A Financial Workbook for Aspiring Clinicians
A Financial Workbook for Aspiring Clinicians is a practical, encouraging guide for future occupational therapists, physical therapists, and speech-language pathologists who want to make confident financial decisions before graduate school.
From comparing program costs and estimating borrowing needs to understanding student-loan repayment, PSLF, and future salary potential, this workbook helps you look beyond an acceptance letter and consider the full financial picture. Through guided reflections, worksheets, and straightforward explanations, you will learn how to set a debt limit, reduce unnecessary borrowing, and create a plan that supports both your career goals and the life you want after graduation.
Graduate school can be a powerful investment—but it should be an intentional one. This workbook gives aspiring clinicians the tools to ask better questions, borrow with purpose, and step into their next chapter with greater clarity and confidence.
What You’ll Get
Inside A Financial Workbook for Aspiring Clinicians, you’ll receive practical tools and guidance to help you make intentional decisions before taking on graduate-school debt.
9 financial lessons designed for aspiring OT, PT, and SLP professionals.
My personal loan payoff journey, including how I paid off $151,000 in student loans.
7 downloadable, fillable spreadsheets to help you organize your research, estimate your future financial picture, and make a plan before you borrow.
Included Spreadsheets
Observation Tracker: Keep track of observation hours, settings, supervisors, and program requirements.
Cost of Graduate Program Comparison: Compare tuition, fees, living costs, scholarships, and estimated borrowing across programs.
Program Requirements: Organize prerequisites, application deadlines, entrance requirements, and admissions details in one place.
Will My Future Salary Be Enough? Estimate whether your expected income can reasonably support your projected student-loan payments and living expenses.
Debt-to-Income Ratio: Calculate your projected debt compared with your anticipated first-year salary.
Salary & Debt Reality Check: Look beyond salary alone and consider the real financial impact of program cost, loan repayment, and your future career goals.
Personal Budget Tracker: Build a realistic spending plan, identify areas to save, and prepare for the cost of graduate school.
These tools were created to help you move from “I hope this works out” to “I understand the numbers, my options, and the next best step for me.”