Career Change AE ::SLP::

[Deleted]

jaybird is an SLP prof! I'm sure she also has great things to add.

[lostmonkeyatikea]

You are definitely not too old, OP, my sister is your age and did a the pre-reqs while working full time. It was tough but she did it! You can too if you want it bad enough! ?

[lostmonkeyatikea]

Lol, I don't know what happened there with all of the question marks!

[Deleted]

I'm know nothing about SLP but I am a school nutritionist and I'm planning on doing my dietetic internship this summer so I can get my RD finally. Are you sure you have exhausted all options as a dietitian? Do you currently work for WIC or the health department? I ask because those are pretty much the lowest paying RD jobs around here. I mean, if you hate nutrition then obviously nothing you should look for a change but if you feel like you are in a dead-end job then you have other options.

I know most food companies (around here: Chobani, Kellogg's and General Mills for example) have RDs working in their research and development department. Just in school nutrition there are many options. Some school systems just employ dietitians to plan menus and teach nutrition classes (so not so much food service management) and pay anywhere from 35K-60K depending on the size of the school system. The state also has a school nutrition division and those employees make between 50K-60K. The USDA also hires RDs. Then you have clinical RDs... I know a diabetes educator who makes 70K at the local hospital. 

[minpin]

Jan 29, 2013 21:31:13 GMT -5 cuadrado said:

I'm know nothing about SLP but I am a school nutritionist and I'm planning on doing my dietetic internship this summer so I can get my RD finally. Are you sure you have exhausted all options as a dietitian? Do you currently work for WIC or the health department? I ask because those are pretty much the lowest paying RD jobs around here. I mean, if you hate nutrition then obviously nothing you should look for a change but if you feel like you are in a dead-end job then you have other options.

I know most food companies (around here: Chobani, Kellogg's and General Mills for example) have RDs working in their research and development department. Just in school nutrition there are many options. Some school systems just employ dietitians to plan menus and teach nutrition classes (so not so much food service management) and pay anywhere from 35K-60K depending on the size of the school system. The state also has a school nutrition division and those employees make between 50K-60K. The USDA also hires RDs. Then you have clinical RDs... I know a diabetes educator who makes 70K at the local hospital. 

I definitely haven't exhausted all avenues for an RD, but I'm just not sure I want to.  There are areas that don't interest me and other areas that I just don't want to start over in.  I don't hate it though, so if SLP or something else didn't work out it would be okay.  I'm good at project management and I could take that to other non-nutrition fields.

Good luck with your internship, it's a whirlwind!

[minpin]

thanks tacom, you really paint a picture!  I'm not deterred yet.  I appreciate hearing all your insights so I know more about what I'd be getting into.  I will PM you for more info soon.

[macmars45]

I'm not an SLP, but I work with them as I'm a para (classroom aide) with special needs preschoolers.

The SLP who woks in my classroom (once a week) is great. She does lots of one on one and small group work with my kids. Also, she gives me materials to work with some of my high needs kids throughout the week.

GL with whatever you decide.

[jaybird]

First off, I love the new tagging feature to point me to this thread.

Like tacom mentioned, I'm a professor in a Comm Disorders department (part-time while I get my PhD) and I also work in Early Intervention. As all the previous posters recommended, it's a great field to get into--it's very rewarding, there's a wide range of career paths, and there is flexibility.

That being said I'll give a bit of counterpoint as well. It is very hard to get into graduate school, so I wouldn't leave your current position before you've been accepted into a program. In NY, schools average about 300 applicants for approximately 25 spots. Also, I would look into if there is a need for SLPs in your area. The combination of graduate programs expanding/more programs starting and insurance cuts has lessened the need in certain areas. The program where I work still has 100% employment rate but I know that's not the case at other programs. Have you thought about Occupational Therapy? If I could go back, I may have chosen that instead. It has many so the positives of ST but is expanding more rapidly.

Feel free to PM me with other questions!