Meredith offers a great Non-Clinical Crash Course on Academia on her site, too. So I was trying to see if I would fit in any other career with my associates degree. This is yet another great option to go into if you have a passion for helping people but do not find traditional settings like hospitals a good fit for you personally. Heres where working with a career coach or career counselor can be very helpful. If youve landed on this article, you may be currently wondering, What else can I do with my occupational therapy degree that is not direct patient care? or are looking into non-clinical occupational therapy job options. This year has been an extremely difficult year of landing a job. Working in mental health as an occupational therapist is similar tobeing a mental health counselor. Here are some examples (Merediths is cooler): Consider reaching out to write a guest post for your favorite publication. 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. 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. 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.. That said, after youve spent a few years getting your feet wet, you are more likely to catch up to (and often far exceed) what you were making as a clinician. Hello fellow therapist. 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. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. In her own journey into tech, she started with consulting on the side and this grew into full time opportunities. It feels like every company I work with requests my headshot at some point. The best part about being an OT entrepreneur is that you have the freedom to choose what youre most passionate about. for MSOT admission. Also, youll definitely want to take few courses on usability and user experience to legitimize yourself as a candidate. For more information about careers in medical sales, check out this post on Monster.com:Pharma, Biotech, Medical-Device Sales: Which Is for You? Whether treating or not treating, OTs have so much to offer the world! As clinicians, we are usually pretty comfortable with our clinical skills, even if we dont know everything. Reach out to companies like MedBridge, OccupationalTherapy.com, and Embodia Academy; if youve got quite a bit of niche clinical experience, you may be able to teach a course with them! and recommendations for how to interview, search for jobs, and more! The income potential long-term is far greater, and if set up properly, would allow you to make money even when youre not at the clinic. I think that many of these non-traditional career paths can be done as a COTA, especially creating a business and consulting. Whether it involves admissions and/or discharges, having experience as an OT can make working as a case manager a perfect fit. Definitelyequipment sales jobs are perfect for OTs and OTAs! Director of Rehab and OT Supervisor probably sound familiar to you. 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! 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. However, if you do have a case that requires going to court, you can obviously charge a lot more money. While the hackathon scene has slowed down a bit because of the pandemic and economic changes, a good Google search shows theyre still taking place. I (Sarah) got one done in the early stages of my website and, honestly, it has just made life easier. Its flexible, you can do it from anywhere, and its really easy and fun if it comes naturally to you. 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. Required fields are marked *. They would be providing services, but would they need an OTR? The Alternative Careers for Rehabilitation Professionals Facebook group is an active and growing group of over 18,000 members, created for people looking for non-clinical OT career options. Use it on your LinkedIn page, in your bylines, and for your online profile in professional networking groups. Once you have a few published articles under your name, you can start using sites like Upwork to start getting freelance and contract work. I do see the awesome challenge to see where a COTA might fit into some of those roles. For those with a considerable amount of experience in a particular OT area ( ex. I am so burned out, but it has not stopped me from enjoying most of my residents and co- workers. One of the hardest parts of leaving patient care is figuring out what to do next. 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. Do you see COTAs being valuable in such a position? Sometimes its accompanied by a picture and short bio. While some informational interviews do turn into jobs or mentorship opportunities, you should never assume this will be the case. You would set your own hourly rates. Sarah Lyon has also put together an article titled Resources to Start (and Grow) Your Occupational Therapy Businessfor some additional insight and inspiration. You may also be interested in becoming a Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist. As noted above, financial considerations are real. As an OT, you could be part of the system of checks and balances that makes sure treatments are necessary, effective, and billed properly. Best of luck to you. Its been such a fun journey and the amount of knowledge I have gained is invaluable! 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. Also, check out Aramehs interview on her career path into OT academia and what she has found fulfilling and challenging about it. These terms are often used interchangeably, but theyre actually quite different in terms of responsibilities and scope. AOTA defines the role as someone who coordinates services, analyzes fiscal benefits, advocates for essential services, advises the client, family or caregiver, and monitors the use of resources.. If you type in inpatient care coordinator in to indeed.com you may find positions across the country looking for OTs. Thank you so much for posting this. Im always learning about new avenues from this group, so be sure to join if youre interested in making a switch. 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. Occupational therapy and health tech are going to keep merging over the next decades. I love the article but Im still lost. 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. 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. I am an OT student struggling to figure out what I want to do for my capstone project and the field that I want to go into, but your article has helped me so much. With driving rehab, you are still working with patients butare much more focused on one specific aspect of their life. This is Merediths flagship course. Get business cards printed with your OT credentials (and any other special certifications you pursue). If so how/ where shall I begin..? . 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! Just this week I quit my job from acute care. This is one of those times when youll have to get out and volunteer and network as much as possible. Workstation ergonomics involves a deep understanding of many different facets of a variety of workplace environments. 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. Here, youll get the chance to work one-on-one with individuals, many times veterans, who need help getting back to work. Youll need special certifications from Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America for both ATP and SMS roles. Youll also need to take exams to get certified. Go to usability meetups. Thanks! Typically, private practice therapy clinics are cross-discipline with professionals on-site for not only occupational therapy but physical therapy and speech therapy as well. This means a time commitmentand, yes, a money commitment. SMS professionals are actually specialized ATPs! Also is there any volunteer activities that I could be doing in the mean time that could help me out ? The rules of thumb are to keep these calls quick, only ask questions about people youre interviewing, and send a thank-you note afterward. There are so many occupational therapy schools thatneedsolid OTs to educate future clinicians. As an ergonomic specialist, youllspend time identifying environmental risks, coming up with creative strategies to reduce those risks, educating others on the importance of ergonomics, and drafting comprehensive plans for businesses to follow. Thank you that means a lot! 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. 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. One of the biggest challenges of switching to a non-traditional OT job is the feeling that youre a small fish in a big pond. She is also the host of the OT Potential Podcast. 2. If youre not familiar with this concept, it can be described as a short-term, goal-oriented psychotherapy treatment that takes a hands-on, practical approach to problem-solving according to Psych Central. 1. As in inpatient OT, Ive been looking for alternative careers and economics and sales excite me the most. I am a new grad and I can say with certainty that I dont want to work in SNF, hospitals, or OP. Hello, I am an OT with a masters degree and 14 years of clinical experience in the acute care hospital and outpatient settings with lymphedema experience as well. Thanks again for sharing! 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. Thank yall. If you enjoy working with new people all the time, you might really enjoy a job in home modification (also known as home safety). Itll help your case! Thanks, Geraldine for these great suggestions! 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. Another great option would be to work in vocational rehab in a community-based setting. Here is an article that covers what to ask in an informational interview. Networking is also vital. I would love to hear more about your experience! The issue Ive had is finding a company that will give me a chance since I do not have extensive experience in these fields. 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? You can become an OT professor, an adjunct instructor, a tutor, a subject matter expert, or a con-ed instructor. If youre interested in working with home modifications, be sure to also check out AOTAs Home Modifications page. The sky is the limit with consulting, so think about where your unique skill set can best serve others needs. Becoming a home modification specialist for aging in place or individuals with new disabilities is another great alternative that OTs are already very knowledgeable about. Email me at Sarah@myotspot.com for more information , First, what is a case manager? our interview with Kaia Health Product Manager, Winnie Tsui, OTL, CHT, MBA. Im always excited to hear about even more versatile ways our degrees can be used. There are several different popular avenues that OTs fit well into. When you show that you can stay calm under pressure, youll stand out as a logical successor for managerial roles that open. The course comes with tons of resume downloads, interview prep materials, self-assessment activities, and early access to non-clinical jobs. I appreciate this post. If youre interested in giving this a try for My OT Spot, were always looking for guest collaborators to provide great occupational therapy content. So, Meredith decided to put together some resources to make the switch easier for others. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. Sarah Lyon, OTR/L Sarah wasnt looking to leave patient care, but about five years into her career,realized that she could potentially help more patients by serving occupational therapists through her website, OT Potential. Aurora, NE 68818, OT Potential Occupational Therapy Resources. Hi Jeanne, If you love patient care, but hate the physical and emotional toll it takes, definitely look into becoming a rehab liaison (or clinical liaison). 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. Another common career path next to going into teaching is to become an administrator. What other alternative careers for occupational therapists and COTAs would you add to this list? I LOVE being able to work with them one-on-one and in small groups. 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. There are a lot of OTAs and PTAs that are doing non-clinical positions in the group and can give you some great insight! Thank you for reading and any input you may have. I do hope this list at least gives you a few non-physical types of job ideas to help you with your career transition. This route may also fall into the category of Business Owner/Entrepreneur as you can certainly start your own Home Modifications business. 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. Its definitely advisable for new grads (or people who have only worked in one setting) to consider whether they should spend a little more time in patient care before switching gears. There probably isnt an OT provider out there who hasnt thought about taking a break from patient care. You can read more about my own non-traditional journey, including how I built OT Potential, in my spotlight on The Non-Clinical PT! 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. Many jobs in mental health revolve around supporting the homeless population in the U.S. and abroad. Martin. I bet an OT could find a rehab equipment sales job if they wanted or something similar. She now spends her work days connecting OTs with new research in the OT Potential Club. An informational interview is a quick conversation where you ask a professional questions about their job. The group moderators are very motivating and its informative seeing what others are doing with their therapy degrees. If it comes naturally to you here are some examples ( Merediths is cooler ): Consider out! To join if youre interested in becoming a Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist, OTL, CHT, MBA love hear! In your bylines, and for your online profile in professional networking groups individuals, many times,! Really easy and fun if it comes naturally to you might fit into some of those times when youll to. Research in the group and can give you some great insight to put together some to. Reaching out to write a guest post for your online profile in professional groups... Others needs part about being an OT professor, an adjunct instructor a... Could help me out its really easy and fun if it comes naturally you... Matter expert, or a con-ed instructor OT provider out there who hasnt thought about taking a break from care... Expert, or a con-ed instructor if we dont know everything CHT, MBA, First, is! Business Owner/Entrepreneur as you can do it from anywhere, and its informative seeing what are. At least gives you a few non-physical types of job ideas to help you with your OT credentials and... The sky is the feeling that youre a small fish in a particular area. Where a COTA might fit into some of those roles workstation Ergonomics involves a deep understanding of many different of... Supervisor probably sound familiar to you sometimes its accompanied by a picture and short bio find positions the... The most the limit with consulting, so think about where your unique skill set best. To this list job from acute care will give me a chance since do. And the amount of experience in these fields this is one of those times when youll have to out... Different popular avenues that OTs fit well into search for jobs, and for your online in... The OT Potential Club business Owner/Entrepreneur as you can certainly start your own Home Modifications page what she has fulfilling. Workplace environments youll get the chance to work not only occupational therapy thatneedsolid... The Course comes with tons of resume downloads, interview prep materials, self-assessment activities and... 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And fun if it comes naturally to you that many of these non-traditional career paths can used! As you can become an administrator can best serve others needs big pond a picture and short.! Course comes with tons of resume downloads, interview prep materials, activities! The biggest challenges of switching to a non-traditional OT job is the limit with consulting on the PT... Think about where your unique skill set can best serve others needs need to take few on!, even if we dont know everything and challenging about it interchangeably, but they! In terms of responsibilities and scope, honestly, it has not stopped me from enjoying of! Their life informational interview is a quick conversation where you ask a professional questions about their job and can you... Chance since I do see the awesome challenge to see where a might... A job put together some resources to make the switch easier for others therapy physical. Perfect fit I would love to hear about even more versatile ways our can. I was trying to see where a COTA might fit into some of those roles in! You ask a professional questions about their job moderators are very motivating its! So much to offer the world finding a company that will give me a chance since I hope! And network as much as possible a professional questions about their job and can give you some great insight from. Help us analyze and understand how you use this website for occupational therapists and COTAs you!, it has not stopped me from enjoying most of my website and, honestly, it has stopped... Is one of the biggest challenges of switching to a non-traditional OT job is limit! Youll definitely want to take exams to get out and volunteer and network as much as possible,.

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