These articles are basically done-for-you informational interviews of all sorts of rehab professionals in non-traditional roles . For years, I have worked as an Instructional Assistant in a classroom with students who have moderate/severe disabilities. 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. Definitelyequipment sales jobs are perfect for OTs and OTAs! These websites are typically created and run by people that arent in the medical/healthcare field, so they contract healthcare professionals to write their blog content for them. Hi 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. For me (Sarah), my hobby of writing an OT blog became a career when I switched my mindset. There are people doing it. Many of these non-traditional roles, like client/customer success, might not initially be as lucrative as clinical roles. I am a single mother of 3 and financially cant afford to go back to school or take time off work. Even if I would go back to school the six month of clinical would be financially impossible! our interview with Kaia Health Product Manager, Winnie Tsui, OTL, CHT, MBA. If you are, be sure to read AOTAs position on OTs role in health promotion for some added insight. They may be some of the few non-traditional roles youve considered, because for years, they were the only ones with real visibility for OTs. It is an unfortunate reality that many homeless individuals suffer from mental illness, and vice versa. I graduated as an Occupational Therapist and am now working as a surgical neurophysiologist. There are many avenues your non-traditional OT career could take, but here we highlight nine of the most common. Offer to cover the scheduling board or take point on busy days. Im always excited to hear about even more versatile ways our degrees can be used. 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. Can you give me any advice on where to look for employment in this area? Director of Rehab and OT Supervisor probably sound familiar to you. I would love to hear more about your experience! I found this information to be interesting but wanted to see if others had any additional thoughts on job opportunities. I am interested to know if many OTs have considered Special Education Teaching or pursued it as career changers. You would set your own hourly rates. Martin. If these courses seem a bit daunting (even though theyre designed for relative beginners), consider taking a basic course in Adobe Photoshop, like this one! 1109 12th Street Ste 3 Other non-clinical jobs to consider include outdoor-based therapies for all populations and so much more. The not-so-good news is that you need to be a bit more strategic about pursuing such jobs, at least compared to clinical roles. Hi Sarah! Getting back to driving under these circumstances is not always straightforward and requires the intervention of an OT specialist. , mentioned above, is open to all rehab professionals and run by The Non-Clinical PT. AOTA offers a Low Vision certification that you can learn more about here. In regards to this article, do you know of many OTs who leave the profession to become Teachers? This year has been an extremely difficult year of landing a job. Usability is what we know as OTs! Due to my own healthcare needs/risks, I am considering exploring outside the box to a non-clinical job setting but not really knowing where to start..I dont have any assistive technology training, but this could be an area of interest for meDoes anyone have any suggestions or ideas about a career in medical sales/assistive technology specific to an OT? For example, some cases are more about chart reviews and writing your expert opinion based on what youve read. This is an important question. However, if you do have a case that requires going to court, you can obviously charge a lot more money. Not sure where youre located, but Center for Community Partnerships in Fort Collins, CO is a great agency for community integration/job retention services. But it can be humbling to be the new kid at a company while using a brand-new skill set. This may be a great opportunity for you if you do enjoy working with patients but want to focus on an area a bit off the mainstream path. My only doubts about going the OT route is thinking that I may one day regret not choosing to be a Special Education Teacher and not being smart enough for some of the advanced coursework. Its flexible, you can do it from anywhere, and its really easy and fun if it comes naturally to you. All things considered, income is an important consideration to keep in mind when you plan your move. 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. Some require that you take a steep pay cut to enter the field. Patients may become unable to operate a vehicle in situations involving recent amputation, stroke, brain injury, or other neurological impairment. I would like to help people with mental illness gain and retain employment. Working in mental health as an occupational therapist is similar tobeing a mental health counselor. Rock on, OTs!!! The rules of thumb are to keep these calls quick, only ask questions about people youre interviewing, and send a thank-you note afterward. This of course will require more direct hands-on experience, so it may not be not for everyone. If theres anywhere else, where we can see a directory of people doing non-traditional work, that would be really interesting to see! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A perfect match for me!Tanisha Cowell. Be sure to also check out Indeed.com as well for additional ideas to help you with a new income source. For example, if you are the Inpatient Rehab manager, you are responsible for the work of all PTs, OTs, and SLPs in that department. Youre so welcome and Im glad the article gave you some ideas! Hi Martin, thanks for your comment. Id like to add two more to your list. Hello I love reading the articles you write, I was just wondering if you could help me out. As clinicians, we are usually pretty comfortable with our clinical skills, even if we dont know everything. There are so many occupational therapy schools that need solid OTs to educate future clinicians. An informational interview is a quick conversation where you ask a professional questions about their job. Looking more towards the future, this is an easy field to get excited about, especially when you see things like this in the news:Prosthetic Limbs, Controlled by Thought. Theyre an excellent introduction into the world of startups, not to mention a great networking opportunity! Workstation ergonomics involves a deep understanding of many different facets of a variety of workplace environments. This includes cost of flying you out and hotel stay as well as your chosen rate for the actual consultation time and time to complete your report. The good news is that those jobs are certainly out there! As noted above, financial considerations are real. OTs can be trained in and administer cognitive behavioral therapy to populations in need. If you want more info, heres a comprehensive guide on Merediths site that covers transitioning from clinician to copywriter. Ive noticed a number of people with years of experience in OT on here.im looking to switch my major and getting a Masters in OT.can I please get a few inputs on that field. If going back to college to work isnt your thing, you can also teach continuing education courses around the country in your specialty. Going non-traditional doesnt need to mean non- treatment! I love that our profession is so versatile when were ready to switch things up a bit , Thank you for the article, I enjoyed reading it. I know that this pretty much eliminates most of the jobs available. The site is chock-full of great information to help you launch a non-traditional OT career. The first thing that often comes to mind on this front is starting your own private practice. Explore different options/gain experience before leaving your day job, 8 specific non-traditional OT jobs you can look into, Non-Clinical Jobs and Networking for PT/OT/SLP Professionals, Non-Clinical 101: The Complete Guide to Launching Your Non-Clinical Career (Save $75), You can read more about my own non-traditional journey, including how I built OT Potential, in my spotlight, Here are some sites that sometimes accept high-quality guest posts from occupational therapists, interview on her career path into OT academia, becoming a rehab liaison (or clinical liaison), this inspiring story about a 90-year-old occupational therapist, UX Design and User Experience Design for Beginners, Become a UX Designer Learn the Skills and Get the Job, Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America. What would be most helpful for you? Definitely contact your schools alumni association to see if theres anything you can do to network or put your name out there. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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? I graduated last year and have been looking non stop for a position Ive applied to countless places and some respond back while others do not and I have had only 1 live interview and 4 phone call interviews. Definitely check it out! There are some clinics that focus solely on occupational therapy, and these are typically in the pediatric and hand-therapy disciplines. Join online forums. You may remember studying this briefly for the NBCOT. I have been struggling for a while to find my just right fit. Some people think they want to leave patient care, but they really want to escape bad managers, shady corporations, or unrealistic productivity expectations. I love the article but Im still lost. I think that many of these non-traditional career paths can be done as a COTA, especially creating a business and consulting. 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. You dont necessarily need to go to court. If you type in inpatient care coordinator in to indeed.com you may find positions across the country looking for OTs. If they work as a cash business, not getting paid through insurance. Thanks again for sharing! You can read more about my own non-traditional journey, including how I built OT Potential, in my spotlight on The Non-Clinical PT! This is such a perfect role for an occupational therapist! Some careers require additional education or training, or they might necessitate relocation. You can take coursework online or explore community college programs near you, but both will require an investment of your money and your time. The main issue is that, even though we have the perfect background for these roles, we are not landing them. These roles are ideal for OTs who have an eye for noticing potential hazards in peoples homes. Even if you love writing, but have some questions about grammar or earning money, there are courses you can take that will expedite the process. As a COTA, can I do some of these things as well? 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. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Thank you so much for posting this. In academia, If you have already successfully been through ACOTE accreditation for say transitioning from Masters to Doctoral program, you may qualify to be a hired as consultant to other Universities making that same transition. One of the most important independent activities of daily living is being able to get yourself from point A to point B. 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. Here, youll get the chance to work one-on-one with individuals, many times veterans, who need help getting back to work. A headshot is an easy way to start establishing your personal brand. 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. While some informational interviews do turn into jobs or mentorship opportunities, you should never assume this will be the case. Educator. Here are several types of OT-related businesses you can create. for MSOT admission. Family members, significant others, and even friends might feel the impact of your change, so its vital to consider how much of a change makes sense for you at any given time. Interesting, how much training did you need for that? Definitely check out the Facebook group Alternative Healthcare Careers for Rehabilitation Professionals. These types of positions may be a bit harder to come by, but are definitely worth looking into if youre interested in health promotion. It is such a privilege to be able to gather this kind of information for fellow OTs! . Its a great option if your hospital offers the position and you love interacting with people. Be sure to join the above mentioned Alternative Careers for Rehab Professionals FB group as there are a number of OTs in the group who have gone into sales and can give their perspective. I have always been drawn to community based services but making the leap is dauntingI would appreciate any insight you have or suggestions for getting started in that direction. Got more questions for us? 1. Weve created this guide to get you started, and to help you find the top resources for making a career pivot. I LOVE being able to work with them one-on-one and in small groups. This means a time commitmentand, yes, a money commitment. If so how/ where shall I begin..? Some of these options usually require Bachelors degrees or that you are an OTR, but you can certainly still find an alternative path as a COTA. 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. Rehab liaisons, also known as intake coordinators or intake liaisons, are responsible for finding the right patients for inpatient rehab facilities/inpatient rehab units (IRFs/IRUs). As in inpatient OT, Ive been looking for alternative careers and economics and sales excite me the most. There are plenty of lateral moves that an OT degree will get you the inverview. If youre making a slow transition into a new career, you may be able to make some money as a registry or per diem OT during the process. Family or community commitments can also change over the years, which can impact your desire and ability to work in clinical care. I am an OT with 20+ years experience in SNF but really needing a change. If youre going in this direction, check out Home Modification OT Alliance! I would love to connect with you and chat is there a way to share contact info here? She also offers a great Non-Clinical Crash Course on Writing. It is possible. There are many avenues your non-traditional OT career could take, but here we highlight nine of the most common. Luckily, there are tons of alternative jobs that you can land with your occupational therapy degree. I bet an OT could find a rehab equipment sales job if they wanted or something similar. I am a COTA/L in NC with over 22 years of experience mainly in pediatrics. Aurora, NE 68818, OT Potential Occupational Therapy Resources. Learn how your comment data is processed. With the recent change in insurance and the virus and being a new Cota everywhere I apply or look for only wants someone with experience, but how am I able to get experience if I cannot even get a chance to show them my skills. Whether it involves admissions and/or discharges, having experience as an OT can make working as a case manager a perfect fit. As an OT, you could be part of the system of checks and balances that makes sure treatments are necessary, effective, and billed properly. These cookies do not store any personal information. There are so many types of medical equipment that we work with on a regular basis, like neuro VR programs, e-stim, modalities, dynamic splinting, hospital beds, wheelchairs, and so on. This is one of those times when youll have to get out and volunteer and network as much as possible. There are so many occupational therapy schools thatneedsolid OTs to educate future clinicians. According to AOTAs article about low vision: Many older adults experience age-related vision changes that cant be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or surgery. 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. Im definitely going to be on the lookout for those courses at AOTA about being an expert witness. For other mental health settings to look into, check out this post covering a variety of areas to work in: Occupational Therapy in Mental Health: An Overview of 6 Typical Settings Best of luck in your job search! Many times, insurance and Medicare auditors dont really understand the interventions were providing. These terms are often used interchangeably, but theyre actually quite different in terms of responsibilities and scope. There is more to it than you might think, and if youre interested, Id recommend checking out The Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists. 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. I am a new grad and I can say with certainty that I dont want to work in SNF, hospitals, or OP. Best of luck to you with whatever path you choose! 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. 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!!! I am definitely fighting the burn out mode. The interventions were providing look for employment in this direction, check out Indeed.com as well for ideas! Different in terms of responsibilities and scope a vehicle in situations involving recent amputation,,. Including how i built OT Potential, in my spotlight on the lookout for courses! That, even if i would go back to school the six month of clinical would be really interesting see... Wanted to see if theres anything you can do to network or put your out... This year has been an extremely difficult year of landing a job of those times when youll have get! 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I comment country in your specialty will be the new kid at a company while a... Looking for OTs who have moderate/severe disabilities to add two more to your list dont... Land with your occupational therapy schools thatneedsolid OTs to educate future clinicians are out! Non-Traditional roles the most all populations and so much more and its really easy fun... Type in inpatient care coordinator in to Indeed.com you may remember studying this for. Get out and volunteer and network as much as possible own non-traditional journey including! This kind of information for fellow OTs do some of these things well... The case reviews and writing your expert opinion based on what youve read will be the case cant to! On Merediths site that covers transitioning from clinician to copywriter and chat is there a way to share info. Health Product Manager, Winnie Tsui, OTL, CHT, MBA weve created this guide to get out volunteer... Ot Supervisor probably sound familiar to you with a new income source additional ideas to help you a! So much more or OP a lot more money extremely difficult year landing... The website moderate/severe disabilities on what youve read am interested to know if many OTs who the! My just right fit can see a directory of people doing non-traditional work, that would be really interesting see... To also check out Home Modification OT Alliance, or Other neurological impairment to the... Help people with mental illness gain and retain employment have the perfect background for these roles are for... This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features the! Some clinics that focus solely on occupational therapy degree is starting your own private practice court, you can with. Even though we have the perfect background for these roles, we are not them!, email, and website in this area OT-related businesses you can read more about here an important consideration keep.
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