Occupational therapy?!
Question: I'm considering becoming an occupational therapist. my aunt says its a really good deal- you make good money and sometimes you only have to work a few days a week. Plus I want to do something in the medical field. Anyone who is or knows an occupational therapist want to comment on this?
Answers: I'm considering becoming an occupational therapist. my aunt says its a really good deal- you make good money and sometimes you only have to work a few days a week. Plus I want to do something in the medical field. Anyone who is or knows an occupational therapist want to comment on this?
OT is a good field to go into - especially if you want flexibility in a career. A Master's degree is required, so be willing to devote 5 years of college work to get the degree. I am an OT and I work at a rehab hospital on the days they need coverage (typically the rehab director lets me know the days they need coverage and if I can do it, I do, if not, then no big deal). I make $45/hour there. I also do 15 - 20 visits at the home health agency I work for. I get $65 a treatment and $75 for an evalulation. My visits typically last 45 minutes, plus I get 50 cent a mile. I set my schedule - so if I want to work 3 days, I schedule 5 - 6 patients a day and if I want short days, I schedule 5 half days. If you want more info about the field or what schools offer OT, go to www.aota.org
Good luck!
I work as accounting/payroll (I have 2 business degrees)manager in the medical field, we employ lots of physical therapists and occupational therapists. If I had it to do over again thats the field I would go into. It would be a good career choice.
I am an RN, but if I had to do it over again, I think I would have been an OT or a Speech pathologist. My teenage son is also thinking about a career as an OT.
An OT is a masters degree program (that's a fairly new requirement) so you will need to complete a bachelor's degree then apply to an occupational therapy school.
An OT does a lot with hand/upper body strength and coordination. They also do a lot of work with cognition and helping people become independent in their activities of daily living. They do some pretty amazing stuff, without working the holidays.. or the nights... or taking call...
Good luck!
ETA: jujoit, you make HOW much for home health visits?! I SHOULD go back to school and be an OT.
Jujiot: In which state do you work? Your per visit rates for home health are pretty high, as is your mileage reimbursement (isn't the IRS allowable only 48.5 cents/mile?). Wow. I need to renegotiate!