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. If youre interested in working with home modifications, be sure to also check out AOTAs Home Modifications page. Thanks again for the article, it did open my eyes! Explore different options/gain experience before leaving your day job, 8 specific non-traditional OT jobs you can look into, Non-Clinical Jobs and Networking for PT/OT/SLP Professionals, Non-Clinical 101: The Complete Guide to Launching Your Non-Clinical Career (Save $75), You can read more about my own non-traditional journey, including how I built OT Potential, in my spotlight, Here are some sites that sometimes accept high-quality guest posts from occupational therapists, interview on her career path into OT academia, becoming a rehab liaison (or clinical liaison), this inspiring story about a 90-year-old occupational therapist, UX Design and User Experience Design for Beginners, Become a UX Designer Learn the Skills and Get the Job, Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America. Also, check out Aramehs interview on her career path into OT academia and what she has found fulfilling and challenging about it. 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). Rock on, OTs!!! What would be most helpful for you? 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. 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. Theyre an excellent introduction into the world of startups, not to mention a great networking opportunity! 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. This is especially true for any home health OTs who have so much first-hand experience. If youre making a sudden jump to a non-traditional role, be aware that you might have a gap in pay while you return to school, job hunt, etc. If you want more info, heres a comprehensive guide on Merediths site that covers transitioning from clinician to copywriter. It is possible. And, honestly, we need more OTs thinking about non-traditional ways that we can serve our clients. For me (Sarah), my hobby of writing an OT blog became a career when I switched my mindset. 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. For example, if you are the Inpatient Rehab manager, you are responsible for the work of all PTs, OTs, and SLPs in that department. I graduated as an Occupational Therapist and am now working as a surgical neurophysiologist. I am excited to see non-traditional jobs being promoted, and there are more than just the opportunities listed above!! Its flexible, you can do it from anywhere, and its really easy and fun if it comes naturally to you. I know that this pretty much eliminates most of the jobs available. If you love patient care, but hate the physical and emotional toll it takes, definitely look into becoming a rehab liaison (or clinical liaison). I am interested to know if many OTs have considered Special Education Teaching or pursued it as career changers. Hi Martin, thanks for your 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. 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 graduated with a masters in occupational therapy however I have taken the board exam and have been unsuccessful after several attempts. Organize lunches and in-services. 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. For the purposes of this article, non-traditional refers to anything outside of conventional hands-on patient care roles. It is such a privilege to be able to gather this kind of information for fellow OTs! This is such an excellent pointits so important to hone in on what fits best with you, your life, and your individual needs/interests. Many of these non-traditional roles, like client/customer success, might not initially be as lucrative as clinical roles. 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. Thank you! For more on ergonomics, visit AOTAs ergonomics site here. 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. The best part about being an OT entrepreneur is that you have the freedom to choose what youre most passionate about. I hope this post gave you some inspiration and ideas if youre looking for a change. There are also other holistic avenues you can take when starting your own private practice. Hi Shawnee, Im so glad you enjoyed the article! 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! Some people think they want to leave patient care, but they really want to escape bad managers, shady corporations, or unrealistic productivity expectations. Use it on your LinkedIn page, in your bylines, and for your online profile in professional networking groups. 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. When youre a staff OT, ask to help out in as many unique and unconventional ways as possible. We hope this article helped you think of some new ways you can reimagine your career! Youll need special certifications from Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America for both ATP and SMS roles. Leave them in the comments! ATP professionals create accessibility technology for those with disabilities. These are low-cost courses designed to help you pursue specific career paths in the non-clinical world. If there is anything that I can do here on this website or collaborate with evidenced based research or any type of publication to get this good word out, please do let me know!!! Youll also need to take exams to get certified. If youre ready to start your own practice, WebPT has put together a great resource about starting a therapy clinic from scratch. 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. 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. Seeing is believing, and these occupational therapists have successfully transitioned into non-clinical roles! 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. I bet an OT could find a rehab equipment sales job if they wanted or something similar. More information can be found on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Companies that offer health and weight loss programs have proven to save costs on their insurance premiums. Gives me some hope of finding the just right fit as an OT. Patients may become unable to operate a vehicle in situations involving recent amputation, stroke, brain injury, or other neurological impairment. Its been such a fun journey and the amount of knowledge I have gained is invaluable! Meredith offers a great Non-Clinical Crash Course on Academia on her site, too. The course comes with tons of resume downloads, interview prep materials, self-assessment activities, and early access to non-clinical jobs. 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. The desire to change to a non-traditional occupational therapy careerwhether temporary or permanentis normal. This article walks you through the self assessment of your situation and showcases OTs who work in non-traditional jobs. Get business cards printed with your OT credentials (and any other special certifications you pursue). This post was originally published May 30th, 2017 and updated on February 29, 2020. 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. 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. There probably isnt an OT provider out there who hasnt thought about taking a break from patient care. Also, youll definitely want to take few courses on usability and user experience to legitimize yourself as a candidate. I do see the awesome challenge to see where a COTA might fit into some of those roles. 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. 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. 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. If going back to college to work isnt your thing, you can also teach continuing education courses around the country in your specialty. Given the number of paths you can take within education, theres really no one set path to get there. When you show that you can stay calm under pressure, youll stand out as a logical successor for managerial roles that open. However, being an occupational therapist, we are able to effectively decipher other therapists notes and determine the necessity of the treatments being billed. Here are some other ways to explore what is out there. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Address If so how/ where shall I begin..? 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. our interview with Kaia Health Product Manager, Winnie Tsui, OTL, CHT, MBA. I am considering an alternative career in OT. There are tons of software and tech companies that need help with usability. First-Hand experience Sarah ), my hobby of writing an OT provider there. For me ( Sarah ), my hobby of writing an OT entrepreneur that... Downloads, interview prep materials, self-assessment activities, and its really easy and fun if comes! A change you need to be a bit more strategic about pursuing such jobs, at least compared clinical... 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