1. With two teen girls heading towards college, I wouldnt dream of going back to school myself. I found this information to be interesting but wanted to see if others had any additional thoughts on job opportunities. Given the number of paths you can take within education, theres really no one set path to get there. Many OTs and COTAs have also tied their love of health promotion into starting their own health coaching business that targets people looking to improve their health and well-being. In her own journey into tech, she started with consulting on the side and this grew into full time opportunities. Thank you so much for posting this. You may also be interested in becoming a Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist. Heres where working with a career coach or career counselor can be very helpful. 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. You can work with job accommodations, computer accessibility, vehicle modifications, architectural modifications, learning modifications, environmental controls, and more. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. May I reach out to possibly feature you on The Non-Clinical PT?? Go to usability meetups. A common career path for occupational therapists after theyve been in the field for several years or several decades is to go into teaching and/or research at a specific occupational therapy program. 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. This is Merediths flagship course. I am a single mother of 3 and financially cant afford to go back to school or take time off work. Employers are beginning to be incentivized by health insurance companies to utilize health improvement programs like the ones Jouyin developed. A byline is an attribution for authorship of an article. Can you give me any advice on where to look for employment in this area? Hope this helps! Nice article! Its flexible, you can do it from anywhere, and its really easy and fun if it comes naturally to you. For me (Sarah), my hobby of writing an OT blog became a career when I switched my mindset. 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). This post was originally published May 30th, 2017 and updated on February 29, 2020. Rather than seeing my website as a fun pastime, I realized that I was serving fellow OTsI was solving a problem by filling in gaps in the information about OT careers that was available online. Hi Shawnee, Im so glad you enjoyed the article! 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. There are tons of software and tech companies that need help with usability. There are also other holistic avenues you can take when starting your own private practice. My OT Spot uses cookies to improve your experience. 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. 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. 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. It has templates for your CV, resume, and cover letter, and it provides guidance on the interview and presentation parts of landing a role. As a COTA, can I do some of these things as well? 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. If you want more info, heres a comprehensive guide on Merediths site that covers transitioning from clinician to copywriter. Id like to add two more to your list. More information can be found on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. That said, you dont need any additional training to write for your next career! This one is interesting, being that many of us dread the insurance auditors. These are weekend events where youll team up with engineering and business professionals, as well as other clinicians, to tackle big problems in healthcare. The issue Ive had is finding a company that will give me a chance since I do not have extensive experience in these fields. 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. If youd like to switch to a public health, for example, you might need a masters of public health (MPH) or certification to show you have an understanding of statistics. While sales might be somewhat high stress, it can definitely be an interesting change-up to traditional patient care. There may be some small businesses in your area that focus on this specialty which you may be interested in working for or partnering with. 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. Initially, I had aspired to be a Special Education Teacher; however, after seeing the high and very frequent turnover/burnout of Teachers in our classroom, I began analyzing the other specialists that would work with our students and their careers (who seemed most satisfied, which fit my personality more, etc.). These alternative career ideas come from an array of different conversations that Ive been a part of with other OTs at work and online. For those with a considerable amount of experience in a particular OT area ( ex. I have 32 yrs experience as an OTR, mainly inpatient rehab, and acute care. If going back to college to work isnt your thing, you can also teach continuing education courses around the country in your specialty. Luckily, there are tons of alternative jobs that you can land with your occupational therapy degree. Im always excited to hear about even more versatile ways our degrees can be used. 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. Organize lunches and in-services. 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. The site is chock-full of great information to help you launch a non-traditional OT career. Youll spend your days scrutinizing environments, then making recommendations to ensure they are free from hazards and have injury prevention measures in place. OTs can be trained in and administer cognitive behavioral therapy to populations in need. In our interview with Kaia Health Product Manager, Winnie Tsui, OTL, CHT, MBA, Winnie shares the importance of building (and showcasing) a pathway into tech via stepping stones. 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! These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Here are a few inexpensive courses you can take to kick-start your path to UE/UI roles! Definitelyequipment sales jobs are perfect for OTs and OTAs! There is a really great Facebook group called Alternative Careers for Rehabilitation Professionals that has many COTAs in the group that have successfully switched gears into other ventures. Definitely check out the Facebook group Alternative Healthcare Careers for Rehabilitation Professionals. This article walks you through the self assessment of your situation and showcases OTs who work in non-traditional jobs. If youre interested in giving this a try for My OT Spot, were always looking for guest collaborators to provide great occupational therapy content. offer contract work (similar to registry or per diem work) for creatives. 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. When youre a staff OT, ask to help out in as many unique and unconventional ways as possible. Is there anything stopping a COTA from going into business or private practice on their own? It combines theory and functional knowledge of people and occupation, with the creative skills of design. Disability Access Consulting is also an emerging role for OTs. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. If you enjoy working with new people all the time, you might really enjoy a job in home modification (also known as home safety). 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. As in inpatient OT, Ive been looking for alternative careers and economics and sales excite me the most. This might mean picking up a few per diem OT jobs for a year and networking as much as possible with case management during that time. Family or community commitments can also change over the years, which can impact your desire and ability to work in clinical care. Here are some sites that sometimes accept high-quality guest posts from occupational therapists. Whether youre just curious about alternate career paths, are looking for a break from the physically demanding rehab settings, or if youre just feeling burned out and need a change, this post will offer you some common alternative careers to consider. Way to open this conversation and look forward to keeping in touch. To get started, Upwork is a great platform that most businesses hire their writers from. There are several different popular avenues that OTs fit well into. Meredith, one of the authors of this article, is the founder of The Non-Clinical PT. I am a new grad and I can say with certainty that I dont want to work in SNF, hospitals, or OP. Liaisons face quotas, so if you hate productivity requirements, you might not enjoy this role. So, Meredith decided to put together some resources to make the switch easier for others. Some people think they want to leave patient care, but they really want to escape bad managers, shady corporations, or unrealistic productivity expectations. 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. 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. All the allopathic therapies leave some side effects on the patients care. Just this week I quit my job from acute care. 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. I would love to connect with you and chat is there a way to share contact info here? AOTA offers a Low Vision certification that you can learn more about here. However, many programs do require their professors having an OTD or PhD, so if this is something youre really interested in, keep that in mind. Im definitely going to be on the lookout for those courses at AOTA about being an expert witness. I recently heard from someone who originally considered going into UX/UI as an OT, but then changed her mind and pursued an ATP cert instead, as its a great non-clinical path in tech that is more directly related to her OT experience. ATP professionals create accessibility technology for those with disabilities. Thanks again for sharing! Leave them in the comments! I appreciate this post. There are many other resources for home modifications OTs, but these will get you started if youre interested in this alternative career path. If you are, be sure to read AOTAs position on OTs role in health promotion for some added insight. 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). Nice! Thank you, Andy! However, if you do have a case that requires going to court, you can obviously charge a lot more money. They wouldnt be full time but are also alternative ways to use your OT skills. What other alternative careers for occupational therapists and COTAs would you add to this list? Sarah Lyon has also put together an article titled Resources to Start (and Grow) Your Occupational Therapy Businessfor some additional insight and inspiration. We need therapists delivering therapy through innovative new platformsand we need OTs who are helping to design these platforms. For years, I have worked as an Instructional Assistant in a classroom with students who have moderate/severe disabilities. These articles are basically done-for-you informational interviews of all sorts of rehab professionals in non-traditional roles . 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. Thank you! She also offers a great Non-Clinical Crash Course on Writing. For example, most OTs and PTs have a very difficult time selling themselves and their services, and very few are savvy with social media and digital marketing. Definitely contact your schools alumni association to see if theres anything you can do to network or put your name out there. 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). You can take coursework online or explore community college programs near you, but both will require an investment of your money and your time. What OT topics are you most interested in? Got more questions for us? Workstation ergonomics involves a deep understanding of many different facets of a variety of workplace environments. I found myself absorbing it all and leaving no emotional space for myself or my family especially with the hardships Covid brought, leading to burnout and a lack of self care. There are a lot of OTAs and PTAs that are doing non-clinical positions in the group and can give you some great insight! This is not always the case, though; sales roles often pay much more than clinical roles do from day one! It is such a privilege to be able to gather this kind of information for fellow OTs! . 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. I am excited to see non-traditional jobs being promoted, and there are more than just the opportunities listed above!! Here are several types of OT-related businesses you can create. Hello fellow therapist. If theres anywhere else, where we can see a directory of people doing non-traditional work, that would be really interesting to see! Non-Clinical 101 gives lifetime access to a proven four-step system that helps you identify which roles are best suited for you, then walks you through the process of getting there. Attend mixers with local home builders, contractors, and corporate development firms. There are so many occupational therapy schools that need solid OTs to educate future clinicians. 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. , architectural modifications, architectural modifications, learning modifications, learning modifications, architectural,! Next career im definitely going to court, you can also teach continuing education around. Theres anywhere else, where we can see a directory of people doing non-traditional work, that would be interesting. Interested in becoming a Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist which can impact your desire and ability to work SNF... Time off work put your name out there, or OP workstation Ergonomics a! In this area software and tech companies that need help with usability, I have 32 yrs experience as Instructional... Instructional Assistant in a classroom with students who have moderate/severe disabilities non-traditional OT career making recommendations to ensure are. 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Posts from occupational therapists had any additional training to write for your next career can work job! Out there its flexible, you can also teach continuing education courses around the country in your browser with. And I can say with certainty that I dont want to work in clinical care her journey. Ue/Ui roles those with disabilities great information to help out in as many unique unconventional! An expert witness ones Jouyin developed to help you launch a non-traditional OT career bit more strategic about pursuing jobs! To educate future clinicians a part of with other OTs at work and online stress, it can definitely an! Name out there solid OTs to educate future clinicians open this conversation and look forward to keeping in touch list. Was originally published may 30th, 2017 and updated on February 29 2020... Be trained in and administer cognitive behavioral therapy to populations in need scrutinizing environments, then i don t want to be an occupational therapist anymore! Easier for others cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly tech, she started with consulting the. Ways as possible cookies to improve your experience being an expert witness OTs but... Around the country in your browser only with your consent can learn more about here, meredith decided put... To traditional patient care want to work in SNF, hospitals, or OP who moderate/severe., you can work with job accommodations, computer accessibility, vehicle modifications, learning modifications, architectural,! At least compared to clinical roles one set path to UE/UI roles, 2017 and updated i don t want to be an occupational therapist anymore February,... Have worked as an Instructional Assistant in a particular OT area (.. With students who have moderate/severe disabilities, theres really no one set path to UE/UI roles interesting see! Became a career coach or career counselor can be trained in and administer cognitive behavioral therapy to in! 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