r/SLPA

Hey not sure if you guys have seen that salary tracker just for slpa’s online. I can’t post the link obviously but a tik tok creator made it on her page which is cafeaulangue I also saw it on Facebook too it’s actually so cool seeing how differently everyone gets paid lol
Thought it would be helpful 🫡

What was your career before, and how has it helped you/your practice as an SLPA?

Hey im a first year SLPA. Im in my last week of the school year and ive have had it. I work at a school for students with disabilities its on the more moderate to severe spectrum especially since this is the most restrictive environment. I have students ages 3-22. My SLP is in her 3rd year at that school (25 years as a slp) and im the 3rd SLPA at that site Part of my responsibilities are my DSC TOP billing + writing out lesson plans with students goals, times + what I am going to do. It feels like my SLP only looks at them during progress report season and comes to me with all of the mistakes ive made but I wish she would’ve told me when the issue first appeared. Im terrified of being fired because I truly like working with the kids. I work at a mainstream school once a week and the SLP there is totally differnt. I get feedback on day of session and she reads + confirms my dstop billing same week. Relevant information I am autistic and have ADHD which I disclosed with my supervising SLP’s. Honestly im exhausted. My SLP has an energy that sucks the life out of me and the room when she enters. Im constantly terrified about her wanting to have a chat. If I get fired i dont know what Inwilk do for money. I just wish I was better at my job and Im frustrated that I feel like I cant do anything right. I know she will say to just talk to her but her demeanor is so off putting

I got offered $30 per THERAPY HOUR meaning only paid for therapy not cancellations. (30 min sessions)

They are also paying me PRN (1099) Is this normal. I see posts saying 30 is good. But is 30 per therapy hour good ($15 per session) and not paid for documentation / prep time

Let me start off by saying I genuinely love my HH company and they are great for advocating for us when it comes to parents, scheduling, and providing clusters super close to each other so drive time is super minimal. That part is GREAT.

Now

I started in March and it is now May. I have had a total of ONE supervised visits. I’m also given cases such as a cleft palate baby, clients that use eye gaze AACs, which I am so on board for but they don’t train us on these things during our undergrad… keep in mind I just graduated August 2025, stated this job in March 2026. I did request on Friday if someone could model some strategies for a specific client but none of the SLPs have responded and it’s Tuesday. Idk. Feels like the red flags are waving. Also, hey. It’s summer and I’m sure schools will be hiring, so maybe it’s a sign? Idk. I really enjoy the kind of clientele we work with but I don’t appreciate being thrown into the first week with a complex case with the expectation that I’m knowledgeable on these things and can educate parents when I don’t have the training on these topics. I do go out of my way to do research as best as I can, I understand that’s part of the job, but its starting to feel like there’s a lack of support. I hate to jump the gun too quickly, it’s only been a few months but it’s just something that doesn’t feel right about this…

Hi!

I was really interested in applying for full time jobs as a current SLPA student. I am at my local state university, and the classes are kind of brutal but manageable, I think.

If I get a full time job, I would be part timing. I would only take three classes when I could be taking four. Unfortunately, the one class that I need is only offered in the morning or early afternoon. I think that is the standard for undergrad classes, unfortunately. It is kind of bullshit that they think we are all first years and don't have a full time day job.

Anyways, the job I want to apply for is aligned with our career, but it is full time from 8 to 5 pm. I would really like this job because it helps me gain experience that eventually I am going to need once I become an SLPA, and the pay is really good with benefits. They don't really require experience other than having a degree and have some knowledge which I do since I have been learning about it in my classes.

What do you think? Should I just suck it up for one more year (will be graduating in spring 2027)? Or just part time for fall and hope there will be more late afternoon classes or online ones for spring 2026

hi everyone! i just received my CA SLPA license and am so excited to start! i was just wondering if anyone could share their experiences with starting salary in southern california. i live specifically in the menifee/murrieta/temecula area and ive gotten two offers from clinics at 27-28 an hour. i know this is pretty typical for a slpa who’s just beginning but i have seen offers for 30 to even 35 so im just feeling a bit discouraged. any help/advice is greatly appreciated! 🥹🤍

Hi friends. My SLPA practicum setting is in a clinic. It’s challenging having sessions back to back, with little time to prep for the next client. Looking back, I wish I would have tried finding a school setting for my placement, but am unsure of what that’s even like. Am interested in hearing your thoughts on what it’s like to work in various settings and age-groups.

I’m 47 and have a BA in public speaking that is over 20 years old. I’ve been at home taking care of kids for years and will be rejoining the workforce in one more year. I’ve been thinking about what career I’d like to transition to, and would like to pursue speech language pathology. Currently, I’d like to pursue SLPA, but would like to approach this in a way that allows me to enroll in a masters program down the road (if I want to - still on the fence). In my state, you need an associate or bachelor degree in SLP/Comm Disorders plus 100 hours of field work to obtain a SLPA license.

I was considering just taking leveling courses - but it sounds like I absolutely need an associate or bachelor degree for an SLPA license.

Just wondering if there are online programs that can help me with this educational path.

I’ve been a bit hesitant to post here, but I feel like I should give some caution to potential CDA students in Ontario. There seems to be some sort of push from colleges to expand their CDA programs to accommodate more students and open new programs (Conestoga) as well. I don’t understand where this push is coming from, as there are almost no full-time positions in the career field; most private clinics rely on cheap CDA labour in the GTA due to the shortages of SLPs. No one from my graduating class has a full-time position; it’s all unreliable part-time jobs, all clinics take advantage of the fact that they will only hire contract positions, and those are the only positions available at all other clinics, so there isn’t a push for better job conditions (no benefits, no expected hours/pay).

You will be doing community-based roles for low pay, and this isn’t even accounting for all the time you’ll be travelling or driving (you also 100% need a car). Most clients will only be available after school/work, which only leaves the hours between 4 and 7. This means the most amount of clients you will likely have per day is 3, and that’s if you’re lucky with scheduling (it will amount to minimum wage for the day if you’re lucky). Unless you’re ok with always wondering how much money you’ll be making each week, I highly caution against the program and career field since it's already been flooded with graduates, lowering the already low pay.

I’d also like to add that, unlike American SLPAs, school boards rarely, if at all, hire CDAs; it’s not a recognized profession, so most hospital and school positions are rare. I genuinely think the only people who would benefit from this career are people who have no desire to be breadwinners or are just looking for part-time work to have in between other responsibilities. This is not a field you should enter if you want to have growth in your career or are career-focused; the job itself will not let you.

I just have my name and Speech Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) in my email signature at work (public school district). But sometimes I feel the need to add B.S. in there because I think some people genuinely think I'm just an assistant to the SLP🤦‍♀️

Ive been wanting to become one since ive had a change of heart from nursing. Can anyone give me some insight on what its like and how the experience was? Thanks a lot!

So in my area there are no in person schools to get a bachelors in SLP. I wanted to go online but unfortunately the schools do not help you meet the field world hours requirements from what I’m reading. I just got an AA in marketing and really don’t want to have to back track to get an AA again. Has anybody found a way around this in California?

Just curious if there are any benefits for getting ASHA certified? Financially, opportunity, transfer of license wise??

hi everyone! I currently am a respiratory therapist and have been working for the past 2 years. I have tried everything from hospital setting, DME, SNF, to even having a remote job (which is very rare).

No matter what job I've had, I've come to the realization I am not passionate about what I do and dread work everyday. RT has been too stressful of a career for me due to how much pressure it is to take care of someone's life (if that makes sense) and because there are not openings where I live. I find myself wanting to be in the medical field still, but have less direct patient care. I have been considering going back to school for SLPA and hopefully head into SLP, but I don't want to make the same mistake I did with respiratory.

In the area I'm in, there are plenty of school positions open and positions in nearby major hospitals.

How do I figure out if this would be a good career path for me?

Thank you!