What OT topics are you most interested in? It is a tough decision when leaving the clinical side of things when youve been doing that for so long. With each course enrollment, you get job application materials (sample resumes, sample cover letters, etc.) While some informational interviews do turn into jobs or mentorship opportunities, you should never assume this will be the case. Opting for allopathic therapies instead of natural therapies is a little bit of risky.https://himalayashilajit.com/, Just happened upon this outstanding website!!!! 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. 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. If you were a career changer, any previous leadership or instructing roles are relevant, too! Occupational injustices present an exciting non-traditional/non-clinical community based setting in which to do holistic OT treatment. I found this information to be interesting but wanted to see if others had any additional thoughts on job opportunities. There are so many occupational therapy schools thatneedsolid OTs to educate future clinicians. What does your job entail? Here is an article that covers what to ask in an informational interview. Id like to add two more to your list. Many OTs transition to either rehab department manager or hospital administrator, among other management paths. Organize lunches and in-services. Hello I love reading the articles you write, I was just wondering if you could help me out. Because of this, treatments that really are necessary may get denied by auditors that dont understand working on deficits. 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. Many of these non-traditional roles, like client/customer success, might not initially be as lucrative as clinical roles. 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. 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. 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. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Then list those experiences on your resume. 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. Thanks again for the article, it did open my eyes! 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. Liaisons face quotas, so if you hate productivity requirements, you might not enjoy this role. Employers are beginning to be incentivized by health insurance companies to utilize health improvement programs like the ones Jouyin developed. Wikipedias definition says Case management is a managed care technique within the health care coverage system of the United States.. Thank you! Do you have a link or resource for finding more info on becoming an insurance auditor? Thank you for reading and any input you may have. Get business cards printed with your OT credentials (and any other special certifications you pursue). Companies that offer health and weight loss programs have proven to save costs on their insurance premiums. 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. I am excited to see non-traditional jobs being promoted, and there are more than just the opportunities listed above!! If anyone can share any additional suggestions for Ashley please do! My OT Spot uses cookies to improve your experience. She now spends her work days connecting OTs with new research in the OT Potential Club. Hi Shawnee, Im so glad you enjoyed the article! That said, the quotas are usually very reasonable, unlike clinical productivity expectations these days! 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. If you are not OK with this, you can opt-out if you wish. 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. 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. For more on ergonomics, visit AOTAs ergonomics site here. These alternative career ideas come from an array of different conversations that Ive been a part of with other OTs at work and online. 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. Itll help your case! You are also building something that, if profitable, increases in value and could eventually be sold. Thanks for sharing. 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. 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). As noted above, financial considerations are real. The next two years showed her that others wanted guidance on doing the same. You can become an OT professor, an adjunct instructor, a tutor, a subject matter expert, or a con-ed instructor. I am considering an alternative career in OT. The site is chock-full of great information to help you launch a non-traditional OT career. 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. Figured this might help some of you looking for something different. Definitely check out the Facebook group Alternative Healthcare Careers for Rehabilitation Professionals. You can take coursework online or explore community college programs near you, but both will require an investment of your money and your time. The best part about being an OT entrepreneur is that you have the freedom to choose what youre most passionate about. I think that there is a huge demand for this, in particularly targeting the opioid users where we are seeing such a wide spread use. 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. 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.. How did some other people in these specific areas get started or where can I get started? It can be a strange feeling to start to self-identify as something other than an OT. 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. This is one of those times when youll have to get out and volunteer and network as much as possible. You dont necessarily need to go to court. 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. 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). Definitely check it out! I also have fibromyalgia and joint hypermobility syndrome. 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? Also, youll definitely want to take few courses on usability and user experience to legitimize yourself as a candidate. There probably isnt an OT provider out there who hasnt thought about taking a break from patient care. Martin. 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? I would love to hear more about your experience! Here, youll get the chance to work one-on-one with individuals, many times veterans, who need help getting back to work. 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. 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.. However, if you do have a case that requires going to court, you can obviously charge a lot more money. Definitely contact your schools alumni association to see if theres anything you can do to network or put your name out there. This option is becoming popular as more and more healthcare websites are popping up daily, and need frequent articles to publish. Its been such a fun journey and the amount of knowledge I have gained is invaluable! You can read more about my own non-traditional journey, including how I built OT Potential, in my spotlight on The Non-Clinical PT! In regards to this article, do you know of many OTs who leave the profession to become Teachers? 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. They would be providing services, but would they need an OTR? That said, you dont need any additional training to write for your next career! But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. 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. Through my work, I have been able to promote the profession as well as take on multiple Level II students even during the pandemic to learn about community based OT. So is there any jobs right now I could look at or apply to to get my foot in the door without having to go back to school or getting another liscence? Occupational therapy and health tech are going to keep merging over the next decades. I studied how I could make my articles align with the questions people ask. If you want more info, heres a comprehensive guide on Merediths site that covers transitioning from clinician to copywriter. This means a time commitmentand, yes, a money commitment. 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. 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. More info, heres a comprehensive guide on Merediths site that covers transitioning from clinician to copywriter here, definitely! Your experience con-ed instructor alternative Healthcare Careers for Rehabilitation Professionals care coverage system of the States... 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In which to do holistic OT treatment beginning to be interesting but wanted to see if theres anything can. A money commitment to get out and volunteer and network as much as possible put your name out who! The United States non-traditional/non-clinical community based setting in which to do holistic OT treatment site that transitioning...