanted to be a nurse (in 2009) but didn’t think I could deal with poop and blood. Since becoming an adult and a mom, none of that phases me anymore. I chose SLP because it was the middle between a teacher and a nurse.

Anyway, I can’t afford to go straight to RN so I would have to bridge later. Has anyone left speech and went to nursing? How was the transition? What would you have done differently? Any other advice?

hello! I recently graduated with a degree in Computer Science. Despite doing tech internships, I found the desk-bound 9-5 routine completely draining, and the job market for entry-level tech right now is brutal. I’ve always wanted a profession focused on directly helping people, which is why i've been looking for cs jobs in education or nonprofits.

To be completely transparent, I’m trying to figure out if I’m just getting cold feet about CS because I've been unemployed for so long and the tech market is depressing, or if I genuinely need a career change.

I’ve been researching SLP and really like the idea of school schedules (summers off), the potential for remote telepractice or private work later, and the high job stability.

The Financial Catch: I live in Hawaii, where SLPs are desperately needed. Because of this, money won't be an issue: the Hawaii Department of Education (DOE) will fully pay for my schooling if I commit to working for them for 3 years post-grad. Alternatively, I could do a Graduate Assistantship to cover tuition. Coming out with zero debt makes this very tempting.

My Big Concerns:
I am a major introvert and I am terrified of burnout. I know SLP is a highly social, "always on" job, whereas tech lets you hide behind a monitor on low-energy days. Also i do start the process i would need to take a year course to do all the prereq classes, and then 2 years of grad school then a year of fellowship, it kinda seems like a long time.

I would love your honest insights on a few things:

• For introverted SLPs: How draining is the constant social interaction, and how do you protect your peace/energy?
• For career switchers: Did you pivot to SLP after feeling burned out or stuck in another field? Do you regret leaving a quiet desk job for this?
• For school-based SLPs: Are the summers off worth the heavy paperwork and caseloads during the school year?
• For Hawaii SLPs: Has anyone done the DOE tuition commitment program? What is the reality of working for the Hawaii DOE? How is the JABSOM program?

Thank you so much for any advice you can share!

I am a new graduate speech pathologist in aus working in a paediatric private practice and lowkey hating it!! I feel like I’ve chosen the wrong career. Dealing with NDIS is tough, I don’t love my caseload (lots of social communication goals) and I feel completely lost for most of my clients, especially AAC. I feel completely unprepared by uni and I feel like I’m letting my clients down by doing everything wrong. I feel completely ineffective in my sessions and I feel stupid doing therapy in front of parents.

I know this is common for new grads to feel but I can’t help but think in the back of my head that my bad feeling about this career is more than just being a new grad. This whole field of language therapy feels wishy washy and a little bit pseudosciencey now that I’m actually doing it all in practice.

I think I’d like to try out a department for education role in the schools or maybe being a reading tutor?? My main interests that got me into this field are early literacy. But honestly even working on speech sounds feels more concrete and structured compared to what I’m doing in my sessions now, I just don’t have many on my caseload. NDIS clients seem to lend themselves to the kind of therapy I hate doing :(

I’m not sure I just feel lost. I just don’t feel happy where I am with my career right now. If anyone has any advice I would be so grateful.