If you’ve been feeling that quiet nudge, the one that says, “I’m doing feeding work… but I want to feel fully confident in the complex stuff”, this is for you.
After mentoring thousands of SLPs and OTs through pediatric feeding, I’ve noticed something: clinicians don’t decide to pursue advanced certification because they’re “not good enough.” They pursue it because they’re already in it—seeing higher-acuity cases, connecting patterns, and realizing they’re ready for a deeper framework, stronger clinical reasoning, and mentorship that matches the reality of their caseload.
Here are five clear signs you’re ready for CPFT™ (Certified Pediatric Feeding Therapist™)… and exactly what to do next.
1) You’re Taking More Feeding Referrals (But Feeling the Gap)
Maybe your schedule used to be mostly language and articulation with the occasional picky eater thrown in. Now it’s toddlers gagging on textures, infants fatiguing mid-feed, or “selective eating” cases that come bundled with airway concerns, reflux history, growth questions, or neurodiversity.
And you’re realizing: grad school didn’t prepare you for this level of feeding complexity.
You’re doing your best, but you’re piecing together airway screening, oral-motor foundations, sensory processing, bottle/breast dynamics, and parent coaching… often using a patchwork of courses and Instagram tips. That’s not sustainable, and it’s not fair to you or your families.
What to do about it:
Screen one current feeding client using my free Pediatric Feeding Screening Packet. If you’re consistently seeing red flags (airway, fatigue, prolonged meals, poor weight gain, coughing/choking, recurrent respiratory issues, etc.), that’s a clear indicator you’re ready for advanced-level training and case mastery. CPFT™ is designed to close that “I know enough to be worried but not enough to be certain” gap.
2) Parents Keep Asking “Why?” and You Want Clear, Confident Answers
You’ve probably heard questions like:
- “Is this sensory or motor?”
- “Why does their jaw slide when they chew?”
- “Why do they do fine with crackers but gag on pasta?”
- “Is this behavior… or is something actually wrong?”
You can sense the answer lives in the details: medical history, feeding milestones, oral structure, breathing, posture, pacing, caregiver interaction, and what happens across a full meal not just a bite in therapy.
But sensing isn’t the same as having a clean clinical framework that helps you explain what’s happening, prioritize treatment, and communicate a plan that parents can trust.
What to do about it:
If you want to strengthen your reasoning first, Feed The Peds® (4.05 ASHA/AOTA CEUs) builds that foundation and helps organize the “why” behind what you’re seeing. And when you’re ready to go beyond foundations into advanced case handling, CPFT™ is where you sharpen confidence through deeper coursework and real clinical application.
3) You’re Spotting Patterns Across Cases and You Want Data-Backed Plans
This is a big one. It means your clinical brain is leveling up.
You’re noticing that:
- noisy breathing and poor weight gain tend to travel together
- long meals often predict dysregulation and refusal
- routines can reduce meltdowns
- oral-motor skill gaps show up as “picky eating”
- speech, airway, posture, and feeding are not separate silos
You’re connecting dots and you’re right to do so. But now you want plans that are not just intuitive… they’re measurable, defensible, and repeatable.
What to do about it:
Track progress across three feeding clients using objective indicators like:
- mealtime length
- number of foods accepted
- gagging episodes per meal
- volume/efficiency (as appropriate)
- caregiver confidence and consistency
If you’re already thinking this way, you’re primed for CPFT™. It’s built for clinicians ready to go beyond “strategies” and into advanced clinical decision-making with structure, mentorship, and live case learning. (Yes. There are 82+ hours of advanced coursework plus live cases.)
4) MDs / ENTs Refer to You (Or You Want Them To)
Maybe you’ve already started collaborating with pediatricians, GI, ENT, lactation, or dentistry or you’re hoping to. But there’s a difference between being “the therapist who also does feeding” and being the clinician providers trust for complex feeding evaluation and treatment.
Advanced certification doesn’t replace skill, but it does signal something important to referral sources:
This clinician has intentionally trained for complex pediatric feeding cases and can communicate risk, rationale, and next steps clearly.
That matters when airway is involved. It matters when a provider needs to know whether a child needs further assessment, medical referral, or a targeted therapy plan.
What to do about it:
Pitch your director (or yourself, if you’re in private practice) with your current wins: referral numbers, outcomes, parent feedback, and how feeding impacts length of care and family satisfaction. Then take the step that makes you easier to trust on paper and in practice: join CPFT™ and build the expertise that supports stronger referral pipelines.
5) You Feel the Pull to Specialize and You’re Ready to Lead
This isn’t about doing one more training. This is about identity.
Feeding is foundational. It impacts growth, sleep, regulation, respiration, speech development, family dynamics, and so much more. If you find yourself thinking about feeding outside of work… looking up case patterns… wanting to do it “the right way”… or wishing you had a mentor to sanity-check your clinical decisions…
That’s not random. That’s specialization calling.
What to do about it:
Start the identity shift now:
“I am a feeding therapist.”
Then make it real by joining a pathway that supports you long-term. CPFT™ doesn’t just teach. It cements clinical growth through mentorship and a professional renewal structure (15 CE hours every 3 years, plus a $50 renewal fee) so you keep evolving with the field.
If These Signs Hit… You’re Not Just Ready. You’re Needed.
If any of these resonated, here’s the truth: you’re already doing the work. You’re seeing the complexity. You care enough to want to do it well.
The next step is getting the advanced training and mentorship that matches the level of responsibility you’re carrying.
Join CPFT™ (Certified Pediatric Feeding Therapist™) to build advanced case mastery, confidence, and credibility—so you can handle complex feeding cases with a clear framework and a stronger clinical voice.
