For many individuals, an Occupational Therapist (OT) is the job of choice due to the rewarding nature of the work. An OT is a healthcare professional who assists patients with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities to help them reach their full potential. Although many OTs are satisfied with their chosen career path, some individuals may want to explore alternative jobs in the healthcare field. This blog post will provide an overview of some of the top alternative jobs for those who are interested in becoming an OT but want to explore other options. With the right education, skills, and experience, these alternative jobs can be just as rewarding and provide many of the same benefits that OTs enjoy. We’ll explore these occupational therapy alternatives, discuss the educational requirements, and look at the job outlook for each position.
What is an occupational therapist?
Patients who require assistance with daily tasks due to disabilities, chronic illnesses, or injuries are treated by occupational therapists. Occupational therapists can assess patients to determine the types of therapy they might require, develop treatment plans for patients, and assist patients with therapy-related tasks and exercises. Additionally, an occupational therapist monitors their patients’ development to make sure their therapy is successful and revises the course of treatment as necessary. Although many opt to start their own occupational therapy businesses, the majority of occupational therapists work in rehabilitation centers or therapy offices.
10 alternative jobs for occupational therapists
The following are 10 positions that occupational therapists can pursue in addition to occupational therapy:
Primary responsibilities: A rehabilitation technician assists an occupational or physical therapist in carrying out their duties. This may entail setting up areas with the required tools, keeping the equipment and spaces clean by disinfecting and organizing after each use, and assisting therapists in determining the needs of patients. Additionally, patients can speak with a rehabilitation technician before and after their treatment to make sure they’re comfortable and to answer any questions they might have.
A case manager’s main responsibilities include assisting patients with physical or mental conditions in finding the best care options. Case managers can consult with clients to learn about their needs, interact with healthcare professionals and facilities to place patients in care, and inform clients about various treatment options, such as occupational therapy or physical therapy. In order to promote and provide care to patients in underserved communities, a case manager may also collaborate with service organizations.
A technical writer’s main responsibilities include writing about complex technical topics to make the information more understandable to general audiences. Technical writers with occupational therapy backgrounds may write training manuals or reference materials for occupational therapists to use in appointments, write informational pamphlets that can be distributed at occupational therapy offices, collaborate with other experts in the field to ensure they present accurate information, and write training manuals or reference materials. Before documents are published, a technical writer can review and edit the work of other technical writers to improve quality and ensure accuracy.
A vocational rehabilitation counselor’s main responsibilities include assisting clients with disabilities and conditions from previous employment in finding new employment. This may entail having one-on-one meetings with clients to discuss and evaluate their unique needs, figuring out whether they are ready to return to the workforce, and developing job plans for clients who are prepared to look for a new position. Counselors for vocational rehabilitation can assist clients in locating educational opportunities that will help them develop new abilities and knowledge.
Primary responsibilities: A teacher is someone who imparts knowledge to others about a subject or field of study. Teachers of occupational therapy can create lesson plans about advanced occupational therapy concepts, respond to inquiries from students interested in the profession, and teach occupational therapy courses to inform aspiring occupational therapists about the career. An occupational therapy-focused educator may hold positions as a professor at a college or university or as a clinical or training instructor in a medical setting.
The manager of a healthcare organization who can oversee an entire facility or a single department is known as a health administrator. Health administrators can hire new employees for the departments they oversee, ensure that all personnel adhere to health laws and regulations, and write funding proposals for facilities. Additionally, a health administrator may consult with management officials and investors to discuss ways to enhance a facility’s performance.
Primary responsibilities: A consultant is a specialist in a particular field who provides advice to companies looking to improve their operations. A consultant in occupational therapy can go to rehabilitation facilities and observe how they operate to identify areas that could use improvement, come up with innovative solutions to problems that arise there, and offer suggestions for how a facility can streamline its processes. Many consultants are independent contractors, allowing them to run their own consulting firm and be their own boss.
Primary responsibilities: A clinical liaison is a therapist who assists in placing patients in the appropriate rehabilitation facilities. Clinical liaisons can assess new patients to determine the type of therapy they might require, prepare paperwork for patients just entering a rehabilitation facility, and conduct community outreach to promote their services and attract more patients. Most clinical liaisons are employed by acute rehab units in inpatient rehabilitation facilities.
A recruiter’s main responsibilities are to locate qualified applicants to fill open positions. Recruiters can look for candidates they believe might be a good fit for a particular job opening, get in touch with them to invite them to apply, and conduct interviews with potential candidates to see if they’re a good fit. Additionally, many recruiters are authorized to make job offers to applicants and negotiate terms of employment, including pay, benefits, and scheduling
A director of rehabilitation oversees the daily operations of a rehab facility or department as one of their main responsibilities. In order to ensure that staff members can provide patients with high-quality therapy, rehabilitation department directors typically evaluate staff performance, monitor productivity, and coordinate services with other rehabilitation departments or medical facilities when patients require specialized care. Additionally, a director of rehabilitation may handle business-related duties like keeping records and creating budgets.
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FAQ
What else can I do as an occupational therapist?
- Start Your Own OT Practice. …
- Independent Contractor. …
- Assistive Technology Consultant. …
- Ergonomic Consultant. …
- Home/Workplace Modifications Consultant. …
- Driver Rehabilitation and Training Consultant. …
- School Consultant. …
- Product Development Consultant.
What is similar to OT?
- Athletic Trainers.
- Physical Therapists.
- Recreational Therapists.
- Social and Human Service Assistants.
- Social Workers.
- Occupational Therapist Assistants.
- Orthotic and Prosthetic Specialists.
- Speech Pathologists and Audiologists.
How can an OT make more money?
- Pick up PRN shifts. Check with local facilities (e. g. schools, skilled nursing facilities, private clinics, home health agencies, etc. ) .
- Join the telehealth movement. …
- Become an occupational therapy consultant. …
- Provide home safety services. …
- Become an OT educator.
Are occupational therapists happy with their jobs?
As it turns out, occupational therapists rate their satisfaction with their career at 2. 9 out of 5 stars which puts them in the bottom 27% of careers
