Ready for Clinic: Professionalism and Workplace Readiness for CSD Students

September 23, 2026
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM ET
.1 ASHA CEUs

Clinical placements are a critical bridge between academic preparation and professional practice for students in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD). While students often enter placements with strong foundational knowledge, success in clinical environments also depends on workplace readiness skills such as professionalism, effective communication, adaptability, ethical decision-making, time management, and collaboration with clients, families, supervisors, and interprofessional teams. Preparing students to meet these expectations before they begin clinical experiences can enhance confidence, improve performance, and support positive clinical outcomes. This presentation explores practical strategies for developing professionalism and workplace readiness throughout the CSD curriculum. Participants will examine the core competencies expected of student clinicians, common challenges encountered during clinical placements, and evidence-informed approaches for fostering professional behaviors in academic and simulated learning environments. Topics include professional communication, accountability, reflective practice, cultural humility, receiving and applying feedback, conflict resolution, and managing professional boundaries. Attendees will gain actionable tools and resources that can be integrated into coursework, advising, and clinical education to better prepare students for the transition from classroom to clinic. By intentionally embedding workplace readiness skills across the educational experience, CSD programs can promote student success, strengthen clinical partnerships, and cultivate future clinicians who are prepared to provide ethical, compassionate, and high-quality care. 

Learning Objectives

- Identify the core professionalism and workplace readiness competencies that contribute to successful clinical placements in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

- Examine common challenges students encounter during clinical placements and discuss strategies to foster professional behaviors, effective communication, and reflective practice.

- Apply practical tools and instructional strategies to integrate professionalism and workplace readiness skills into CSD coursework and clinical education.

Time Ordered Agenda

3:00 - 3:05 PM ET Welcome and Introduction
3:05 - 3:25 PM ET Professionalism and Workplace Readiness: From Classroom to Clinic
3:25 - 3:40 PM ET Expectations, Conflict Resolutions & Difficult Conversations
3:40 - 3:50 PM ET Practical Tools: Readiness Checklist, Reflection & Action Planning
3:50 - 4:00 PM ET Key Takeaways, Questions, & Closing

For questions about this webinar, please contact us at [email protected]. Once registered, you will receive a confirmation e-mail with a link to log in.

If you can't attend the live webinar, register now and receive a recording of the webinar to view at your convenience. Please note that only registrants who attend the live webinar are eligible for ASHA CEUs.

This course is designed with a participation requirement that ensures meaningful engagement and learning. Participants must be present for the entire 60-minute webinar to receive the assessment. The assessment is a key component in obtaining both their certificate of completion and ASHA CEUs. In addition to standard assessments of the speaker's effectiveness and the overall content quality, participants are challenged to demonstrate practical application of the knowledge gained. The required question prompts participants to articulate and list two specific action items they plan to implement. This promotes critical thinking about how to apply new information in their professional practice with a forward-thinking response.