Speech pathologists have so many options when choosing what sort of setting they would like to work in. For me, I am a school SLP through and through and I wouldn't have it any other way. Nothing beats those smiling kids! But to help make ends meet, I have dabbled around in doing PRN work and it really helps! I work just a few days a month at a local rehab facility. I love the flexibility and I like keeping current in the adult world of therapy. Looking for a few ways to make a little extra cash? Here are some side hustle ideas for SLPs:
- Hospitals: Working at a hospital or rehab facility often provides lots of flexibility for PRN SLPs. I work in a rehab hospital and can choose when I can and when I cannot work. During the school year, I usually work about two weekend days a month with the option to do more or less. I pick up more hours over summers and holiday breaks. When I first started, it had been a few years since I had done any work with adults in my clinical placements, but my facility was really great and let me shadow an SLP for a little bit until I felt comfortable. They also provided training for their documentation systems and have additional training online from time to time.
- Nursing Homes: If you are looking for flexibility, working PRN at a nursing home can be another good option. You can let them know when you are and are not available to pick up some hours. Some nursing homes hire SLPs directly, while others rely on agencies, so it is a good idea to look into how the nursing homes in your area operate if you are interested in this type of work.
- Home Health: This is a growing area in our field and can be a steady source of extra income. It is flexible in that you can schedule your own clients, but it does require a routine time commitment to see your client(s). Working in home health provides a better opportunity to build relationships with patients and see their progress in therapy more than PRN positions do.
- Pediatric Clinics: If you are interested in working with kids, pediatric clinics often look for therapists to assist part-time with after school and weekend hours. I previously worked in a clinic and some of the perks included 1:1 sessions, no traveling, and getting to build strong relationships with kids and their families.
- Private clients: Seeing kids (or adults) privately can be rewarding, lucrative, and flexible - but there are some hoops to jump through to get started. Make sure you are following any rules set forth by your current employer to avoid any conflicts of interest. Also, ASHA states that clients need to be informed of all of their options of other therapy providers in the area. You also need to consider how you will get clients, what your rate will be, where you will provide your services, and if you need to purchase any tests or materials.
- The internet! : Teletherapy, selling original materials online, and blogging can all be ways to use your skills and knowledge as an SLP to earn some extra money.
Do you have any side hustles? Comment with your experiences below! I would love to hear from you!
~Erin
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