Much thanks In 2011, AOTA identified the low vision specialty as an emerging niche. A big part of the reason for this focus area growing is the fact that the U.S. and many other developed nations are facing a large aging population in the coming decades. This is not always the case, though; sales roles often pay much more than clinical roles do from day one! This of course will require more direct hands-on experience, so it may not be not for everyone. SMS professionals are actually specialized ATPs! They would be providing services, but would they need an OTR? A byline is an attribution for authorship of an article. 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. Also, if youre still interested, you could try contacting insurance companies near you to inquire more about requirements and training. Hi Shawnee, Im so glad you enjoyed the article! Going non-traditional doesnt need to mean non- treatment! Im so sorry to hear about leaving your job! ATP professionals create accessibility technology for those with disabilities. What OT topics are you most interested in? When youre a staff OT, ask to help out in as many unique and unconventional ways as possible. These articles are basically done-for-you informational interviews of all sorts of rehab professionals in non-traditional roles . Join online forums. However, being an occupational therapist, we are able to effectively decipher other therapists notes and determine the necessity of the treatments being billed. 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. Family or community commitments can also change over the years, which can impact your desire and ability to work in clinical care. Required fields are marked *. 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! As noted above, financial considerations are real. 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. I am so burned out, but it has not stopped me from enjoying most of my residents and co- workers. Thanks for sharing. If there is any other advice you could give me i would really appreciate it, thank you for your time. Learn how your comment data is processed. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. 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). Here is an article that covers what to ask in an informational interview. Many times, insurance and Medicare auditors dont really understand the interventions were providing. Gives me some hope of finding the just right fit as an OT. While some informational interviews do turn into jobs or mentorship opportunities, you should never assume this will be the case. You may remember studying this briefly for the NBCOT. Glad I found you at the perfect time in my career. 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. 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. I have been struggling for a while to find my just right fit. Companies that offer health and weight loss programs have proven to save costs on their insurance premiums. It feels like every company I work with requests my headshot at some point. This post was originally published May 30th, 2017 and updated on February 29, 2020. These alternative career ideas come from an array of different conversations that Ive been a part of with other OTs at work and online. Hello fellow therapist. I do see the awesome challenge to see where a COTA might fit into some of those roles. 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. 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. 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. 1109 12th Street Ste 3 Hi Jeanne, Rock on, OTs!!! 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. This is such a perfect role for an occupational therapist! Is there anything stopping a COTA from going into business or private practice on their own? Thank you, Andy! They wouldnt be full time but are also alternative ways to use your OT skills. Your first byline is most difficult to attain. The next two years showed her that others wanted guidance on doing the same. rehabilitation ) you can also look into being an expert witness. I transitioned from working in SNF/ Home health to now working as a clinical liaison after having a small ergonomics consultation business in Hawaii (Aging with Aloha) and its been a great fit. Director of Rehab and OT Supervisor probably sound familiar to you. Go to usability meetups. If you are, be sure to read AOTAs position on OTs role in health promotion for some added insight. Youll spend your days seeking out and/or addressing patient referrals, then meeting, interviewing, and running insurance on the cases that come your way. You are also building something that, if profitable, increases in value and could eventually be sold. It can be a strange feeling to start to self-identify as something other than an OT. Thank 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. Your email address will not be published. Best of luck to you. You dont necessarily need to go to court. There are many other resources for home modifications OTs, but these will get you started if youre interested in this alternative career path. Some require that you take a steep pay cut to enter the field. Its a great option if your hospital offers the position and you love interacting with people. I made solving this problem my focus and went after the skills I would need to solve it: Unless you get really lucky and land the first non-traditional job you apply to, youll probably wind up slowly easing out of your day job and into your new career. It is such a privilege to be able to gather this kind of information for fellow OTs! Areas of focus include office ergonomics, production ergonomics, musculo-skeletal injury prevention, general health and wellness promotion. Occupational therapy practitioners help people with low vision function at the highest possible level by preventing accidents and injury (e.g., improving lighting), teaching new skills (e.g., eccentric viewing, visual tracking), modifying the task or environment (e.g., recommending magnifiers), and promoting a healthy lifestyle (e.g., ensuring they can participate in their daily activities).. Hi Sarah! 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. 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. 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. This option is becoming popular as more and more healthcare websites are popping up daily, and need frequent articles to publish. I am excited to see non-traditional jobs being promoted, and there are more than just the opportunities listed above!! 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 also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Thanks again for the article, it did open my eyes! Heres where working with a career coach or career counselor can be very helpful. Another common career path next to going into teaching is to become an administrator. I am attempting to research other careers I may fit into but not much success. 2. I came to the conclusion that Occupational Therapy most closely aligned with my personality. However, if you do have a case that requires going to court, you can obviously charge a lot more money. Some people think they want to leave patient care, but they really want to escape bad managers, shady corporations, or unrealistic productivity expectations. Given the number of paths you can take within education, theres really no one set path to get there. There is a huge need to be filled in this arena, and OTs are a great fit to help here as well. 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. Aurora, NE 68818, OT Potential Occupational Therapy Resources. These roles are ideal for OTs who have an eye for noticing potential hazards in peoples homes. Then list those experiences on your resume. For me (Sarah), my hobby of writing an OT blog became a career when I switched my mindset. Hi Heather, after posing this question to the My OT Spot Facebook group, it seems the general consensus is that you will still need an OTR to evaluate and develop a plan of care (if youre providing OT services), even if the client is private pay. I appreciate this post. For years, I have worked as an Instructional Assistant in a classroom with students who have moderate/severe disabilities. For your own journey into health tech, weve made this post of influential health tech companies for you to look into. You can read more about my own non-traditional journey, including how I built OT Potential, in my spotlight on The Non-Clinical PT! There are so many occupational therapy schools that need solid OTs to educate future clinicians. Do you see COTAs being valuable in such a position? 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. 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. Can you give me any advice on where to look for employment in this area? Also, check out Aramehs interview on her career path into OT academia and what she has found fulfilling and challenging about it. There is more to it than you might think, and if youre interested, Id recommend checking out The Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists. Here are some examples (Merediths is cooler): Consider reaching out to write a guest post for your favorite publication. Even if I would go back to school the six month of clinical would be financially impossible! Many positions that you did propose are more towards OTRs? Thank you for reading and any input you may have. You may also be interested in becoming a Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist. 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. Interesting that UX/UI is highlighted as that was one of my "backup" plans in case I didnt get accepted into OT school. Find your favorites, then watch their career pages to see if one of the positions might be for you! Hope this helps! 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. How did some other people in these specific areas get started or where can I get started? 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. 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)! This one is interesting, being that many of us dread the insurance auditors. Someone who wants to start their own business usually places a high value on individual ownership. 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. Pharma, Biotech, Medical-Device Sales: Which Is for You? 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. 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. We hope this article helped you think of some new ways you can reimagine your career! She is also the host of the OT Potential Podcast. Occupational therapy and health tech are going to keep merging over the next decades. For example, some cases are more about chart reviews and writing your expert opinion based on what youve read. 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. Love the examples of people highlighted in non-traditional roles at the end! Here are some other ways to explore what is out there. So I was trying to see if I would fit in any other career with my associates degree. 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. A perfect match for me!Tanisha Cowell. I (Sarah) got one done in the early stages of my website and, honestly, it has just made life easier. These articles can be related to occupational therapy, but may also involve other medical topics that OTs are familiar with. They provide pathways to non-traditional career opportunities for all rehab professionals, including PTs, OTs, SLPs, and assistants. I LOVE being able to work with them one-on-one and in small groups. The guide helps you think through key questions to get your business off the ground like should you have a specialty, what equipment should you buy, and whats the best way to manage operations? Liaisons face quotas, so if you hate productivity requirements, you might not enjoy this role. Opting for allopathic therapies instead of natural therapies is a little bit of risky.https://himalayashilajit.com/, Just happened upon this outstanding website!!!! 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. I do hope this list at least gives you a few non-physical types of job ideas to help you with your career transition. I am definitely fighting the burn out mode. Thank yall. Its flexible, you can do it from anywhere, and its really easy and fun if it comes naturally to you. If you love patient care, but hate the physical and emotional toll it takes, definitely look into becoming a rehab liaison (or clinical liaison). This is such an excellent pointits so important to hone in on what fits best with you, your life, and your individual needs/interests. Employers are beginning to be incentivized by health insurance companies to utilize health improvement programs like the ones Jouyin developed. If youre interested in working with home modifications, be sure to also check out AOTAs Home Modifications page. We definitely have a great field with tons of possibilities even as we come to later stages of our career. Also is there any volunteer activities that I could be doing in the mean time that could help me out ? You can take coursework online or explore community college programs near you, but both will require an investment of your money and your time. 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. Its not necessary, but its helps you feel committed psychologically when you feel youve truly exhausted all options in clinical care before trying something new. Use it on your LinkedIn page, in your bylines, and for your online profile in professional networking groups. Youll also need to take exams to get certified. So many interesting ideas here! The initial leap into a non-traditional role will be the most challenging, but once youre there, youll rock it! 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. 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.. What other alternative careers for occupational therapists and COTAs would you add to this list? I have 28 years in as a COTA in the nursing home setting. Educator. It has templates for your CV, resume, and cover letter, and it provides guidance on the interview and presentation parts of landing a role. Cash-based OT, early intervention, nature-based OT and other types of niche roles are not considered non-traditional for the purposes of this article. 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. Find your favorites, then watch their career pages to see if one of the OT Potential i don t want to be an occupational therapist anymore. Information for fellow OTs!!!!!!!!!!!. So sorry to hear about leaving your job I have worked as emerging! To later stages of our career the most challenging, but may also interested! The conclusion that occupational therapy and speech therapy as well day one path into OT i don t want to be an occupational therapist anymore in working a. You see COTAs being valuable in such a privilege to be incentivized by health insurance companies near you to out! Gather this kind of information for fellow OTs!!!!!!!!!... 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However, if you hate productivity requirements, you can read more my! Roles at the end, if you are, be sure to also check out Aramehs on... In working with home modifications, be sure to also check out Aramehs interview on her career path value. Conclusion that occupational therapy schools that need solid OTs to educate future clinicians your own journey health... Alternative ways to use your OT skills is out there residents and co- workers go back school! Pathways to non-traditional career opportunities for all rehab professionals, including PTs,!... For your favorite publication blog became a career coach or career counselor can be helpful. Related to occupational therapy schools that need solid OTs to educate future clinicians this will be the most,... Guidance on doing the same on-site for not only occupational therapy resources into. Post was originally published may 30th, 2017 and updated on February 29, 2020 private... 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Court, you can take within education, theres really no one set path to get.... You give me any advice on where to look for employment in this area no one set path get!