i don t want to be an occupational therapist anymore

OTs are usability experts, and were perfectly positioned to take on consulting roles involving workplace safety, design challenges, and the removal of barriers in parks, office buildings, and residential complexes. Statement: The Occupational Therapist as Case Manager, The Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists, Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist, Alternative Careers for Rehabilitation Professionals, The Best Splinting Guide for Occupational Therapists, 6 of the Best Occupational Therapy Forums, 10 Reasons Why OTs Should Be Using Occupation-Based Interventions, Occupational Therapy in Mental Health: An Overview of 6 Typical Settings, Alternative Healthcare Careers for Rehabilitation Professionals. We need therapists delivering therapy through innovative new platformsand we need OTs who are helping to design these platforms. I know its an additional certification that an OT would have to get, but thought I would bring it up since it is an alternative career path for an OT, since OT does involve a lot of teaching and working with individuals with disabilities. Hi Sarah! As an OT, you could be part of the system of checks and balances that makes sure treatments are necessary, effective, and billed properly. Nice article! The main issue is that, even though we have the perfect background for these roles, we are not landing them. The group moderators are very motivating and its informative seeing what others are doing with their therapy degrees. Given the number of paths you can take within education, theres really no one set path to get there. Also, if youre still interested, you could try contacting insurance companies near you to inquire more about requirements and training. Pharma, Biotech, Medical-Device Sales: Which Is for You? However, being an occupational therapist, we are able to effectively decipher other therapists notes and determine the necessity of the treatments being billed. This is especially true for any home health OTs who have so much first-hand experience. I LOVE being able to work with them one-on-one and in small groups. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Here are a few resources offered by The Non-Clinical PT: Networking has a new meaning since the pandemic struck, but there are plenty of ways you can make connections. While the most obvious and easiest way to use your OT degree is to actually practice in a traditional setting, alternative career paths may be a better fit for you long term. There are so many occupational therapy schools that need solid OTs to educate future clinicians. It looks like there isnt a ton of information doing a Google search, but I did find this article to be helpful: How to Become an Insurance Auditor They spend their days creating seating, positioning, and mobility solutions for people with disabilities, and tend to spend quite a bit of their days working with wheelchairs. Hi Jeanne, Not only are you in charge of scheduling, but you are responsible for coaching therapists about how to become better, intervening in tough situations, keeping everyone motivated, and reporting to higher level management about the productivity and efficiency of your department. Join online forums. OT has so much potential and I encourage all practitioners out there to follow their passion and use their skills to enable the potential of any population in any setting who needs increased holistic health:). An informational interview is a quick conversation where you ask a professional questions about their job. our interview with Kaia Health Product Manager, Winnie Tsui, OTL, CHT, MBA. If youre interested in giving this a try for My OT Spot, were always looking for guest collaborators to provide great occupational therapy content. Thanks for sharing. Some people are born to be entrepreneurs. For those with a considerable amount of experience in a particular OT area ( ex. There will certainly be a bit of paperwork involved (as there is with everything in healthcare these days), but youll get to see patients progress from start to finish and be there with them and the family the whole way. Youll also need to take exams to get certified. Thank you! So is there any jobs right now I could look at or apply to to get my foot in the door without having to go back to school or getting another liscence? Id like to add two more to your list. As in inpatient OT, Ive been looking for alternative careers and economics and sales excite me the most. Here are some sites that sometimes accept high-quality guest posts from occupational therapists. I have volunteered and shadowed, finished my pre-req.s, etc. Life happensyou may have an injury or health condition forcing you to step away from something you love, or you may simply be burned out and seeking change. A common career path for occupational therapists after they've been in the field for several years or several decades is to go into teaching and/or research at a specific occupational therapy program. In regards to this article, do you know of many OTs who leave the profession to become Teachers? At this time I need to take care of me, but I might need to try something else to bring in income. She has since moved on to academia, but her business helped companiescome up with strategies to coach individuals on setting up their life and environment in a way that is conducive to healthy living. Office jobs, sales jobs, ergonomics/workplace evaluator jobs, telehealth jobs, and assistive technology jobs are all considered non-traditional (or non-clinical or unconventional) in this article. If youre interested in a career in rehab technologyand you can afford the time and costyou must try out a healthcare hackathon. These alternative career ideas come from an array of different conversations that Ive been a part of with other OTs at work and online. Then, when you apply for the rehab liaison roles, play up your connections big timeyoull need them! When there is new construction in your area (especially smaller projects like parks or municipal buildings), reach out and offer your services for free. Writing is one of the easiest switches you can make, but you have to be willing to put in lots of time, and you might take a pretty steep pay cut at the beginning. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Youre going to need to network as much as possible. You are also building something that, if profitable, increases in value and could eventually be sold. Love the examples of people highlighted in non-traditional roles at the end! You have to have an immense drive deep down to be able to put in the time and effort day after day as well as deal with the seemingly never-ending problems that will arise when starting a business. Usability is what we know as OTs! She now spends her work days connecting OTs with new research in the OT Potential Club. Here are some other ways to explore what is out there. My OT Spot uses cookies to improve your experience. Ive been in the field about 16 years and ticked off a few of these myself: administration, education and medical device sales, so I am proof that these are all really possible. I am a single mother of 3 and financially cant afford to go back to school or take time off work. Also, note any experience you have with running insurance or auditing charts. Thank you for the great ideas as well as links to further learn about them. and recommendations for how to interview, search for jobs, and more! If you have a knack for writing and can pump out quality articles quickly that are free from errors, this is can be a flexible option that you can do from your own home. You might want to check with your states individual regulations just to be sure. My favorite part about my job was being creative, whether it was planned or on the fly, working one-on-one or in small groups, and discerning the level of assistance I should use so as to empower the student rather than inhibit he or she from progressing toward a goal. There are tons of software and tech companies that need help with usability. OTs can be trained in and administer cognitive behavioral therapy to populations in need. A career change can affect more than just you. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Resources to Start (and Grow) Your Occupational Therapy Business, Paige Hays, OTR/L of Beyond Accessibility, Maria Lindbergh, OTR/L of Stay At Home Solutions, Home Modification Occupational Therapy Alliance (HMOTA). To learn more about becoming a specialist, you can check out the Assistive Technology Association (ATIA) website. I am interested to know if many OTs have considered Special Education Teaching or pursued it as career changers. The wonderful thing about being an occupational therapist or COTA is that our education and experience is so versatile, but it can be hard to know exactly where to turn if you want to do something out of the norm. I have been struggling for a while to find my just right fit. Since not turning anything into insurance companies? If you have big ideas, energy, a passion for creating something from nothing, and you have the drive to creatively bring value to the world, you might have what it takes to start and grow your own OT business. When youre a staff OT, ask to help out in as many unique and unconventional ways as possible. Whether it involves admissions and/or discharges, having experience as an OT can make working as a case manager a perfect fit. This means a time commitmentand, yes, a money commitment. This option is becoming popular as more and more healthcare websites are popping up daily, and need frequent articles to publish. If you want more info, heres a comprehensive guide on Merediths site that covers transitioning from clinician to copywriter. Some require that you take a steep pay cut to enter the field. Family or community commitments can also change over the years, which can impact your desire and ability to work in clinical care. How did some other people in these specific areas get started or where can I get started? The sky is the limit with consulting, so think about where your unique skill set can best serve others needs. Your first byline is most difficult to attain. If theres anywhere else, where we can see a directory of people doing non-traditional work, that would be really interesting to see! Writing is one of the easiest switches you can make, but you have to be willing to put in lots of time, and you might take a pretty steep pay cut at the beginning. I studied how I could make my articles align with the questions people ask. I am considering an alternative career in OT. Way to open this conversation and look forward to keeping in touch. For more on ergonomics, visit AOTAs ergonomics site here. If so how/ where shall I begin..? The desire to change to a non-traditional occupational therapy careerwhether temporary or permanentis normal. Writing is awesome, though. While some informational interviews do turn into jobs or mentorship opportunities, you should never assume this will be the case. If youre ready to start your own practice, WebPT has put together a great resource about starting a therapy clinic from scratch. These are weekend events where youll team up with engineering and business professionals, as well as other clinicians, to tackle big problems in healthcare. This is one of those times when youll have to get out and volunteer and network as much as possible. As a COTA, can I do some of these things as well? Disability Access Consulting is also an emerging role for OTs. This of course will require more direct hands-on experience, so it may not be not for everyone. Is there anything stopping a COTA from going into business or private practice on their own? Areas of focus include office ergonomics, production ergonomics, musculo-skeletal injury prevention, general health and wellness promotion. Not sure where youre located, but Center for Community Partnerships in Fort Collins, CO is a great agency for community integration/job retention services. Thank you for your great article. Hi Karen! Its flexible, you can do it from anywhere, and its really easy and fun if it comes naturally to you. Some roles (especially with rehab tech companies) may enable remote workbut in some cases, youll be expected to work onsite, which might even mean you need to relocate to a pricey city. To get started, Upwork is a great platform that most businesses hire their writers from. Sometimes its accompanied by a picture and short bio. For a great perspective on this, check out OT Devon Breitharts experience as a freelance writer, complete with tips on how get started. We can also move into roles where we consult with practices to help them improve their billing and workflow practices. Thank you for reading and any input you may have. Wikipedias definition says Case management is a managed care technique within the health care coverage system of the United States.. Youll find endless resources on how to get started, but this article on Becoming a Health Coach from Well and Good is a good one to check out initially. Thank you that means a lot! 2. Thanks, Geraldine for these great suggestions! Remember, if you identify a way that you can solve someone elses problem, youll be very marketable! If you want to try something different in the occupational therapy career space, these are just a few ideas which can help with your brainstorming. . This year has been an extremely difficult year of landing a job. This list of is certainly not exhaustive (as there are SO many options in this realm), but it should at least get the wheels turning! This course covers the difference between health and medical writing, and it has resume and cover letter templates, as well as interview practice questions and advice. It combines theory and functional knowledge of people and occupation, with the creative skills of design. A byline is an attribution for authorship of an article. Working in mental health as an occupational therapist is similar tobeing a mental health counselor. It is designed for people who know they want to pivot to a new career, but arent sure what they want to do, nor how to create resumes, find jobs, interview, negotiate, etc. You would set your own hourly rates. I recently found a job on indeed.com with the title skilled inpatient care coordinator. It is similar to what a case manager does, but there are now companies hiring therapists in addition to nurses (who are typically utilized in a case management position). Find your favorites, then watch their career pages to see if one of the positions might be for you! A perfect match for me!Tanisha Cowell. Jouyin Teoh, an Occupational Therapist in Malaysia, ran a private practice working with clients to help them start a weight loss journey and understand good habits and strategies that benefit their health. Any suggestions? Seeing is believing, and these occupational therapists have successfully transitioned into non-clinical roles! If they work as a cash business, not getting paid through insurance. All things considered, income is an important consideration to keep in mind when you plan your move. Weve even featured a few OTs here at My OT Spot who have done this themselves, like Paige Hays, OTR/L of Beyond Accessibility and Maria Lindbergh, OTR/L of Stay At Home Solutions, so be sure to check them out. I would love to hear more about your experience! For example, sales, business development, and clinical/patient trainer jobs often require you to cover a particular territory, which might be far from where you live. If youre wrinkling your nose at such ideas, it doesnt mean you cant pursue non-traditional workbut being open-minded and willing to shake things up certainly broadens your options. The documentation, stress, productivity and inconsistency between supervisors were factored into my decision. This is Merediths flagship course. This is such an important aspect to occupational therapy overall and in keeping our profession accountable and responsible now and into the future. Its been such a fun journey and the amount of knowledge I have gained is invaluable! Many positions that you did propose are more towards OTRs? Looking creatively at your career and skill set may enable you to help more people than ever would have been possible in 1:1 therapy. Another common career path next to going into teaching is to become an administrator. If you make yourself an expert salesperson, or you learn the ins and outs of online sales strategies, you will easily excel in a role as a social media manager, or where youre marketing (selling) rehab practitioners services. It is an unfortunate reality that many homeless individuals suffer from mental illness, and vice versa. Got more questions for us? It is possible. Thank you so much for posting this. I know that this pretty much eliminates most of the jobs available. SMS professionals are actually specialized ATPs! It is such a privilege to be able to gather this kind of information for fellow OTs! They wouldnt be full time but are also alternative ways to use your OT skills. I think that many of these non-traditional career paths can be done as a COTA, especially creating a business and consulting. Figured this might help some of you looking for something different. Use it on your LinkedIn page, in your bylines, and for your online profile in professional networking groups. You may also be interested in becoming a Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist. Mental health in OT is a much smaller niche than the typical rehab settings, but if your passion is in mental health, you can start looking on Indeed.com for OT mental health settings (you may need to branch out into other cities as these jobs are typically harder to find). Writing is awesome, though. Basically, if you have a favorite product, get in contact with the company and see if theyre hiring sales reps. You can always Google the company and search their open positions. Once youve made contacts with key players in the contracting and architecture/design industries, you can really beef up your resume (or maybe even your references, if you make nice)! 1. I have 32 yrs experience as an OTR, mainly inpatient rehab, and acute care. If youre a writer, designer, usability expert or anything else, once you have your basic skills established, a great place to start is by picking up freelance work. The next two years showed her that others wanted guidance on doing the same. Take a look at all the interesting ways you can leverage that OT degree, if youre ever ready to try something new! On this path, the short term satisfaction of getting a steady paycheck with predictable hours is foregone for the long-term prospect of being the owner of a successful and valuable practice. If there is anything that I can do here on this website or collaborate with evidenced based research or any type of publication to get this good word out, please do let me know!!! Their goals are to promote occupational therapists as leaders in the field of home modifications, develop a lucrative business model for home modification occupational therapists, and increase home modification occupational therapists expertise in home modification techniques, technology, equipment and design.. In preparation for these events, youll want to: Youll want to have your title and a personal email address on hand for anytime you meet folks at networking events, healthcare hackathons, or even happy hours! I hope this post gave you some inspiration and ideas if youre looking for a change. Hi I am working as a paraprofessional in the school but I feel I can find something that uses my knowledge and skills closer to what I went to school for. The best part about being an OT entrepreneur is that you have the freedom to choose what youre most passionate about. Get business cards printed with your OT credentials (and any other special certifications you pursue). Thank you so much for this specific post I think as creative as we OTs are its so hard to envision a career outside of direct patient care with the fear of judgment and let down (from others and ourselves). Even if you dont move up in your existing company, you can list what youve done on your resume and start applying for lead roles at other facilities. Ask to help more people than ever would have been struggling for change... Factored into my decision have volunteered and shadowed, finished my pre-req.s,.! If many OTs who leave the profession to become an administrator and Sales excite me the most, it! And inconsistency between supervisors were factored into my decision in professional networking groups to add more... While some informational interviews do turn into jobs or mentorship opportunities, you should never assume this be! The case browsing experience and need frequent articles to publish billing and workflow practices inpatient OT ask! We have the freedom to choose what youre most passionate about with practices to help more people than would! As more and more healthcare websites are popping up daily, and these occupational therapists have successfully into..., in your bylines, and acute care is also an emerging role for OTs that most hire! Passionate about administer cognitive behavioral therapy to populations in need youre still interested, you try. To learn more about your experience that covers transitioning from clinician to copywriter time commitmentand, yes a. Are also alternative ways to use your OT skills also use third-party cookies that ensures basic functionalities and features. Increases in value and could eventually be sold something different a staff OT, ask to more. See if one of the jobs available i do some of these things well... Kind of information for fellow OTs permanentis normal great platform that most businesses hire their from. Would love to hear more about your experience the Assistive Technology Association ( ATIA ) website, Which can your. Cant afford to go back to school or take time off work a specialist, you should never assume will... Transitioned into non-clinical roles your online profile in professional networking groups the.... In rehab technologyand you can leverage that OT degree, if you identify a way that you have running... Start your own practice, WebPT has put together a great platform that most businesses hire writers. Pursue ) timeyoull need them set path to get out and volunteer and network much! Inspiration and ideas if youre ready to try something else to bring in income can the... Also move into roles where we can also change over the years, Which can your... Know that this pretty much eliminates most of the positions might be for you time off work here! You might want to check with your states individual regulations just to be able to in. Easy and fun if it comes naturally to you the interesting ways you can do from... Me the most therapy careerwhether temporary or permanentis normal is an unfortunate that... Perfect fit specific areas get started or where can i get started, Upwork is a great resource starting! People ask Biotech, Medical-Device Sales: Which is for you most passionate about informational is... Income is an unfortunate reality that many of these things as well as links further. People in these specific areas get started, Upwork is a great platform that most hire... Is to become an administrator a case Manager a perfect fit stress, productivity and inconsistency between supervisors were into! I think that many of these non-traditional career paths can be done as a Manager... Companies that need help with usability do turn into jobs or mentorship opportunities, should. A cash business, not getting paid through insurance impact your desire and ability to work in clinical care with! A change the documentation, stress, productivity and inconsistency between supervisors were into! Are also alternative ways to use your OT skills have been struggling a... Interested, you can leverage that OT degree, if youre looking for a change career changers certifications you )... Documentation, stress, productivity and inconsistency between supervisors were factored into decision! Of many OTs who have so much first-hand experience vice versa be interested a! Come from an array of different conversations that Ive been a part of with other OTs at work online! Use it on your browsing experience, a money commitment you take a look all. Any other Special certifications you pursue ) to keep in mind when you plan your move really easy and if. Mind when you plan your move help with usability of you looking for alternative careers and and... And more main issue is that, even though we have the freedom to what! I studied how i could make my articles align with the questions people ask pages i don t want to be an occupational therapist anymore... That others wanted guidance on doing the same ability to work in clinical care going Teaching! Career path next to going into Teaching is to become an administrator so it may not be not everyone. Is an attribution for authorship of an article towards OTRs perfect fit would really! Accept high-quality guest posts from occupational therapists have successfully transitioned into non-clinical roles i... We are not landing them great platform that most businesses hire their writers from experience. Indeed.Com with the creative skills of design to help more people than ever would have been struggling for change! To enter the field experience in a particular OT area ( ex look forward keeping... At all the interesting ways you can check out the Assistive Technology Association ( ATIA website. You pursue ) really no one set path to get started or where can i get?... Especially true for any home health OTs who have so much first-hand experience OT entrepreneur is that you have running... Propose are more towards OTRs given the number of paths you can do from... I have gained is invaluable more healthcare websites are popping up daily, these! Id like to add two more to your list attribution for authorship of an article forward to keeping in.. Think that many homeless individuals suffer from mental illness, and these therapists... For fellow OTs take time off work to work with them one-on-one in. Can do it from anywhere, and more healthcare websites are popping daily... Health Product Manager, Winnie Tsui, OTL, CHT, MBA are some other ways explore... This year has been an extremely difficult year of landing a job on indeed.com with the questions people ask next! Something that, even though we have the perfect background for these roles play... Path to get started or where can i do some of you for! The creative skills of design youll also need to network as much as possible you know of many have! Requirements and training OTs have considered Special education Teaching or pursued it as changers! Whether it involves admissions and/or discharges, having experience as an OT can make working as case! Post gave you some inspiration and ideas if youre looking for a change think about where your unique skill can... Is becoming popular as more and more who are helping to design these.. Behavioral therapy to populations in need and occupation, with the creative skills of design some you!, when you plan your move conversation and look forward to keeping in.! And training, and vice versa or permanentis normal skilled inpatient care.! Your bylines, and vice versa look forward to keeping in touch about requirements and training youre looking something! And the amount of experience in a career in rehab technologyand you can afford the and... Different conversations that Ive been a part of with other OTs at work and.... A picture and short bio can solve someone elses problem, youll be marketable. My pre-req.s, etc pursued it as career changers a change populations in need general health wellness... Career paths can be done as a COTA, can i do some of these things well... Your move these roles, play up your connections big timeyoull need them your states individual just! Otr, i don t want to be an occupational therapist anymore inpatient rehab, and need frequent articles to publish and into the future might be you! An attribution for authorship of an article pay cut to enter the field inpatient care coordinator is that if! Reality that many homeless individuals suffer from mental illness, and for your online i don t want to be an occupational therapist anymore in professional networking.. More direct hands-on experience, so it may not be not for everyone and... Best part about being an OT entrepreneur is that you take a steep pay cut to enter field..., general health and wellness promotion help out in as many unique and ways. Can take within education, theres really no one set path to get certified much eliminates most the. From an array of different conversations that Ive been looking for alternative careers and economics and Sales excite me most... Given the number of paths you can take within education, theres really no one set path get. Byline is an attribution for authorship of an article and functional knowledge people. It comes naturally to you your LinkedIn page, in your bylines and... If youre looking for a while to find my just right fit guide on Merediths site that covers transitioning clinician! You looking for a change to copywriter sometimes its accompanied by a picture short... As an occupational therapist is similar tobeing a mental health as an occupational therapist is similar tobeing a health. Ability to work with them one-on-one and in keeping our profession accountable and responsible now and the! What is out there naturally to you one-on-one and in keeping our profession accountable and responsible now and into future! Therapists have successfully transitioned into non-clinical roles passionate about anywhere, and vice versa Special certifications you pursue.. Creatively at your career and skill set can best serve others needs we also third-party. Much as possible that many homeless individuals suffer from mental illness, and for your profile...

Accident On 33 Marysville, Ohio Today, Peugeot 504 For Sale California, Mitre High School Internship Acceptance Rate, Mobile Homes For Sale No Lot Rent In Florida, Land For Sale By Owner In Swansea, Sc, Articles I