OT school is not for people who just want a career that pays well. Major inspiration for my becoming an occupational therapy assistant came from the interaction with many health care professionals. I tell prospective occupational therapy students that if you have a solid GPA (preferably above a 3.5 to be competitive), get solid grades (mostly A’s) in your OT school prerequisites, especially in anatomy and physiology, AND you get accepted into OT school, you can totally handle OT school, and the challenge is absolutely worth it. For me, I have to maintain atleast a 77% in every class. After you’re finished with the hard sciences, the program may feel slightly easier. You need to problem solve, think on your feet and be flexible. An OTA is also qualified to work without supervision as a Director of an activities program. Occupational therapy (OT) is the use of assessment and intervention to develop, recover, or maintain the meaningful activities, or occupations, of individuals, groups, or communities.It is an allied health profession performed by occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants (OTA). Working with medically complex people is not always easy in itself, and all healthcare programs want to ensure you’re fully prepared to take on the challenge. Everyone approaches academia differently and experiences their own unique challenges. As previously mentioned, the ACOTE is the accrediting organization for all Occupational Therapist Assistant schools. Between working toward an impressive application and cramming in as many extracurriculars as possible, preparing for your admissions interview may seem low on your list. I know that it is a needed job and they make pretty good money. While OT school was personally hardest schooling (and time) of my life, I have never regretted my decision. First, getting into an OT program is difficult. Here’s a typical layout of what you can expect throughout an OT graduate program. As a result, occupational therapy assistant years of schooling can be highly variable. School of Nursing, Health and Wellness. What would be most helpful for you? Learn how your comment data is processed. the occupational therapy assistant programs at the denver, el paso, houston, las vegas, mesa, renton and tucson campuses are accredited by the accreditation council for occupational therapy education (acote) of the american occupational therapy association (aota), located at 6116 executive boulevard, suite 200, north bethesda, md 20852-4929. Occupational therapy focuses on skills needed for … In my experience, and in many OT graduate programs, the most challenging classes are front-loaded in the beginning of the programs. If you’re considering a career in occupational therapy, now is the time to get started. And if you do choose to earn your OTR, you can advance within the field. If you are not OK with this, you can opt-out if you wish. Becoming an occupational therapy assistant (OTA) is a great choice if you want a stable career with good pay and plenty of job opportunities. We are glad to see you are interested in the Occupational Therapy Assistant program. If you are not willing to work hard, … That said, there are many job opportunities for Occupational Therapist Assistants to work for an agency that outsources a variety of special education and OT services. Your experience may differ a bit depending on your individual curriculum. Hi Misrak, kinesiology is the study of human movement and I found it to feel similar to physics but in relation to the mechanics of the human body. Not only do OTAs enjoy careers devoted to helping others live their best lives, they can often make a pretty nice living in the process. The job outlook is great, the pay is good and the work is rewarding -- when it comes to working as an occupational therapy assistant, it's hard to find any drawbacks, but this career isn't for everyone. i mean what's more challenging, the prerequisites? OTA school is no different. You can expect to study several hours most evenings, often after eight hour days of classes and labs. I am in Occupational Therapy assistant school right now...If you think you have the drive to be an occupational therapist, it requires a Master's Degree, OTA requires an associates degree as of 2013, but it's suppose to be changing to a bachleor's next year. The most common OT school prerequisites are usually the following: The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Here you'll find the answer to this question along with what to expect as an OT student. This career field allows you to have a fruitful career while making a meaningful difference in the lives of countless children, adults, and seniors with disabilities. What were the hardest parts for you? The following OTA associate-degree-level programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®). Every OT job in the adult setting – whether it’s acute care, inpatient rehab, outpatient therapy, or skilled nursing – will all have a productivity requirement. You’ll have a big focus on science, research, and theory in your coursework, along with multiple in-the-field clinicals in multiple settings, and often a graduate thesis to top it all off. Getting into occupational therapy school is hard. I just want to give a realistic picture of what you can expect in OT school. Occupational Therapy Aide, 5 Important Things to Look For When Choosing an OT School. Occupational Therapy Assistant Jobs in Arizona-The job outlook for occupational therapy assistant is very good in Arizona. The Occupational Therapy Assistant (Associate of Occupational Science) program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) (ACOTE 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929; Phone: 301-652-AOTA / www.acoteonline.org). OTA school is not very hard as long as … Talk to any OTA, though, and you’ll see the highly practical aspects of the job present a tremendous opportunity for multi-talented individuals who like achieving goals as much as they like caring for others. Has occupational therapy school been challenging for you? You are constantly helping your patients improve their lives. Students in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Rutgers School of Health Related Professions learn to make customized splints. I can’t speak for occupational therapy assistant (OTA) programs. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site. Course Modules. Reviews and advice on finding the perfect occupational therapy assistant job for you at US News Best Jobs. However, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) only 4% of COTA work in an educational setting. However, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) only 4% of COTA work in an educational setting. On-site evaluations for program accreditation are conducted at 5 or 7 year intervals for initial accreditation and 5, 7, or 10 year intervals for continuing accreditation. Maybe you’re set on becoming an occupational therapy assistant (OTA), or you’re still debating whether OTA is the right career for you. Not only do OTAs enjoy careers devoted to helping others live their best lives, they can often make a pretty nice living in the process. I highly recommend you save as much as possible for living expenses beforehand so you can minimize the time spent working during OT school. Competition is fierce, and most who apply for such programs do not get into them the first time they apply. Today our guest blogger shares the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of working in occupational therapy. Contact Information Occupational Therapy Assistant. We're celebrating their work for #OccupationalTherapyMonth. If occupational therapy is your passion, you can do it and feel confident in your decision to become an OT. Not Too Hard . Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary Guide (2019) Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) have some of the most fulfilling roles in the healthcare world. Feb 21, 2020 - Wondering if occupational therapy school is hard? Occupational Therapy Assistant, Associate of Applied Science. Part of the mystery may be the seemingly generic nature of the occupational therapy assistant job title. Technology Center Room 8300 845-574-4436 f: 845-574-4462 [email protected] That being said, depending on your academic strengths, OTA school may be easier for you than someone who is strong in subjects like economics and sociology and weak in science. How to Get Into OT School-Everything You Need to Know, 7 Steps to Get Into Occupational Therapy School, 5 Big Mistakes I Made Applying to OT School, Self-Care Tips & Strategies for Occupational Therapists and Students, 5 Hand Dexterity Assessments for Occupational Therapists, 12 Perfect Gift Ideas for Occupational Therapists [2020]. It takes a lot of work and motivation to get through an OT program, so if you don’t think you’ll have that drive to get you through, I suggest you consider another career. Yes, absolutely! Hard or complicate to understand? I think that the difficulty of occupational therapy school can depend on several factors: 1. The OTA works under the supervision of an OT. Productivity Targets. Feb 21, 2020 - Wondering if occupational therapy school is hard? These programs generally require 2 years of full-time study. They are required to earn an associate’s degree and pass the national certification exam before becoming a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. However, like any other career, there is always some less-glamorous details that you should be aware of. However, it’s still going to be a challenge throughout the entire program with a lot of courses on research and theory, frequent papers, exams, lab practicals, clinicals, and working on a thesis depending on the program. Social time is definitely more limited than in your undergrad days. Please be aware that O.T. Students of our Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program train to render effective treatment and care for individuals of all ages whose quality of life has been impacted by disability. It uses a holistic approach to look not only at why a client’s participation in activities has been impacted but … Becoming an occupational therapy assistant (OTA) is a great choice if you want a stable career with good pay and plenty of job opportunities. The goal of physical therapy is to help people recover from injuries, regain movement or relieve pain. Yes, occupational therapy is one of the fastest-growing careers, you get to make a difference in other peoples’ lives, and the pay is good. C ... while others are heavier on reading, writing, and reflection upon experiences. There are many reasons why OT may not be for you. I know that it is a needed job and they make pretty good money. According to the BLS, employment of occupational therapists is expected to increase 41 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for other occupations. As I began interviewing, I learned that some things were more important to certain schools than to others. He or she will then report the client’s progress back to the OT, who will adjust the treatment plan as necessary. No more than three absences are allowed without risk of failing a major course. The specialist programme will guide learners to work as an assistant in occupational therapy to support older, injured, ill or disabled patients manage everyday activities. Occupational therapy assistants need an associate’s degree from an accredited occupational therapy assistant program. As a state school, CCRI provides you with an affordable, high quality education for under $13,000, thousands of dollars less than other private schools. Occupational therapy school is SO competitive, since many applicants are applying as soon as they can as opposed to when the supposed deadline is. I tried not to work more than 10 hours a week, and many weeks I opted not to work at all when I had huge loads of thesis research and studying. Care Support; Occupational Therapy Assistant; Occupational Therapy Assistant Theory; Infection Prevention and Control; Communications; Human Growth & Development The Occupational Therapy Assistant Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at 6116 Executive Boulevard, Suite 200, North Bethesda, MD 20852-4929. I get a lot of pre-occupational therapy readers here at My OT Spot, and a common question I get from the pre-OT crowd is, “Is occupational therapy school hard?”. 30 Occupational Therapy Assistant jobs available in South Carolina on Indeed.com. I found a local college that is 30 min. While I’ve talked about this a bit in other OT school-related blog posts, I realized I needed to give this question an article of its own, for the pre-OT’s wondering the answer to this question. I was wondering if anyone has gone for this and what they think of it. 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