Many who work in education or healthcare have either worked as a contractor or know someone who has. Contracting is common in both fields, but it often lacks some valuable benefits for educators and clinicians. When you work as a contractor, essential benefits like healthcare, paid leave, and even workplace tech may not be covered. 

New graduates may be tempted to take a contractor role, but that could cause them to miss out on benefits W-2 employees enjoy in roles like physical therapy or speech-language pathology. Here are some differences between contractors and employees.

Contractor vs. Permanent Employee Distinction

First, consider the difference between contractor (1099) and permanent (W-2) employees. There are a few significant areas in which these roles differ, including the educator and clinician benefits available. Both employment types can be found in education and healthcare, sometimes within the same role in the same organization.

Contractor Role (1099)

The contractor files taxes using a 1099 form and is fully responsible for filing and paying all local, state, and federal taxes on their own. While working as a contractor may have benefits for roles like speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, and school psychologists, it can also be burdensome. Contractors are responsible for purchasing their tools and technology. They must also plan for taxes, as their employer won’t deduct them from each paycheck. That means contractors must estimate how much they will owe in taxes each year and carefully put those funds aside to fulfill their share at tax time. Failing to plan for taxes can result in a large, unexpected bill from the IRS. 

Employee Role (W2)

Employees file their taxes using a W-2 form. They can work full-time, part-time, or even temporarily. Employees are managed by a supervisor, and their employer has the right to dictate their working hours and schedules. Salaries are often paid monthly or bimonthly, and employers withhold the appropriate taxes for their employees each paycheck. 

Top Educator and Clinician Benefits as a W-2 Employee

Clinicians like speech-language pathologists, school psychologists, behavioral analysts, and physical therapists often enjoy these benefits when they move to an employee role. Some of the most significant benefits for educators and clinicians include: 

1. Paid time off

One of the most prominent benefits educators and clinicians enjoy as employees is paid time off. They receive sick days to keep their income steady while not at work. By comparison, contractors are only paid for the time they work.

2. Healthcare coverage

Another great benefit of being an employee is the healthcare coverage. The healthcare coverage available through an employer may come at a group rate discount.

Personal insurance coverage can be very expensive if you need it independently.

3. Tax Withholding

Employees don’t have to worry about a large tax bill from the IRS at the end of the tax year, as their employer will deduct the necessary funds throughout the year. 

Taxes are not automatically deducted for contractors, which can result in a surprisingly large tax burden in April when taxes are due in the United States.

4. Overtime

Unless exempt, W-2 employees must also be paid an increased overtime rate for working more than 40 hours per week. Contractors typically don’t have this protection unless it’s included in their contract.

5. Tool, training, and technology support

As an employee, professionals like school psychologists or speech-language pathologists often benefit from access to tools, technology, and training from their employers. Permanent employees may also be eligible for compensation of personal funds used for work items. 

Find Your Next Role with Nyman Associates

Nyman Associates is a leading staffing agency for educators and clinicians in Greater Philadelphia and Southern NJ. Every role with Nyman Associates is a W-2 employee; every educator and clinician enjoys the benefits.

At Nyman Associates, we often encounter job seekers looking to transition to W-2 employee status. We work closely with speech-language pathologists, school psychologists, physical therapists, and behavior analysts to find only the roles that fit their needs, matching their ideal employment type, location, benefits, and compensation. In some cases, we can advocate for access to funding for the tools and technology to help them succeed in their role. 

If you’re looking for a change in the Greater Philadelphia area, get in touch with our expert team to get started today!

Speech-language pathologists are a special kind of people. This career requires a unique disposition toward patience, compassion, and empathy. It also requires you to stay curious about data and processes. Part of being a speech-language pathologist is implementing techniques and tools that are data-driven and ever-evolving. 

As a speech-language pathologist, you must be a lifelong learner. The need for speech-language pathologists in schools, medical facilities, and other organizations is growing, as is the research of its tools and methodologies. This means that the need for ongoing speech-language pathologist training is growing. You must focus on this growth as a speech-language pathologist and engage in ongoing training.

Initial Speech-Language Pathologist Training and Education

As with any technical profession, some initial educational and training requirements exist for those interested in speech-language pathology. All speech-language pathologists must earn a college degree. Popular bachelor’s degree choices are Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), Disability Studies, and Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. Most job opportunities for speech-language pathologists also require a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology or a related field.

To obtain a master’s in speech-language pathology, you’ll need to complete over 1,000 hours of speech-language pathology training by working in the field under the supervision of a professional. Once you’ve earned your degree, you’ll need to pass the Praxis examination, a test required for various careers such as teaching, school counseling, and speech-language pathology.

Accessing Ongoing Speech-Language Pathologist Training

Whether you pursue an educational route, work in the medical field, or another opportunity, you must attend speech-language pathologist training to keep your certification valid. These trainings can be online or in-person and cover a variety of topics. Training can focus on different methodologies, specific medical conditions, certain age groups, or specific tool training. Training can also be broad, covering various topics for individuals working in medical, educational, or private practice settings. 

However, remember that regardless of how you access training or the topics covered, the speech-language pathologist training you attend must meet specific qualifications. Before attending a training, ensure it counts towards your required continued education credits for whichever organization or state agency you used to gain your certification. Additionally, many employers offer a stipend or other compensation for these training sessions if your employer does not broach the subject with them or look into other opportunities that support your speech-language pathologist training.

Top Speech-Language Pathologist Training Resources

There are numerous ways to access speech-language pathologist training, but the most common are conferences and online courses. Below are some of the top places to access training.

1. The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA): Provides numerous online courses and holds an annual conference. 
2. MedBridge: Ideal for medical professionals, MedBridge offers online videos from experts on topics like swallowing, aphasia, laryngeal dystonia, and voice therapy basics. 
3. SLP Nerdcast Podcast: This podcast makes adding to your continuing education credit easy by listening to engaging episodes and taking a quiz to count towards your credits. 
4. The Informed SLP: Consists of summarizations of dense research journals to read or listen to to gain continuing education credit.
5. SLP Summit: An annual online conference that spans four days and consists of multiple expert speakers. 

Beyond these sources, you can access more speech-language pathologist training through your state’s continuing education website and local universities, educational centers, and healthcare facilities. A quick online search should uncover local in-person and online opportunities to keep your certification up-to-date. 

Get the Career Support You Need with Nyman Associates

Working as a full-time professional while attending frequent training can be challenging but can be quite satisfying with the right support. If your employer has your back, you’ll be set up for success. But, if you don’t feel supported, it may be time for a change. That’s where the team at Nyman Associates can help. 

We work closely with our candidates to ensure they have access to the training and tools they need to succeed. That’s why we have such a high retention rate: our candidates feel valued and well-supported in their roles. We work to find roles that offer health insurance, paid time off, and, in some cases, support for continuing education, technology, and assessment needs.

If you want to make a change, we’re here to help. Message us on LinkedIn, email us, or get in touch via our simple online contact form. The support you need is out there – let us help you find it today. 

There are many reasons to choose a career in speech-language pathology. You work to help people communicate effectively, each day is new and interesting, and you have a variety of potential roles to fill in the development of children, or the recovery of patients. There are several work environments that speech pathologists might choose from to tap into their interests and skills. You can even start as a speech-language pathologist in one work setting and later change to another.

No matter where you are in your career, there are options out there for your speech-language pathologist career path.

Speech-Language Pathologist Work Setting Examples

While the options for your career path as a speech-language pathologist are varied, the education requirements are similar for each position. Most work environments for speech-language pathologists require you to earn a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology or a similar speech-related field. As part of your study, you will also do fieldwork to gain real-world experience. Once you have your degree, you can begin your work in your field of choice.

School Settings

Many Speech-Language Pathologists choose to work in a school to provide speech services for students. This includes working with students with developmental or physical disabilities and aiding students with speech delays. This speech-language pathologist work environment requires you to assess students and create and enact treatment plans. Most of these plans will center around helping the students develop communication abilities to thrive in the school environment. 

Working in a school is a great speech-language pathologist career path for anyone who enjoys working with children and can collaborate well with teachers and parents.

Hospital or Clinic Settings

In a medical setting, Speech-Language Pathologists can work with individuals of any age. Hospitals or clinics are speech-language pathologist work settings that require you to diagnose and treat speech issues related to cognitive, physical, or even psychological challenges. It’s generally a fast-paced environment that requires a lot of flexibility.

If you’re interested in working with a variety of ages and cases, a medical setting is a great speech-language pathology career path.

Research or Teaching Settings

If you’re interested in Speech-Language Pathologists’ diagnosis and treatment tools and methods, you may be interested in a research or teaching role. In many cases, you’ll need adequate field experience before you enter these roles, but they can be the ultimate goal of your speech-language pathologist career path. 

Research types vary and can concentrate on ages, specific speech issues, or diagnosis methods among others. Similarly, teaching can include supervising student fieldwork, teaching a specific class, or shaping the overall curriculum.

Finding Your Fit with Nyman Associates

No matter what speech-language pathologist career path you choose, the experts at Nyman Associates are here to help you find your ideal job setting in Greater Philadelphia. We work with you to target your ideal job location, compensation, and work flexibility among other benefits. 

Our high retention rates speak for themselves! See where you can go in your career – contact us today.

Job hunting can be stressful. Searching for the right fit, writing applications, and submitting resumes and cover letters can get exhausting. And, you can easily feel like your hard work won’t be seen, lost in an endless sea of applicants.

Yet, there is hope! It’s possible to make your application stand out. Tailoring your cover letter and resume for speech-language pathologist positions can get your application seen and give you a leg up in your interview since you’ve already matched your skills and experience to the position. Whether you’re applying for your first job after graduation or it’s just been a while since you’ve been on the job hunt, these tips can help you craft a winning resume and cover letter for speech-language pathologist applications.

Better yet, find open job opportunities with Nyman Associates. If you live in Greater Philadelphia, the experts at Nyman Associates will do all the heavy lifting to match you with the ideal job opportunity.

The Basics: A Resume for Speech-Language Pathologist Positions

To start, here are some basic elements to keep in mind when writing (or re-writing) your resume for your job search.

Start your resume with a quick snapshot of who you are, writing a sentence or two about your experience and what you’re interested in. Follow this up with your contact information, then jump right into your skills. This section should be a bulleted list of abilities that directly connect with the position requirements. 

Next, add your last three to five work experiences, highlighting what you did in each position that connects with the role you’re applying for. If this is your first full-time position, include your volunteer or school work experience. Remember this is a resume for speech-language pathologist roles – only include experience that directly relates to this field. Finally, include your educational experience. This section should include your undergraduate and graduate degree and any additional professional development training. After listing your education, you can include any honors or awards you’ve received that are relevant to the speech-language pathologist field.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to fine-tune your resume for each speech-language pathologist position, targeting it for the specifics of that role by moving certain skills up or adjusting wording to match the job requirements.

The Basics: Cover Letters for Speech-Language Pathologist Positions

Cover letters are your space to shine. It’s your chance to explain your resume, matching your experiences to the position requirements, while also letting your personality come through. Your resume is more dry and focuses on what you’ve done in the past. Your cover letter for speech-language pathologist roles should focus on what’s ahead — what you see yourself doing at the organization and why you’re the best fit for the role. Talk about how the role matches your interests and show enthusiasm for the work. 

There are lots of opportunities out there, and you need to tailor your cover letter for each speech-language pathologist position. Adjust your tone based on the company’s or organization’s online presence (website and social media) and address their mission and goals directly in your writing. 

Specific Tips for A Resume and Cover Letterfor Speech-Language Pathologist Roles

After you’ve focused on the above general guidelines, you can infuse some specific language for a cover letter or resume for speech-language pathologist roles. Overall, you want to convey that you have the education and skills needed to execute your role as a Speech-Language Pathologist. Some specific skills to show off include:

• Interpersonal skills: Highlight your ability to work with others as you’ll work with professionals to create and enact treatment plans
• Analytical skills: Each patient or student requires a unique treatment plan and you need to analyze them to understand what they need.
• Communication: You’ll need to effectively convey treatment plans and progress to your patients or students, teachers or doctors, and parents or caregivers.
• Organizational skills: You need to keep a lot of documentation, including recording and sharing data on meeting benchmarks.
• Knowledge of Legal Restrictions: You must be aware of HIPPA regulations in medical settings and any other privacy restrictions related to sharing information, among other legal requirements (i.e. serving as a Mandatory Reporter in a school setting).
• Expertise in Administering Assessments: You need experience in administering various assessments including swallow evaluations, ethnographic interviewing, Cognitive Linguistic Quick Test, and Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation among others.

Get Started Today with Nyman Associates

If you’re still stuck on finding the right match or need help fine-tuning your resume as a speech-language pathologist, it may be time to get some help. The expert team at Nyman Associates hasbeen helping job seekers in Greater Philadelphia find their ideal job setting since 1978. Our candidates get the support they need to stay in their roles longer, feeling valued and fulfilled in their meaningful careers.

Get the support you need today. Contact us to get started!

As a speech-language pathologist, you spend much time working one-on-one with individuals daily. Every student and patient is different, and you need different tools and techniques. This variety means you need access to various tools, technology, and training to meet each individual’s needs. It can be challenging to keep up!

There is a wealth of resources for speech-language pathologists to help fill this need. Blogs and websites can provide you with professional development, community engagement, mentorship, and sample treatment plans that include information on addressing ethical issues in healthcare, complying with HIPAA regulations, and managing among other tools. Whether you choose to work in a healthcare, educational, or other professional setting, there are some common resources that can benefit you and help you excel in your career.

A List of Resources for Speech-Language Pathologists

While school and healthcare settings have distinct ecosystems and challenges, there are common resources that can support your role regardless of your job setting. 

Testing and Screening Materials

A large part of your role as a speech-language pathologist is conducting regular assessments. Your initial patient or student screening gives you a baseline on the individual’s speech needs and each subsequent assessment provides valuable data on their progress. Success in your role may come with the support of some of these speech-language pathologist resources for testing:

• Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals (CELF)
• Bayley Scale of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III)
• Goldman-Fristoe Test of Articulation (GFTA-3)
• Differential Ability Scales Assessment (DAS-II)

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Website

If you’re looking for lesson ideas or treatment tools, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is one of the best speech-language pathologist resources. ASHA has a wealth of information for speech-language pathologists at any stage in their career. Its specific page for school-based speech-language pathologists has resources like a list of questions to ask during evaluations, navigating Individual Education Program Guides (IEPs), and various classroom activity ideas.

ASHA also offers a section for speech-language pathologists working in healthcare. The healthcare section includes information on addressing ethical issues in healthcare, complying with HIPAA regulations, and how to manage acute versus long-term care needs. It’s a great place for those encountering the unique challenges working in healthcare brings.

Tools and Technology

There is a wide array of tools and technology that serve as great speech-language pathologist resources. Many speech-language pathologists use iPads or other tablets to access apps and other online resources to help their patients or students practice their skills. In some cases, text-to-speech technology can also help with communication.

You will also need some common tools like mirrors, an audio recorder, flashcards, and even bubbles to help with speech practice. Board games and toys can also aid in speech practice and can help your patients or students make progress while doing something fun. Especially for children games and toys can make a big difference as they encourage engagement and practice.

Access to Regular Funding

One of your greatest resources should be access to funding from your employer. You’ll likely need to replace some of the tools and technology you need, either to upgrade it or fix broken materials. Additionally, all speech-language pathologists should regularly attend professional development to stay up-to-date with the latest treatment methods, tools, and technology. Your employer should provide you with a regular stipend to keep up with these helpful speech-language pathologist resources.

Get Access to More Speech-Language Pathologist Resources with Nyman Associates

If you’re struggling with access to the tools and training you need to do your job, it may be time to look for new opportunities. The team at Nyman Associates is poised to help you find the ideal job setting for your skills and interests. We can work with you to find a role with opportunities for better compensation and benefits, a more flexible work schedule, and even increased access to the technology and tools you need to help your students or patients succeed.

At Nyman Associates, we pride ourselves in going above and beyond, listening to and working with you to find a position where you’ll feel valued and can grow. We’ve boasted a high retention rate and great job satisfaction since we started in 1978. Now it’s your turn to find the position you love. Give us a call or fill out a contact form today to get started!