Clinical Fellowship: What to know and what to ask

The speech-language pathology clinical fellowship (CF) is the transition period between being a student enrolled in a communication sciences and disorders (CSD) program and being an independent provider of speech-language pathology clinical services.

Selecting a Clinical Fellowship (CF) setting is an important part of your speech pathology career. Knowing the right questions to ask will lead you to the right CF location for you. Here are some things to keep in mind when looking for a clinical fellowship location in Central New York and Syracuse.

Questions to ask before the interview:

• How to find the right CF job for you?
  
• What setting did you enjoy during clinical?
  
• Is relocation an option?
  

Questions to ask during the interview:

• How often will my supervisor and I communicate? (Text, email, in-person)
  
• Will my supervisor and I be in the same site?
  
• How many CFs has the supervisor mentored?
  
• Is documentation completed on mobile devices? What technology is offered?
  
• What would a typical day look like for a speech clinical fellowship?
  
• Is there an opportunity to shadow a speech therapist during training?
  
• What previous experience does the employer have with CFs?
  
• What benefits are offered? (Medical, dental, 401k match, malpractice insurance)
  
• At the conclusion of the CF experience, is there a possibility for a permanent speech pathologist job?
  

Things to keep in mind during your CF Process: 

• Be sure to get an awesome CF mentor who knows their stuff.
  
• Write out pros and cons of each site to make the hard decision easier.
  
• A CF is only a brief moment in your career, and the last time you have a guaranteed opportunity to be guided by a mentor.
  
• You are not expected to know everything yet, it is a time to continue to grow and improve.
  

To learn more about Little Luke’s speech pathology jobs in Central New York, contact Abby at apply@littlelukes.com or visit littlelukes.com