But without a real world plan, the idea of leaving clinical work feels like a pipe dream, at best. We feel lost about where to even begin looking for non-clinical/alternative SLP careersДЄs I mentioned, SLPs have TONS of transferable skills.We feel guilty leaving a career we worked so hard to attain.We donвЂ™t know if alternative SLP careers even exist (hint: they do).We doubt we have transferable skills for a different career pathВ (hint: we do).Many of us stay in the clinical grind longer than we want to simply because: I want you to know, though: you are more than the letters after your name-and you donвЂ™t need to feel stuck in a career thatвЂ™s no longer the right fit for you. As SLPs, itвЂ™s no secret we tend to over-identify with our title, often making it part of our core identity. Maybe youвЂ™ve had one foot out the door for what feels like forever, but you donвЂ™t know whatвЂ™s on the other side of clinical work.Дoes non-clinical SLP work even exist? Can you actually use your speech and language pathology skills in alternative careers outside of the traditional clinical setting? If this list feels TOO REAL, it may be time to consider a career pivot. The thought of trying to wrangle PRN coverage for another holiday makes you break out in a cold sweat.You want to throw your phone in the trash to avoid text threads from your boss and coworkers.

You feel a sense of dread on Sunday nights.YouвЂ™re just not excited about your work anymore.YouвЂ™re feeling super jealous of your friends who transitioned to remote work during the pandemic.Compassion fatigue has taken hold, and itвЂ™s derailing your ability to connect with patients.None of the career paths or specialities within clinical care pique your interest.YouвЂ™ve tried out every clinical setting there is-and you still feel unfulfilledвЂ¦or boredвЂ¦or overwhelmed.You find yourself daydreaming about other jobs while modeling the Masako Maneuver.Unrealistic productivity standards wear you downВ and make you feel useless.Managing your caseload feels draining, even on light days.If you suspect leaving patient care altogether might be the right move, though, see if this list resonates with you: How do you know if itвЂ™s time for you to explore alternative careers for SLPs?ДЇirst things firstвЂ¦you might just need a vacation, a change of settings, or a different company culture. When used, The Non-Clinical PT may be compensated. This post may contain affiliate links or codes.

Speech language pathologist