Educator. Attend mixers with local home builders, contractors, and corporate development firms. But it can be humbling to be the new kid at a company while using a brand-new skill set. Sarah Lyon has also put together an article titled Resources to Start (and Grow) Your Occupational Therapy Businessfor some additional insight and inspiration. I came to the conclusion that Occupational Therapy most closely aligned with my personality. Here is an article that covers what to ask in an informational interview. The best part about being an OT entrepreneur is that you have the freedom to choose what youre most passionate about. There are many other resources for home modifications OTs, but these will get you started if youre interested in this alternative career path. There are so many occupational therapy schools that need solid OTs to educate future clinicians. 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! 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! Your first byline is most difficult to attain. 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. Youre so welcome and Im glad the article gave you some ideas! Opting for allopathic therapies instead of natural therapies is a little bit of risky.https://himalayashilajit.com/, Just happened upon this outstanding website!!!! Youll spend your days scrutinizing environments, then making recommendations to ensure they are free from hazards and have injury prevention measures in place. Not sure where youre located, but Center for Community Partnerships in Fort Collins, CO is a great agency for community integration/job retention services. 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). OT has so much potential and I encourage all practitioners out there to follow their passion and use their skills to enable the potential of any population in any setting who needs increased holistic health:). 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. 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. Is there anything stopping a COTA from going into business or private practice on their own? According to AOTAs article about low vision: Many older adults experience age-related vision changes that cant be corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or surgery. This means a time commitmentand, yes, a money commitment. Hi 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? Someone who wants to start their own business usually places a high value on individual ownership. A perfect match for me!Tanisha Cowell. So, Meredith decided to put together some resources to make the switch easier for others. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Figured this might help some of you looking for something different. These alternative career ideas come from an array of different conversations that Ive been a part of with other OTs at work and online. The first thing youll need as a writer is to get published online. What does your job entail? 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. While sales might be somewhat high stress, it can definitely be an interesting change-up to traditional patient care. I found this information to be interesting but wanted to see if others had any additional thoughts on job opportunities. We hope this article helped you think of some new ways you can reimagine your career! Your email address will not be published. All the allopathic therapies leave some side effects on the patients care. Love the examples of people highlighted in non-traditional roles at the end! 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. I am attempting to research other careers I may fit into but not much success. I would love to connect with you and chat is there a way to share contact info here? Writing is awesome, though. Hello fellow therapist. I appreciate this post. Im always learning about new avenues from this group, so be sure to join if youre interested in making a switch. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Thank yall. 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 graduated with a masters in occupational therapy however I have taken the board exam and have been unsuccessful after several attempts. Also, if youre still interested, you could try contacting insurance companies near you to inquire more about requirements and training. With two teen girls heading towards college, I wouldnt dream of going back to school myself. Then, when you apply for the rehab liaison roles, play up your connections big timeyoull need them! There are also plenty of in-person events out there. It has templates for your CV, resume, and cover letter, and it provides guidance on the interview and presentation parts of landing a role. Heres where working with a career coach or career counselor can be very helpful. In fact, I think many of these positions would work well for COTAs with experience. This is such an important aspect to occupational therapy overall and in keeping our profession accountable and responsible now and into the future. 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. For other mental health settings to look into, check out this post covering a variety of areas to work in: Occupational Therapy in Mental Health: An Overview of 6 Typical Settings Best of luck in your job search! This article walks you through the self assessment of your situation and showcases OTs who work in non-traditional jobs. If theres anywhere else, where we can see a directory of people doing non-traditional work, that would be really interesting to see! Family or community commitments can also change over the years, which can impact your desire and ability to work in clinical care. While some informational interviews do turn into jobs or mentorship opportunities, you should never assume this will be the case. 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)! Meredith, one of the authors of this article, is the founder of The Non-Clinical PT. 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).. Aurora, NE 68818, OT Potential Occupational Therapy Resources. How did some other people in these specific areas get started or where can I get started? There are also other holistic avenues you can take when starting your own private practice. It looks like there isnt a ton of information doing a Google search, but I did find this article to be helpful: How to Become an Insurance Auditor 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. That said, the quotas are usually very reasonable, unlike clinical productivity expectations these days! It is such a privilege to be able to gather this kind of information for fellow OTs! While there are certainly differences, it will be a helpful starting point to understand your options. The site is chock-full of great information to help you launch a non-traditional OT career. I think that many of these non-traditional career paths can be done as a COTA, especially creating a business and consulting. They provide pathways to non-traditional career opportunities for all rehab professionals, including PTs, OTs, SLPs, and assistants. Any career transition requires self-discipline and time. If tapping people to ask for their time gives you the heebie jeebies, dont worry! To get started, Upwork is a great platform that most businesses hire their writers from. 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. These are low-cost courses designed to help you pursue specific career paths in the non-clinical world. You can also look outside the rehab world and join groups geared toward the career path(s) of your choice. Thank you! If youre going in this direction, check out Home Modification OT Alliance! Usability is what we know as OTs! 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 are many avenues your non-traditional OT career could take, but here we highlight nine of the most common. 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. Here are some other ways to explore what is out there. Youll also need to take exams to get certified. There are so many occupational therapy schools thatneedsolid OTs to educate future clinicians. You may remember studying this briefly for the NBCOT. Ive noticed a number of people with years of experience in OT on here.im looking to switch my major and getting a Masters in OT.can I please get a few inputs on that field. May I reach out to possibly feature you on The Non-Clinical PT?? Liaisons face quotas, so if you hate productivity requirements, you might not enjoy this role. It is possible. Way to open this conversation and look forward to keeping in touch. Do you see COTAs being valuable in such a position? This course covers the difference between health and medical writing, and it has resume and cover letter templates, as well as interview practice questions and advice. Its a great option if your hospital offers the position and you love interacting with people. OTs can be trained in and administer cognitive behavioral therapy to populations in need. Hi Karen! The good news is that those jobs are certainly out there! 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? 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. Much thanks Gives me some hope of finding the just right fit as an OT. Thank you! 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. I have 32 yrs experience as an OTR, mainly inpatient rehab, and acute care. Here are a few inexpensive courses you can take to kick-start your path to UE/UI roles! Areas of focus include office ergonomics, production ergonomics, musculo-skeletal injury prevention, general health and wellness promotion. You are also building something that, if profitable, increases in value and could eventually be sold. Definitely check it out! You would set your own hourly rates. I have read this article but most of these jobs are for OTs that have been in the feild with experience. Other non-clinical jobs to consider include outdoor-based therapies for all populations and so much more. If anyone can share any additional suggestions for Ashley please do! Youll need special certifications from Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America for both ATP and SMS roles. You may also be interested in becoming a Certified Ergonomics Assessment Specialist. On this path, the short term satisfaction of getting a steady paycheck with predictable hours is foregone for the long-term prospect of being the owner of a successful and valuable practice. Thank you so much for posting this. Another common career path next to going into teaching is to become an administrator. 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. The desire to change to a non-traditional occupational therapy careerwhether temporary or permanentis normal. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Also, check out Aramehs interview on her career path into OT academia and what she has found fulfilling and challenging about it. Disability Access Consulting is also an emerging role for OTs. 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. Thank you that means a lot! Thank you for your great article. Thanks again for sharing! 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. Very informative & encouraging site! 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. For years, I have worked as an Instructional Assistant in a classroom with students who have moderate/severe disabilities. Seeing is believing, and these occupational therapists have successfully transitioned into non-clinical roles! Theyre an excellent introduction into the world of startups, not to mention a great networking opportunity! You can start your own blog, or you can reach out to websites to get published and start racking up some bylines. For your own journey into health tech, weve made this post of influential health tech companies for you to look into. 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. Here, youll get the chance to work one-on-one with individuals, many times veterans, who need help getting back to work. I have volunteered and shadowed, finished my pre-req.s, etc. We definitely have a great field with tons of possibilities even as we come to later stages of our career. Here are some sites that sometimes accept high-quality guest posts from occupational therapists. A career coach keeps you on track and working toward your goals, while a career counselor will work with you to address underlying fears, roadblocks, and challenges that prevent you from making moves professionally. I wanted to share my recent discovery of another area we can utilize our OT expertise. When you show that you can stay calm under pressure, youll stand out as a logical successor for managerial roles that open. And, honestly, we need more OTs thinking about non-traditional ways that we can serve our clients. If you want more info, heres a comprehensive guide on Merediths site that covers transitioning from clinician to copywriter. These cookies do not store any personal information. AOTA offers a Low Vision certification that you can learn more about here. There may be some small businesses in your area that focus on this specialty which you may be interested in working for or partnering with. 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. If youre interested in giving this a try for My OT Spot, were always looking for guest collaborators to provide great occupational therapy content. For example, some cases are more about chart reviews and writing your expert opinion based on what youve read. The documentation, stress, productivity and inconsistency between supervisors were factored into my decision. These types of positions may be a bit harder to come by, but are definitely worth looking into if youre interested in health promotion. Youre going to need to network as much as possible. Thanks, Geraldine for these great suggestions! I regret not going back to school for my OTR, but I have to move forward. Go to usability meetups. 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. For more on ergonomics, visit AOTAs ergonomics site here. 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. If youre ready to start your own practice, WebPT has put together a great resource about starting a therapy clinic from scratch. Find your favorites, then watch their career pages to see if one of the positions might be for you! Thanks again for the article, it did open my eyes! 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. Many OTs transition to either rehab department manager or hospital administrator, among other management paths. 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. A headshot is an easy way to start establishing your personal brand. Id like to add two more to your list. I am considering an alternative career in OT. 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. For more information about careers in medical sales, check out this post on Monster.com:Pharma, Biotech, Medical-Device Sales: Which Is for You? 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. My OT Spot uses cookies to improve your 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. 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. She also offers a great Non-Clinical Crash Course on Writing. There are plenty of lateral moves that an OT degree will get you the inverview. Writing is awesome, though. Companies that offer health and weight loss programs have proven to save costs on their insurance premiums. 1. If you have big ideas, energy, a passion for creating something from nothing, and you have the drive to creatively bring value to the world, you might have what it takes to start and grow your own OT business. Meredith has a huge list of non-clinical career spotlights on her site. You can work with job accommodations, computer accessibility, vehicle modifications, architectural modifications, learning modifications, environmental controls, and more. This of course will require more direct hands-on experience, so it may not be not for everyone. We can also move into roles where we consult with practices to help them improve their billing and workflow practices. . These roles are ideal for OTs who have an eye for noticing potential hazards in peoples homes. I hope this post gave you some inspiration and ideas if youre looking for a change. 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 studied how I could make my articles align with the questions people ask. A career change can affect more than just you. 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. For those with a considerable amount of experience in a particular OT area ( ex. This is one of those times when youll have to get out and volunteer and network as much as possible. Email me at Sarah@myotspot.com for more information , First, what is a case manager? Another great option would be to work in vocational rehab in a community-based setting. Required fields are marked *. 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. Non-Clinical 101 also contains an entire lesson to help you learn how to identify your marketable skills, find clients, and price yourself. This route may also fall into the category of Business Owner/Entrepreneur as you can certainly start your own Home Modifications business. Patients may become unable to operate a vehicle in situations involving recent amputation, stroke, brain injury, or other neurological impairment. Nice! rehabilitation ) you can also look into being an expert witness. 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. Meredith Castin, PT, DPT Meredith struggled to make the switch out of direct patient care, but she finally made it happen in 2015. I also have fibromyalgia and joint hypermobility syndrome. Many times, insurance and Medicare auditors dont really understand the interventions were providing. There are some clinics that focus solely on occupational therapy, and these are typically in the pediatric and hand-therapy disciplines. Any suggestions? If youre interested in working with home modifications, be sure to also check out AOTAs Home Modifications page. The rules of thumb are to keep these calls quick, only ask questions about people youre interviewing, and send a thank-you note afterward. 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. There are tons of software and tech companies that need help with usability. If you enjoy working with new people all the time, you might really enjoy a job in home modification (also known as home safety). Not all unconventional OT jobs require relocation, but many do. Im always excited to hear about even more versatile ways our degrees can be used. I am excited to see non-traditional jobs being promoted, and there are more than just the opportunities listed above!! 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? If youre interested in technology and the advancing future applications, this may be something to think about pursuing long-term as well. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. One of the most important independent activities of daily living is being able to get yourself from point A to point B. Hi Shawnee, Im so glad you enjoyed the article! If so how/ where shall I begin..? There are people doing it. However, if you do have a case that requires going to court, you can obviously charge a lot more money. Join online forums. Martin. If they work as a cash business, not getting paid through insurance. Thank you, Andy! Plus, you get ALL of her crash courses included with your enrollment. This is not always the case, though; sales roles often pay much more than clinical roles do from day one! . So I was trying to see if I would fit in any other career with my associates degree. Itll help your case! Loved this article. In her own journey into tech, she started with consulting on the side and this grew into full time opportunities. 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. Got more questions for us? 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. Almost all medical device and equipment companies have sales representatives that visit hospitals and clinics to market their products to. 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. , mentioned above, is open to all rehab professionals and run by The Non-Clinical PT. These roles are great when theyre great, but if youre not a manager typeor if you want to avoid getting sucked back into patient care from time to timeyou might wind up miserable in management. Leave them in the comments! I am a COTA/L in NC with over 22 years of experience mainly in pediatrics. Resources to Start (and Grow) Your Occupational Therapy Business, Paige Hays, OTR/L of Beyond Accessibility, Maria Lindbergh, OTR/L of Stay At Home Solutions, Home Modification Occupational Therapy Alliance (HMOTA). OTs are perfect for becoming Assistive Technology Professionals since we use it regularly with our patients, whether its low tech or high techassistive technology. It can be a strange feeling to start to self-identify as something other than an OT. You might want to check with your states individual regulations just to be sure. There are several different popular avenues that OTs fit well into. It is an unfortunate reality that many homeless individuals suffer from mental illness, and vice versa. Many of these non-traditional roles, like client/customer success, might not initially be as lucrative as clinical roles. For the purposes of this article, non-traditional refers to anything outside of conventional hands-on patient care roles. More information can be found on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Thanks for the great article . You can take coursework online or explore community college programs near you, but both will require an investment of your money and your time. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Address Some professional organizations have built a non-clinical presence, and there are tons of groups out there for all sorts of career paths. I have been struggling for a while to find my just right fit. 1109 12th Street Ste 3 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.