One of my favorite things about this field, and in my humble opinion one of the biggest pros, is that we are in demand not only in one setting, but across the continuum of places in which we serve patients and clients. Recently, I decided it was time to move on from one job and vary my experiences with another. I am currently in the process of finishing a contract, but within the last week and a half I started reaching out to companies and have received three different offers. This could be fewer or more than three - it is up to me and how many companies I decide to contact and inquire with about opportunities.

My point is not to brag - it is to say that you will always have a job as an SLP! That is, if you want it. Deciding how to move forward and make a choice might not be easy, but what a great problem to have! Having multiple viable offers and options rather than feeling stuck is one major benefit of having your degree in SLP.

Resource of the Week 🧰

ASHA, the national governing body for speech-language pathologists and audiologists has gathered information about undergraduate and Master’s programs offering coursework for prospective SLPs and audiologists. EdFind allows you to search programs by type (undergrad, graduate, post-baccalaureate, etc.), state, options for financial aid, program offerings such as online or hybrid programs and programs in which prerequisite courses are not required, as well as other characteristics. Click on a specific program to get more information on each institution, including accreditation status, program director names, program offerings, and a link to the program website to learn more.

Weekly Spotlight 💡

Our weekly spotlight will introduce readers to an SLP or an SLP graduate student, with the intention of giving you motivation to keep going, to try new experiences, and to broaden your knowledge about where and how we work. This week, we have our first graduate student who has so graciously suggested a section to discuss positive experiences we have had in the field. Thanks, Keyry!

Name: Keyry

What program you are currently completing and year of completion: California Baptist University- MS SLP 2025

What population and/or setting do you plan to work in after graduation and why?: I plan to work either in a private practice with pediatric clients or in schools. I hope to work with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder because I have a strong interest in sensory integration therapy and child-led therapy.

What other fields did you consider before going to school to become an SLP?: I considered being an English teacher and a Psychologist before ultimately being drawn to the field of SLP. I felt a stronger pull toward helping individuals communicate with their loved ones after working as an IA in a special education elementary classroom.

What is the most positive, uplifting experience you have had in the field? Share it with us, if you like, so we can all celebrate! The most positive experience I have had as a student so far was during my first year and second practicum experience. The client’s parent talked about how much growth they had seen in their child while working with me and expressed how grateful she was for everything I was doing, and everything those of us in the field do for our clients. It has continued to motivate me as I go through the program. It’s important to remember just how much of an impact we can have on our clients and their families and how, even being a small part of someone’s journey, we can create big changes.

***If you would like to be featured in our Weekly Spotlight, click the link here***

Today’s Posting 💵

This week’s posting is for AMN Healthcare. AMN is a nation-wide staffing company providing clinicians with travel therapy positions and permanent contract positions, both on-site and remote. Large staffing companies like AMN Healthcare contract directly with facilities that have a shortage of providers to fill open positions.

AMN staffs SLPs across medical and educational settings, including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), outpatient clinics, home health, the schools, and more. AMN has over 550 current openings for SLPs all over the United States. They employ clinicians, so you would be W-2 with benefits, 401K, reimbursement for CEUs and state licensure needed in order to work in your state, and if you are a travel therapist, you receive non-taxable stipends for various expenses.

This specific posting is for a teletherapy job for a school district in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tele services have really expanded since the pandemic as an option mainly for school districts at this time to provide much-needed services. Pay for this position is posted as $1,450-$2,100 weekly, for the duration of the school year, and this district is looking to fill five positions.

If you are interested in positions with larger companies, getting into contact with a recruiter is essential. Opportunities change frequently as the needs of facilities change, and as a result, information online does not always reflect this.

Fun Fact 📌📔

More than 14 million people are affected by stuttering, problems with their voice, and aphasia (a disorder affecting understanding and/or expression of language) in the United States alone! This does not include the eight percent of children aged 3-17 that have a speech, language, voice, or swallowing disorder or individuals with some type of hearing loss. Click here for more facts, if you wish!

This is why we are in such demand. I wish, as I think we all do, that so many people were not in need of our services to begin with. But reality is they are, and there is no better feeling than helping someone who has lost their ability to communicate with their family recover from their stroke and regain those skills, or no better feeling than helping a young person who stutters order confidently at a restaurant for the first time.

That is it for this week! I am still in the process of confirming which day of the week would be best to send this newsletter, so if you have a suggestion, please reply and let me know!

If you have feedback for improving this newsletter or topics you would like to see covered, we are all ears… well, eyes, that is. Reach out and let us know what you think!

Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter, as well as to make it a better, more useful resource for prospective SLPs!😄 Talk soon,

— Meryl