The sky is the limit with consulting, so think about where your unique skill set can best serve others needs. There are many avenues your non-traditional OT career could take, but here we highlight nine of the most common. 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. Best of luck to you with whatever path you choose! Non-Clinical 101 also contains an entire lesson to help you learn how to identify your marketable skills, find clients, and price yourself. 1. Its flexible, you can do it from anywhere, and its really easy and fun if it comes naturally to you. 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.. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Thank yall. If going back to college to work isnt your thing, you can also teach continuing education courses around the country in your specialty. Be sure to also check out Indeed.com as well for additional ideas to help you with a new income source. OTs can be trained in and administer cognitive behavioral therapy to populations in need. These cookies do not store any personal information. When you show that you can stay calm under pressure, youll stand out as a logical successor for managerial roles that open. Your email address will not be published. Many positions that you did propose are more towards OTRs? Here are some examples (Merediths is cooler): Consider reaching out to write a guest post for your favorite publication. If theres anywhere else, where we can see a directory of people doing non-traditional work, that would be really interesting to see! OTs are perfect for becoming Assistive Technology Professionals since we use it regularly with our patients, whether its low tech or high techassistive technology. Do you have a link or resource for finding more info on becoming an insurance auditor? Any suggestions? At this time I need to take care of me, but I might need to try something else to bring in income. 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. 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. 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. There are a lot of OTAs and PTAs that are doing non-clinical positions in the group and can give you some great insight! 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. 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. When there is new construction in your area (especially smaller projects like parks or municipal buildings), reach out and offer your services for free. Im so sorry to hear about leaving your job! They wouldnt be full time but are also alternative ways to use your OT skills. Also, youll definitely want to take few courses on usability and user experience to legitimize yourself as a candidate. There is also a website with great information on home modifications related to OT from the Home Modification Occupational Therapy Alliance (HMOTA). AOTA offers a Low Vision certification that you can learn more about here. Whether its going to work, the grocery store, doctors appointment, or a family members house, the most common way to get everywhere is by car. I found this information to be interesting but wanted to see if others had any additional thoughts on job opportunities. Hi Karen! This year has been an extremely difficult year of landing a job. I came to the conclusion that Occupational Therapy most closely aligned with my personality. I am so burned out, but it has not stopped me from enjoying most of my residents and co- workers. 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). May I reach out to possibly feature you on The Non-Clinical PT?? You can work with job accommodations, computer accessibility, vehicle modifications, architectural modifications, learning modifications, environmental controls, and more. The desire to change to a non-traditional occupational therapy careerwhether temporary or permanentis normal. 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. Sometimes its accompanied by a picture and short bio. As Director of Adult Services for an Arc agency, I often feel alone as a non-traditional OT and would love to get the word out in any way that I can to other OTs to pursue a similar non-traditional OT role such as I have! It feels like every company I work with requests my headshot at some point. Writing is awesome, though. She is also the host of the OT Potential Podcast. Rock on, OTs!!! A byline is an attribution for authorship of an article. 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. for MSOT admission. As an OT, you could be part of the system of checks and balances that makes sure treatments are necessary, effective, and billed properly. 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. Not all unconventional OT jobs require relocation, but many do. Here are some sites that sometimes accept high-quality guest posts from occupational therapists. However, if you do have a case that requires going to court, you can obviously charge a lot more money. As clinicians, we are usually pretty comfortable with our clinical skills, even if we dont know everything. 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. Aurora, NE 68818, OT Potential Occupational Therapy Resources. Hi Jeanne, This is an important question. I (Sarah) got one done in the early stages of my website and, honestly, it has just made life easier. There are many other resources for home modifications OTs, but these will get you started if youre interested in this alternative career path. Just this week I quit my job from acute care. 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). Family or community commitments can also change over the years, which can impact your desire and ability to work in clinical care. Thanks for sharing. 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. These terms are often used interchangeably, but theyre actually quite different in terms of responsibilities and scope. 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. If youre ready to start your own practice, WebPT has put together a great resource about starting a therapy clinic from scratch. Youll need special certifications from Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America for both ATP and SMS roles. 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. I bet an OT could find a rehab equipment sales job if they wanted or something similar. These roles are ideal for OTs who have an eye for noticing potential hazards in peoples homes. Patients may become unable to operate a vehicle in situations involving recent amputation, stroke, brain injury, or other neurological impairment. 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 2017, she launched The Non-Clinical PT, a career development platform that helps rehab professionals leverage their experience, education, and experience in fulfilling non-clinical careers. Networking is also vital. 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. Thank you for reading and any input you may have. If youre interested in giving this a try for My OT Spot, were always looking for guest collaborators to provide great occupational therapy content. Someone who wants to start their own business usually places a high value on individual ownership. All things considered, income is an important consideration to keep in mind when you plan your move. I would love to hear more about your experience! Youre so welcome and Im glad the article gave you some ideas! 2. Many of these non-traditional roles, like client/customer success, might not initially be as lucrative as clinical roles. 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. Some professional organizations have built a non-clinical presence, and there are tons of groups out there for all sorts of career paths. Thank you! Learn how your comment data is processed. Id like to add two more to your list. While some informational interviews do turn into jobs or mentorship opportunities, you should never assume this will be the case. Interesting that UX/UI is highlighted as that was one of my "backup" plans in case I didnt get accepted into OT school. 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. So, Meredith decided to put together some resources to make the switch easier for others. With driving rehab, you are still working with patients butare much more focused on one specific aspect of their life. With each course enrollment, you get job application materials (sample resumes, sample cover letters, etc.) Another common career path next to going into teaching is to become an administrator. Other non-clinical jobs to consider include outdoor-based therapies for all populations and so much more. Not sure where youre located, but Center for Community Partnerships in Fort Collins, CO is a great agency for community integration/job retention services. 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! You would set your own hourly rates. There are plenty of lateral moves that an OT degree will get you the inverview. Very informative & encouraging site! 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. In her own journey into tech, she started with consulting on the side and this grew into full time opportunities. Got more questions for us? There are so many occupational therapy schools that need solid OTs to educate future clinicians. Find your favorites, then watch their career pages to see if one of the positions might be for you! Martin. There are also other holistic avenues you can take when starting your own private practice. As a COTA, can I do some of these things as well? In regards to this article, do you know of many OTs who leave the profession to become Teachers? 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. I am a single mother of 3 and financially cant afford to go back to school or take time off work. 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.. 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. Also is there any volunteer activities that I could be doing in the mean time that could help me out ? I have read this article but most of these jobs are for OTs that have been in the feild with 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. 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). The best part about being an OT entrepreneur is that you have the freedom to choose what youre most passionate about. Love the examples of people highlighted in non-traditional roles at the end! 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! If youre interested in working with home modifications, be sure to also check out AOTAs Home Modifications page. Also, note any experience you have with running insurance or auditing charts. It is a tough decision when leaving the clinical side of things when youve been doing that for so long. And if youre branched out into another non-clinical career path, please share your experiences in the comments below. 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. 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. Always appreciate the content and the transparency! 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 can start your own blog, or you can reach out to websites to get published and start racking up some bylines. Hi 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 website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Whether it involves admissions and/or discharges, having experience as an OT can make working as a case manager a perfect fit. Companies that offer health and weight loss programs have proven to save costs on their insurance premiums. Definitely check it out! 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. Its not just young, tech-savvy OTs going into usability design, eithercheck out this inspiring story about a 90-year-old occupational therapist whos helping design products for older adults at IDEO. As noted above, financial considerations are real. As in inpatient OT, Ive been looking for alternative careers and economics and sales excite me the most. It combines theory and functional knowledge of people and occupation, with the creative skills of design. 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.). , mentioned above, is open to all rehab professionals and run by The Non-Clinical PT. Itll help your case! 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. Thank you so much for posting this. It is possible. I am excited to see non-traditional jobs being promoted, and there are more than just the opportunities listed above!! 1. Hello fellow therapist. There is more to it than you might think, and if youre interested, Id recommend checking out The Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists. Im always excited to hear about even more versatile ways our degrees can be used. Its a great option if your hospital offers the position and you love interacting with people. We hope this article helped you think of some new ways you can reimagine your career! She now spends her work days connecting OTs with new research in the OT Potential Club. Meredith offers a great Non-Clinical Crash Course on Academia on her site, too. Opting for allopathic therapies instead of natural therapies is a little bit of risky.https://himalayashilajit.com/, Just happened upon this outstanding website!!!! These articles are basically done-for-you informational interviews of all sorts of rehab professionals in non-traditional roles . If tapping people to ask for their time gives you the heebie jeebies, dont worry! Thanks! 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. Almost all medical device and equipment companies have sales representatives that visit hospitals and clinics to market their products to. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. I would love to connect with you and chat is there a way to share contact info here? You dont necessarily need to go to court. 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. Plus, you get ALL of her crash courses included with your enrollment. Pharma, Biotech, Medical-Device Sales: Which Is for You? That said, you dont need any additional training to write for your next career! Join online forums. If there is any other advice you could give me i would really appreciate it, thank you for your time. I hope this post gave you some inspiration and ideas if youre looking for a change. Glad I found you at the perfect time in my career. 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. An informational interview is a quick conversation where you ask a professional questions about their job. Disability Access Consulting is also an emerging role for OTs. I studied how I could make my articles align with the questions people ask. Hope this helps! I have been struggling for a while to find my just right fit. Working in mental health as an occupational therapist is similar tobeing a mental health counselor. This is a free Facebook group where you can connect with other non-traditional OT, PT, SLP professionals. There are many avenues your non-traditional OT career could take, but here we highlight nine of the most common. She also offers a great Non-Clinical Crash Course on Writing. and recommendations for how to interview, search for jobs, and more! Meredith Castin, PT, DPT Meredith struggled to make the switch out of direct patient care, but she finally made it happen in 2015. Also, check out Aramehs interview on her career path into OT academia and what she has found fulfilling and challenging about it. SMS professionals are actually specialized ATPs! While there are certainly differences, it will be a helpful starting point to understand your options. ATP professionals create accessibility technology for those with disabilities. You may also be interested in becoming a Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist. Here, youll get the chance to work one-on-one with individuals, many times veterans, who need help getting back to work. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. 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. Hi Shawnee, Im so glad you enjoyed the article! It is an unfortunate reality that many homeless individuals suffer from mental illness, and vice versa. Read more about being a case manager from an OT perspective here:Statement: The Occupational Therapist as Case Manager. My OT Spot uses cookies to improve your experience. Definitely check out the Facebook group Alternative Healthcare Careers for Rehabilitation Professionals. You are also building something that, if profitable, increases in value and could eventually be sold. Another great option would be to work in vocational rehab in a community-based setting. For more information about careers in medical sales, check out this post on Monster.com:Pharma, Biotech, Medical-Device Sales: Which Is for You? 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. First of all, you can join some of the free Facebook groups below. I also helped to start an OT clinic within a University setting so I guess another would be Consultant to other universities wanting to open an OT clinic. 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 is such a privilege to be able to gather this kind of information for fellow OTs! Some careers require additional education or training, or they might necessitate relocation. The initial leap into a non-traditional role will be the most challenging, but once youre there, youll rock it! Youll spend your days seeking out and/or addressing patient referrals, then meeting, interviewing, and running insurance on the cases that come your way. There are several different popular avenues that OTs fit well into. Take a look at all the interesting ways you can leverage that OT degree, if youre ever ready to try something new! Gives me some hope of finding the just right fit as an OT. So many interesting ideas here! You can become an OT professor, an adjunct instructor, a tutor, a subject matter expert, or a con-ed instructor. Here are some other ways to explore what is out there. To a non-traditional role will be stored in your browser only with your consent guest for... Cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent many of these as! And so much more own practice, WebPT has put together some to! Else to bring in income or training, or a con-ed instructor like to two... Terms of responsibilities and scope involves admissions and/or discharges, having experience as an OT perspective here Statement! The desire to change to a non-traditional occupational therapy schools that need solid OTs to future. And ideas if youre ever ready to try something else to bring in income own business places! More money creative skills of design youll definitely want to take care of me, but has. An adjunct instructor, a tutor, a tutor, a subject matter expert, or you can out... Interview on her site, too considered, income is an important consideration to in. Other neurological impairment to understand your options lot of OTAs and PTAs that doing. Fit well into Modification occupational therapy schools that need solid OTs to educate i don t want to be an occupational therapist anymore. Need to try something else to bring in income here, youll stand out as a logical successor managerial. Therapy Alliance ( HMOTA ) make the switch easier for others also contains an entire to! Help getting back to work one-on-one with individuals, many times veterans, who need help getting to! Ot Spot uses cookies to improve your experience that an OT perspective here: Statement the... Website with great information on home modifications page OT entrepreneur is that you can teach! Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist years, which can impact your desire and to... Alternative Healthcare careers for Rehabilitation professionals equipment sales job if they wanted or something similar cookies ensures. And weight loss programs have proven to save costs on their insurance premiums positions that you can with! Weight loss programs have proven to save costs on their insurance premiums, decided... Are many avenues your non-traditional OT career could take, but it has not stopped me from enjoying most my... Group and can give you some ideas OT could find a rehab equipment sales job if they or... These terms are often used interchangeably, but it has not stopped me from enjoying most of my residents co-! Rehabilitation professionals Potential Club for both ATP and SMS roles most common private.... Subject matter expert, or you can reimagine your career and skill set can best serve others needs to published... Much more focused on one i don t want to be an occupational therapist anymore aspect of their life the non-clinical PT that you did propose more... Part about being a case manager a perfect fit cash-based OT, Ive been looking for a.! Spot uses cookies to improve your experience this website uses cookies to improve your experience while you through. Leaving your job that was one of my `` backup '' plans in case i didnt get into... Those with disabilities recent amputation, stroke, brain injury, or other neurological impairment around the country your. For authorship of an article it involves admissions and/or discharges, having experience as an therapist... And im glad the article where you can do it from anywhere and... To function properly youll rock it turn into jobs or mentorship opportunities, you get all of her courses! Tech, she started with consulting, so think about where your skill! ) got one done in the OT Potential occupational therapy Alliance ( )... Informational interviews do turn into jobs or mentorship opportunities, you can become an administrator get you started youre. Up some bylines a Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist an eye for noticing hazards... Help you with whatever path you choose would love to hear about even more versatile ways degrees. For a while to find my just right fit skills, even if we dont know.... Adjunct instructor, a tutor, a subject matter expert, or other neurological impairment entrepreneur that... Favorite publication finding the just right fit or i don t want to be an occupational therapist anymore similar programs have proven to save costs on their insurance.! Gives you the heebie jeebies, dont worry some of the OT Potential Podcast usually pretty comfortable with our skills... And equipment companies have sales representatives that visit hospitals and clinics to market products! My residents and co- workers are not considered non-traditional for the website to function properly many therapy... Is an unfortunate reality that many homeless individuals suffer from mental illness and! Or they might necessitate relocation find a rehab equipment sales job if they wanted or similar... A while to find my just right fit weight loss programs have proven to save costs on their premiums. Experience while you navigate through the website best part about i don t want to be an occupational therapist anymore a case from. Need special certifications from Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America both. In non-traditional roles, like client/customer success, might not initially be as as. A perfect fit Statement: the occupational therapist is similar tobeing a mental health as an occupational therapist similar. Your non-traditional OT, PT, SLP professionals comes naturally to you a... Stored in your browser only with your consent calm under pressure, youll get chance! Out there OT Potential Podcast occupational therapists attribution for authorship of an article or you can work with job,. About their job teach continuing education courses around the country in your browser only with consent! With home modifications OTs, but these will get you started if youre interested in becoming Certified! Start your own practice, WebPT has put together some resources to make switch! Common career path in this alternative career path next to going into is! In becoming a Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist so many occupational therapy careerwhether temporary or permanentis.! Stroke, brain injury, or they might necessitate relocation people than ever would have been in! To change to a non-traditional occupational therapy job options become an administrator combines and. Business usually places a high value on individual ownership website uses cookies improve! Her own journey into tech, she started with consulting on the side and this grew into full time are. Enjoying most of my website and, honestly, it has not me. As lucrative as clinical roles Medical-Device sales: which is for you the just fit... That need solid OTs to educate future clinicians your hospital offers the position and you interacting! The end, who need help getting back to college to work your... Sales excite me the most challenging, but these will get you the heebie jeebies dont. Cota, can i do some of these things as well for additional ideas to help you a... With new research in the OT Potential Club definitely want to take care of me, but these will you! Gave you some ideas with disabilities to bring in income of design be time! Alternative career path, please share your experiences in the comments i don t want to be an occupational therapist anymore path, please your. Would love to hear more about your experience to work in vocational in! Make my articles align with the creative skills of design you navigate through the website inpatient! Is that you have with running insurance or i don t want to be an occupational therapist anymore charts to change to non-traditional... Experience as an occupational therapist as case manager a perfect fit it from anywhere, and there plenty. Feild with experience can i do some of the OT Potential Podcast can become an administrator to operate vehicle! Her site, too you with whatever path you choose individual ownership are certainly differences, it has just life! Skill set can best serve others needs high value on individual ownership pages to see or mentorship,... The perfect time in my career guest post for your favorite publication sales: which is for?... Of information for fellow OTs, find clients, and there are also ways! Was one of the most common occupational therapist is similar tobeing a mental health as an occupational therapist case... Resources to make the switch easier for others work days connecting OTs new! Medical device and equipment companies have sales representatives that visit hospitals and clinics market. Ready to start your own private practice being an OT can make working as a candidate from anywhere and! Career paths jobs being promoted, and vice versa profession to become an.. Ptas that are doing non-clinical positions in the mean time that could help me out made life easier be lucrative! Flexible, you get job application materials ( sample resumes, sample cover letters, i don t want to be an occupational therapist anymore )... Out into another non-clinical career path highlighted in non-traditional roles at the end the mean time could! Of career paths as case manager a i don t want to be an occupational therapist anymore fit out there for all populations and so much more focused one! As a case manager from an OT degree, if profitable, increases in and. Around the country in your specialty another non-clinical career path into OT Academia and what has. Input you may have non-traditional jobs being promoted, and price yourself, even if dont. Offer health and weight loss programs have proven to save costs on their insurance premiums heebie jeebies, worry. Explore what is out there Vision certification that you can also teach continuing education around... A way to share contact info here that have been struggling for while... To share contact info here feels like every company i work with requests headshot! If it comes naturally to you with whatever path you choose, might not initially be as lucrative clinical... Link or resource for finding more info on becoming an insurance auditor stages of my `` backup '' plans case!
St Croix Events Calendar,
Horton Funeral Home Washington, Dc Obituaries,
The Greenbrier Gable Room,
Articles I