Consulting for PTs, OTs, & SLPs: The Ideal Path to Non-Clinical Work

You might be feeling SO conflicted about healthcare these days. The daily grind isn’t getting any easier (hello, productivity and endless documentation), but leaving also feels kind of intimidating! With the job market feeling tighter and employers seeming pickier, it often feels safer and easier to just stay put and tough it out in patient care.

But if your heart says to go non-clinical, but your mind says it’s wise to stay where you are, there’s definitely a third option: consulting! 

Not only can consulting help you build a bridge between the clinical and non-clinical world, it’s also a solid career path all on its own! In this article, we’ll delve into why consulting makes sense for clinicians seeking side gigs, therapists actively looking to leave patient care, and even practitioners who love their work but want to pave the way for more opportunities ahead.

What could a consulting career look like?

Consulting allows you to take your hard-earned clinical knowledge and apply it in diverse, impactful ways.

If you’ve worked with patients post spinal cord injury (SCI), you can offer clinical insight to rehab tech companies developing exoskeletons. If you’ve got a strong background in dysphagia, you can develop training content for neurostimulation companies. There are so many options for clinicians looking to branch out!

Matt Crow, a PT who started out in acute care in 2016, is now the National Director of Cardiac Rehab for ROMTech. “I can’t recommend the consultant path highly enough, as you gain valuable exposure to different careers within one job experience. While I ended up subsequently going down the sales path, the sky is the limit.”

What exactly is a Clinical Consultant?

At its heart, consulting means bringing your specific expertise to companies or clients who need it. 

Your insight is very valuable in helping companies improve everything from operations and workflows to communicating clinical jargon in layman’s terms. Clinical consultants are often the bridge between companies and patients/families or other healthcare professionals. 

As a rehab professional, you can become a subject matter expert — sometimes called an SME or even shortened to “smee” — in all sorts of niche topics, offering insights that non-clinicians simply don’t have.

As a consultant, you’ll problem-solve from a unique clinical perspective, collaborating across different teams and disciplines. 

Successful consultants possess a degree of business acumen and strategic thinking, allowing them to see the bigger picture and understand a company’s goals. 

You’ll be valued for both your clinical expertise and your ability to translate that knowledge into actionable recommendations.

Types of consulting roles you could pursue

Consulting roles can have various titles, like Clinical Consultant, PT/OT/SLP in Residence, Clinical Solutions Consultant, Clinical Specialist, Clinical Educator, or Subject Matter Expert (SME). Don’t get too hung up on the exact title – look at the role description instead!

These roles typically fall into two main categories:

W2 Consulting

You might work full-time for a company as a W2 employee, holding a consulting-related title where you share your niche knowledge across multiple teams. In this setup, you could be the sole clinician or part of a larger clinical team (which can feel intimidating but also exciting!)

1099 Consulting

Alternatively, you might work as an independent contractor (1099 worker), typically working part-time or on an as-needed basis. You’ll offer your clinical insight for specific projects or periods, with significant flexibility in terms of hours and client engagement. This is perfect if you’re not quite ready to leave your clinical role entirely or if you’re juggling multiple professional pursuits.

How much do clinical consultants earn

Healthcare consulting offers a wide range of earning potentials. According to Salary.com, the average hourly wage for healthcare consultants in the U.S. is approximately $37, with most professionals earning between $33 and $41 per hour . However, compensation can vary significantly based on experience, specialization, and the complexity of the projects undertaken. For instance, consultants with niche expertise or those involved in high-stakes projects may command higher rates.

Taking on consulting as a side gig isn’t just about the extra income, though. It’s also a fantastic way to grow professionally and add new dimensions to your career. Consulting can sharpen your skills, help you build a wider professional network, and introduce you to exciting new areas within healthcare.

If you’re curious about other ways to boost your income, be sure to check out our article on Physical Therapy Side Hustle Ideas.

Education and skills needed

A bachelor’s degree is generally expected for consulting roles, though there can be exceptions, particularly if you have extensive specialized experience as an assistant. A clinical license is typically required and highly desired, as it validates your foundational knowledge.

Many consulting roles seek a specific specialization, such as women’s health or neurological rehab, depending on the company’s focus. And don’t underestimate the value of your non-clinical skills! Experience with content marketing, specific EMR systems, sales software, or strong business skills can make you incredibly valuable to potential employers.

And yes, an MBA can be particularly helpful for landing roles with larger companies, but not required to break into consulting.

Who thrives in consulting roles?

Successful consultants are:

• Confident – You’ll need to assert your expertise and stand behind your recommendations as a consultant.
• Specialized – Having niche skills—whether clinical or technical—and the knowledge and expertise to back up your recommendations is key to becoming a highly valued consultant.
• Communicative – Excellent communication skills are crucial as you’ll explain complex concepts to diverse audiences. 
• Ambitious – Ambition is essential as the path isn’t always clear-cut, and being a self-starter with initiative helps as contracts change and evolve. 
• Entrepreneurial – An entrepreneurial mindset and adaptability are tremendous assets since variety is constant in consulting work.

Consulting might be less ideal if you prefer a passive role or require significant hand holding. Those who need a lot of stability and structure in their daily life might find it challenging. 

New graduates with limited experience may struggle, though exceptions exist if you have relevant skills like writing or teaching. Plus, newer grads can excel in consulting roles that involve academia, as their clinical knowledge and experience in the classroom are still quite fresh.

Why consider a consulting career?

Flexibility

The flexibility to set your own schedule (especially in 1099 and entrepreneurship roles) and potentially work remotely attracts many professionals to consulting. The fact that many consultants start out by using consulting as a side gig makes it a low-stakes career move that can pay off in spades. 

Growth

Consulting opens doors to growth opportunities, including full-time positions within companies where you might start out as a SME working a few hours per week. 

Skill development

Working as a consultant also helps you hone new skills and develop your business acumen. Plus, the variety of projects a consultant gets to tackle can help keep work feeling engaging and dynamic.

Impact

One of the most appealing aspects of consulting is the potential for broader impact. While many clinicians feel an “impact ceiling” from treating people one on one, consulting work can help so many more people on a broader scale.

After all, consider how you could possibly affect thousands of people by working on product development or helping to create educational content.

Networking

As a consultant, you have the opportunity to collaborate with diverse professionals like engineers, marketers, and sales teams. These connections not only make your work more interesting but also open doors to opportunities you might never have discovered otherwise.

Career continuity

Consulting can be a godsend during times of career flux, smoothing over employment gaps and showcasing versatile skills on an otherwise spotty resume. It’s the perfect way to stay professionally engaged while figuring out your next big career move.

Check out Anna Sternin Verk’s spotlight on how she used consulting to get her foot in the door for her next role!

Core competencies and transferable skills

Beyond your subject matter expertise, several core competencies are vital for consulting:

Strong communication skills – Both verbal and written communication are essential for effectively sharing your insights with various stakeholders. If you’ve ever had to explain complex medical concepts to patients or families, you already have a great foundation here.

Prioritization and attention to detail – You’ll often juggle multiple projects simultaneously, so being able to manage your time and maintain focus on details is crucial. Your experience with documentation and managing patient caseloads has prepared you well for this aspect!

Independent and collaborative work – The ability to work on your own while also being a team player is a consultant’s superpower. While primarily focused on individual deadlines, there may be occasions where you are required to collaborate with a team.

User research expertise – Experience gathering and analyzing feedback helps you make better recommendations. Those assessment skills you’ve developed as a clinician transfer beautifully to this area of consulting. Start honing them!

Tech comfort – Familiarity with file sharing, office suites, and communication tools streamlines your workflow. Don’t worry if you’re not a tech wizard – most consulting roles require only basic to moderate tech proficiency that you can develop as you go.

Business acumen – Whether through formal education, leadership roles, entrepreneurial experience, or simply by staying curious and asking questions along the way, understanding business basics provides valuable context for your recommendations. Ultimately, it means your proposed solutions are more likely to be practical, relevant, and impactful.

A day in the life of a consultant

There’s no single typical day for a consultant due to the varied nature of the work. As a tech company consultant, you might start your day with a team meeting where developers share their latest app features. Your job is to provide clinical insight on whether the exercises are appropriate for the target patient population. After lunch, you could be drafting educational content for the app, ensuring it’s both medically accurate and user-friendly.

If you’re working as an independent educational consultant, you might spend your morning developing a continuing education course. Your afternoon could involve a client call discussing strategy for a rehabilitation program. In the evening, you might present a webinar to therapists across the country.

The pace can range from fast-paced at startups to more measured at larger organizations. While there’s plenty of collaborative work in meetings, you’ll also need time for independent work to develop content and analyze information. Many consulting roles offer remote or hybrid work options, adding to the flexibility.

How to get started in consulting

Ready to dip your toes into the consulting world? Here’s a step-by-step approach to help you make this transition:

1. Become an expert user of a product, device, or software you’re genuinely interested in. Using something extensively in your clinical practice positions you as someone with valuable insights about real-world applications.
   
2. Build your professional brand through a simple blog, LinkedIn articles, or even short videos sharing your expertise. This doesn’t have to be fancy—just consistent content that showcases your knowledge and skills.
   
3. Enhance your skills with online courses. Whether it’s learning about project management basics or business fundamentals, adding these to your resume can boost both your confidence and your appeal to employers.
   
4. Take initiative in your current role by presenting in-services, publishing an internal newsletter or blog, or developing protocols related to topics you’d like to consult on. Document these experiences—they’re perfect examples to highlight in interviews!
   
5. Network strategically with companies and professionals in your target consulting area. Don’t just ask for jobs—ask for informational interviews to learn more about the industry. These relationships often lead to your first consulting opportunities when you least expect them.
   

Remember, getting started doesn’t mean you have to quit your clinical job tomorrow! Many successful consultants start with just a few hours per week while maintaining their clinical positions.

Resume, cover letter, and interview tips

Your resume should highlight both clinical and non-clinical experiences, focusing on transferable skills. Include administration, writing and content creation, scheduling and project management experiences. Highlight budgeting and financial awareness, personnel management and leadership roles. Showcase specialized experience with devices, software, or patient populations along with technical competencies and any publications or presentations.

In your cover letter, position yourself as the solution to the hiring manager’s problems. Research the company thoroughly and clearly articulate how your unique combination of clinical expertise and skill addresses their specific needs. Highlight your flexibility and ability to work both independently and collaboratively. Demonstrate you are a self-starter with concrete examples and express genuine enthusiasm for the specific company and their mission.

Consulting interviews can range from casual conversations to formal multi-step processes. Be prepared to discuss your rates and availability during these conversations. Ask insightful questions about the company’s goals, challenges, and expectations. Prepare for situational questions, focusing on times you’ve solved problems and driven positive change. Highlight both your clinical expertise and business mindset throughout the interview, and let your personality shine through!

Challenges and opportunities

Let’s be real—transitioning to consulting isn’t always smooth sailing. Finding initial consulting work can require persistence and perseverance. Your income may be less stable than full-time employment, especially when starting out. Building a reputation takes time and consistent effort.

Even though it’s not always easy, consulting offers a tons of opportunities. It gets your foot in the door at great companies, and one project often leads to more through networking and referrals. It’s also an excellent way to bridge gaps in your resume!

Examples of PT/OT/SLP Consultants

Curious what consulting looks like in action? We’ve spotlit many rehab professionals who’ve made the successful transition.

For instance, take a look at Matthew Tisdale, who works as a Consumer Sales Manager, managing teams and optimizing processes for product delivery.

Others, like Matt Crow, leverage their clinical background in leadership roles such as National Director, Cardiac Rehab, focusing on strategic partnerships and developing operational workflows.

As well as Katie O’Shea, who decided to go the entrepreneurial route and founded Therapy Edge Consulting.

Ready to make your move?

Consulting offers a dynamic and rewarding path for those looking to apply their skills in new ways. It requires initiative and adaptability but can provide unparalleled flexibility and growth.

If you’re intrigued by the possibilities and want to learn more about establishing your niche, setting your rates, and navigating the world of consulting, our Consulting Crash Course is designed specifically for you. It provides in-depth guidance and practical strategies from rehab professionals who have successfully made the transition.

Do you have questions about consulting as a rehab professional? Drop them in the comments below!