How To Become An Associate Program Director: What It Is and Career Path

What is an associate program director and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.

When it comes to business, an Associate Program Director is responsible for overseeing several programs' daily operations to ensure smooth and efficient workflow. You will research new business and opportunities for clients, and you might also be tasked to coordinate several managers. In addition, you will be setting goals, managing schedules, liaising with external parties, and many more.

The skills needed for this job include time-management skills, creativity, and communication skills. These are essential ones, so make sure you have them when you apply for the job. This way, you will be able to easily and efficiently accomplish your tasks.

As an Associate Program Director, you can earn around $102,877 per year on average. There is also a 5% job growth rate, so this is a good start. You also have the chance to explore other roles and further your career. Starting as an Associate Program Director, you can be a Program Director or a Clinical Director after some time.

What's a day at work look like for an associate program director?

Meaghan Goodman Ph.D.

Program Director & Assistant Professor, Maryville University

A bachelor's in communication sciences and disorders can prepare you for three different tracks. First, it can prepare you to become a licensed Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA). This is someone who works under a fully credential speech-language pathologist. Often times, they carryout intervention plans developed by a fully credentialed speech-language pathologist. If graduate school is on your horizon, a bachelor's degree in communication sciences and disorders will prepare you for acceptance into a Speech-Language Pathology program, or an Audiology program. If you are not accepted into a graduate program right away, working as a speech-language pathology assistant (SLPA) is a great way to get experience in the field!

ScoreAssociate Program DirectorUS Average

Salary

6.5

Avg. Salary $83,444

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

8.0

Growth rate 8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.17%

Asian 6.43%

Black or African American 8.02%

Hispanic or Latino 14.72%

Unknown 5.60%

White 65.07%

Gender

female 61.09%

male 38.91%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

8.0

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

9.2

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

3.4

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an associate program director

Explore associate program director education requirements

Most common associate program director degrees

Bachelor's

58.8 %

Master's

24.6 %

Doctorate

6.4 %

Start to develop specific associate program director skills

Skills	Percentages
Oversight	10.29%
Project Management	8.50%
SAS	6.03%
Veterans	5.21%
Alumni	4.85%

Complete relevant associate program director training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New associate program directors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an associate program director based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real associate program director resumes.

Research associate program director duties and responsibilities

Manage all aspects of program requirements according to contractual requirements base on DHS internal formal mandates.
Manage direct support professionals serving adult populations for persons with mental health, developmental disabilities and children with autism.
Execute major program reviews on SMC staff for DoD officials on critical program execution issues.
Integrate health team management of managers, coordinators, and clinical staff to promote regional programs.

Apply for associate program director jobs

Now it's time to start searching for an associate program director job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams