Best Careers 2009: Occupational Therapist

I'm considering a career change

I spent 25 years in the corporate world....am 50 years old...and am interested in OT....the first question is obvious...is it feasible at age 50 to pursue it? If, for example, I pursued a masters in OT.......how long would it take if I went to school full time? I have a BA in business, but that goes back to the 80's......I've done a lot of research and soul searching...and OT sounds like exactly what I'm looking for...realistically, with kids in college and other financial obligations, I'd need to go back to school part time and take as many courses online as possible (if that's even possible) to make it work for me...so we're talking many years.....any thoughts?

Tim of IL @ Oct 31, 2009 11:12:15 AM

A proud OTR

I have been an OTR for 15 years. I remember having conflicts with my professor's viewpoints and I got through by thinking that I would do my own thing once I was finished. This is the same with any inclusive program. I started in the PT program and hated it for its negativity. Then I was so glad to transfer to OT. Please, have faith. There is life after school. I promise!!! And I love being an OTR. Take care.

V of TX @ Oct 30, 2009 20:35:36 PM

Han of MO

don't get discouraged it's worth it...

i'm presently being help by therapist for a shoulder injury.

and the people i have met are great ... and always upbeat.

something you have to have when your dealing with hurt people.

So do your best with the classes .... cuz people in pain aren't happy people.

They need to see a smile when ur helping them.

david b of IL @ Oct 30, 2009 20:14:53 PM

I am an OT

I am an OT. For the most part I have found it to be a rewarding career. I make a difference in people's lives. I had one man tell me I was one of the most important people in his life. He was able to go home and lead a productive life (after being told he would need to live in a nursing home the rest of his life). With the exception of one short period, I have found the demand for the job to be high a resulting good salary.

School was not always fun (especially since I had to quit work to do it), but I have not regretted it once since then. OT is a varied field with lots of different areas in which you can work. I think it's a good field, but do your research INCLUDING talk to several OT's and even observe them if you can. This will help you to see if you think it's a good field for you. Be sure to check out several areas (hospital, skilled nursing facility, schools, outpatient) so that you don't eliminate OT as a field based on one observation. For example, you will work on toileting in a skilled nursing facility, but not so much (if at all) at a school.

Good luck.

Kathy of AZ @ Oct 30, 2009 18:51:52 PM

ahhhh

I am in OT school currently and absolutely hate it! Please help! Any answers...is every program extremely disorganized?? The material is not difficult...the progam just sucks!!! Sorry to be so negative! I really want to be an OT, but lately I can't stand it! I hate that this program has done this to me. I know it's impossible to transfer...will I have to just start over?

han of MO @ Oct 27, 2009 02:14:06 AM

Thinking of Becoming an OT

Hi Everyone.

I used to be an elem. art teacher and love working with kids. I left my job when my older son ( i have 2 kids, 5, 16 months) was born with c.p. it's been a hard road. i initially thought i wanted to go back to school to become a doctor, but realized it's too time consuming and my family is my priority, then I thought a p.a. would be good, but the 12 hours shifts??? and now I have come to the idea of ot.

i am a creative person, love kids, have a lot of empathy for those that are disabled or not "typical" i need a career with a flexible schedule and envision a smll private practice where kids come to see me - is that feasable? how hard is it to set up a private practice?

Susie of NY @ Oct 23, 2009 15:10:17 PM

should i start a career in OT?

I really like to help people and want to go somewhere in the medical field? Do you think OT is the best thing for me? I was thinking about doing OT but wasnt sure if I would be able to do it. Can you help me please, thanks!

Amanda S. of NY @ Oct 20, 2009 18:12:20 PM

OT

Amy: OT offers many opportunities for creativity. With its broad perspective reaching many populations there is a wide client base and many ways to be creative. OT education really promotes creative practice specific to the client. The challenge in the real world is finding/making time for it, due to production expectations and documentation time. Despite these challenges, I love what I do, and find ways to be creative in a timely manner.

A Masters degree is required.

Mika: OT works closely with nursing, and can be directly involved in wound care, and pain management, for example. But, we have more autonomy in client care, and how we choose to practice, than nurses. (...at least in a SNF setting. Having never been a nurse, I probably don't have a full sense of the scope of nursing.) There is OT overlap in some other fields as well, so there are many niches a person could fill being an OT.

J, MSOT of VA @ Oct 08, 2009 16:59:06 PM