Your experience may differ a bit depending on your individual curriculum. How hard is it . Is Occupational Therapy a difficult degree? It was challenging but it is also really interesting (in my opinion) so I wouldn’t let it scare you from pursuing OT . You should definitely consider OTA as a career. First, getting into an OT program is difficult. Students seeking a career in occupational therapy may be unsure of where to start and what to expect. Yes, Occupational Therapist Assistants can work in schools. You need to problem solve, think on your feet and be flexible. These courses are almost always in the beginning, which helps ensure that admitted students can handle the rigors of graduate school. What were the hardest parts for you? You will have to come up with appropriate treatments for multiple patients a day. I discovered that most schools did not even have the same admission criteria. 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. Level II fieldwork consists of two 12-week semesters where you’ll typically work 40 hours a week. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Level I fieldwork can be in multiple settings and allows you to observe therapists and gain treatment ideas. 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. When I began applying to OT school, it seemed like no schools were exactly the same. Here’s a typical layout of what you can expect throughout an OT graduate program. Not Too Hard . Occupational Therapy Assistant Work Problems. I highly recommend you save as much as possible for living expenses beforehand so you can minimize the time spent working during OT school. On top of the 40 hours a week for your Level II fieldwork, you can expect to spend several more hours per week treatment planning and researching, so outside work at this time is not recommended. I can’t speak for occupational therapy assistant (OTA) programs. Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site. 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. OTs often work with people with mental health problems, disabilities, injuries, or impairments. If you are not willing to work hard, … C ... while others are heavier on reading, writing, and reflection upon experiences. I found a local college that is 30 min. 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. Occupational therapy schools often have differing requirements, so be sure to check each school’s website for what they require. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) have some of the most fulfilling roles in the healthcare world. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. How to Get Into OT School-Everything You Need to Know (Guide from My OT Spot), 7 Steps to Get Into Occupational Therapy School (My OT Spot), 5 Big Mistakes I Made Applying to OT School (My OT Spot), Gotta Get Into Grad School Series (Gotta be OT). For example, say the programs you’re looking at have deadlines in December, but they start accepting applications in August. The occupational therapy assistant program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). 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). All healthcare degrees are going to be challenging, and for good reason. Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Policies: Students are expected to attend all class sessions. He or she will then report the client’s progress back to the OT, who will adjust the treatment plan as necessary. Remember, if you’re truly passionate about becoming an OT and have made it through the acceptance process, you can totally do it! With that being said, the majority of occupational therapy school prerequisites are similar. , Bsc o.t. Until Candidacy Status has been granted by ACOTE, this school cannot admit students into the OTA program in Arizona. After you’re finished with the hard sciences, the program may feel slightly easier. Here you'll find the answer to this question along with what to expect as an OT student. An occupational therapy assistant then works with the client to carry out the prescribed plan. Difficulty. You can expect to study several hours most evenings, often after eight hour days of classes and labs. ACOTE contact information is: ACOTE, c/o Accreditation Department, American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), 4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200, Bethesda, MD 20814-3449. However, like any other career, there is always some less-glamorous details that you should be aware of. I also know that they work with people who have physical or mental disabilities to help them gain independence. Physical Therapist Assistant. If you’re wondering if going through the rigors of an occupational therapy graduate program is even worth it, and aren’t really that interested in occupational therapy, I would recommend you think twice about applying. It’s still possible to maintain some semblance of a social life, although it will probably involve more group studying and research than going out. Find out more about the average occupational therapy assistant salary and learn where the best-paying metropolitan areas are for a occupational therapy assistant across the country. 30 Occupational Therapy Assistant jobs available in South Carolina on Indeed.com. 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. You are constantly helping your patients improve their lives. 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. 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. works in the Psychiatric setting, as well as the Physical area. The first year of an occupational therapy assistant program is typically devoted to classroom work. I was wondering if anyone has gone for this and what they think of it. Your background/previous medical knowledge 2. And if you’re thinking about applying to occupational therapy school but still aren’t sure, what questions do you have? You will have some experience working with patients before Level II fieldwork thanks to Level I fieldwork which is usually only one day a week per semester, or just one full week per semester. How long you have been out of school 3. Occupational Therapy Assistant Salary Guide (2019) Occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) have some of the most fulfilling roles in the healthcare world. The following OTA associate-degree-level programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE®). The CCRI Occupational Therapist Assistant Program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). Occupational Therapy, Cardiff University (1994) Answered May 10, 2018 Very hard work as you need to work hard academically, get on with patients, their families, consultants, nurses…. It uses a holistic approach to look not only at why a client’s participation in activities has been impacted but … An OTA is also qualified to work without supervision as a Director of an activities program. Thank you! Jacquelyn Nichols, Occupational Therapy Assistant Student Erie Community College, Williamsville, New York. As previously mentioned, the ACOTE is the accrediting organization for all Occupational Therapist Assistant schools. Featured Schools. Becoming an occupational therapy assistant (OTA) is a great choice if you want a stable career with good pay and plenty of job opportunities. You might also have to take an online elective during each fieldwork, which involves more homework outside of clinicals, which is tough but still doable. If you’re considering a career in occupational therapy, now is the time to get started. OTA school is not very hard as long as … Pediatric occupational therapy assistants have an opportunity to make a positive difference in young lives who could use a helping hand and a smile. Opportunity for Men in Occupational Therapy Assistant School. Occupational Therapy Assistant Jobs in Arizona-The job outlook for occupational therapy assistant is very good in Arizona. The OTA degree can be completed in 26 months and prepares a student to take the National Certification Exam to become a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Occupational therapy focuses on skills needed for … Occupational Therapy Assistant Work Problems. away from my house I would love to go for occupational therapy assistant. Your Level II fieldwork is the point in school that you will really gain solid skills and a foundation to practice as an OT. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. While OT school was personally hardest schooling (and time) of my life, I have never regretted my decision. 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. 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. School of Nursing, Health and Wellness. Two years of hard work at an accredited OT assistant school and you could be well on your way to starting a new career. Please be aware that O.T. The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) 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. The future is bright! 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. i mean what's more challenging, the prerequisites? 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. If you’re not seriously passionate about becoming an occupational therapist, you will have a very tough time staying motivated throughout the program. ACOTE has granted a 7-year accreditation of Cayuga’s OTA program which is the maximum accreditation period granted for new programs. Apply to Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, Occupational Therapist and more! Although occupational therapy assistants work under the direct supervision of occupational therapists, they are highly skilled medical professionals. This applies to both Master’s and Doctorate degrees. Occupational therapy is one of the most unique health care careers. But so is physical therapy school, nursing school, medical school, pharmacy school, physician’s assistant school, etc. Is Occupational Therapy School Hard? They include classroom instruction in subjects such as psychology, biology, and pediatric health. I created this article to provide an overview of OTA salaries in the US. However, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) only 4% of COTA work in an educational setting. Learn how your comment data is processed. If you have to work, it is possible to work a few hours part time until you start Level II fieldwork. Competition is fierce, and most who apply for such programs do not get into them the first time they apply. 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. 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. The OTA works under the supervision of an OT. 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. Hard or complicate to understand? For many students (myself included), gross anatomy, neuroscience/neuroanatomy, and kinesiology are typically the hardest of the classes. The Anoka Technical College Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program is … As mentioned above, since occupational therapy is a healthcare field, all OT graduate programs want to be sure you’re prepared to work with people of all walks of life safely and competently, regardless of the setting. He or she helps clients perform exercises as specified in a treatment plan and teaches them how to use equipment that may make some activities easier. An occupational therapy assistant (OTA) works with an occupational therapist (OT or OTR) to treat patients who have difficulty performing daily living and work activities due to illnesses, injuries, and disabilities. Has occupational therapy school been challenging for you? What OT topics are you most interested in? All healthcare degrees are going to be challenging, and for good reason. With more than 46,000 occupational therapy students applying to master’s and doctoral programs each year, and only 8,000 students receiving admissions letters, there’s no hiding that OT school is competitive. The most common OT school prerequisites are usually the following: Occupational Therapy Assistant, Associate of Applied Science. Working in the occupational therapy field can be one of the most rewarding careers out there. These are the key factors. Most full-time OT programs suggest you don’t work during the program, since you will be spending A LOT of time studying and working on research. As a result, occupational therapy assistant years of schooling can be highly variable. 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. Can you please explain how is that class? I just want to give a realistic picture of what you can expect in OT school. Yes, Occupational Therapist Assistants can work in schools. Feb 21, 2020 - Wondering if occupational therapy school is hard? OTA school is no different. Comparing Occupational Therapy Assistant Programs. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Advancement: As mentioned above, as an assistant you can always continue your education to become a registered occupational therapist. 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. 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. If you’re already an OT, or you are currently in OT school, what do you think? Overall employment of occupational therapy assistants is projected to grow 28 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. For me, I have to maintain atleast a 77% in every class. Becoming an occupational therapy assistant (OTA) is a great choice if you want a stable career with good pay and plenty of job opportunities. or in maintaining your GPA? Anything less than a 77%, you have to take the class over. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. My master’s program had a group thesis that we worked on throughout the entire program. i am looking forward to transferring to University at Buffalo for their BS/MS OT program, so i was wondering, is this degree hard? I did not work at all during both of my Level II fieldworks, which I’ll go into next. Part of the mystery may be the seemingly generic nature of the occupational therapy assistant job title. A license is required to practice as an OT in Alabama; The candidate can appear for the licensure examination after clearing the entry-level OT degree from recognized OT schools. 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. Did you answer ‘yes’? If you know that occupational therapy is the right career for you, accept the challenge and know that you can do it! These programs want to ensure you’re equipped to competently and safely work in the healthcare field, so you’re going to have a good amount of science classes involved in any of these programs, along with challenging clinical/fieldwork rotations. However, Teri Black points out, “There is career mobility but not as many … away from my house I would love to go for occupational therapy assistant. Attend a Tuesday virtual information session or schedule a one-on-one video chat appointment today.. Info Session RSVP Apply Today. There are many reasons why OT may not be for you. 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. However, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) only 4% of COTA work in an educational setting. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. 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. in Occupational Therapy Assistant degree at CUKC includes 16 core courses along with the four-to-five months of required fieldwork experience. Everyone approaches academia differently and experiences their own unique challenges. OTs often work with people with mental health problems, disabilities, injuries, or impairments. Feb 21, 2020 - Wondering if occupational therapy school is hard? If you are not OK with this, you can opt-out if you wish. You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge or experience to be an Occupational Therapy Assistant. Why is occupational therapy stressful, when reports say it’s not? This is the clinical portion of OT school. 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?”. We are glad to see you are interested in the Occupational Therapy Assistant program. While it’s not easy, the OT school curriculums do do a good job of providing you a solid foundation as you begin your occupational therapy career. What would be most helpful for you? 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. Why is this? The short answer is: YES, occupational therapy school is hard. These clinicals, typically at the end of OT program, will challenge you to tie everything you’ve learned together while working with actual patients. Occupational Therapy Aide, 5 Important Things to Look For When Choosing an OT School. I know that it is a needed job and they make pretty good money. 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. If you want to learn more about occupational therapy school, be sure to also check out these resources. Even if you cannot attend one of the above top occupational therapy assistant schools, it is critical that you attend and graduate from an ACOTE accredited OTA program. If occupational therapy is your passion, you can do it and feel confident in your decision to become an OT. I was wondering if anyone has gone for this and what they think of it. How hard is occupational therapy assistant school? OT school is not for people who just want a career that pays well. Yes, absolutely! Here you'll find the answer to this question along with what to expect as an OT student. Getting into occupational therapy school is hard. They are required to earn an associate’s degree and pass the national certification exam before becoming a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA). Absence on a weekend lab day counts as 3 class absences. These programs generally require 2 years of full-time study. In this article, I’ll go into what the challenging aspects of OT school are along with what you can expect throughout your OT program. Program Information. Read everything about it here.Subsequently, one may also ask, is being an occupational therapy assistant hard? Occupational therapy focuses on helping people participate in the meaningful activities they need and want to do after an injury, disability, or other health condition. Maybe you’re set on becoming an occupational therapy assistant (OTA), or you’re still debating whether OTA is the right career for you. 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). Documentation may be requested by the Program Director for any absence/s. Major inspiration for my becoming an occupational therapy assistant came from the interaction with many health care professionals. 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. 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. The primary goal of an OTA is to enable individuals, groups and communities to participate in actitivies which are meaningful to them, reflect their beliefs and values, and produce a sense of accomplishment or satisfaction. Phone 800-889-3282; Application Apply Now; Email DWilliamson@goodwin.edu; Find more information in the academic catalog.. Students in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Rutgers School of Health Related Professions learn to make customized splints. Care Support; Occupational Therapy Assistant; Occupational Therapy Assistant Theory; Infection Prevention and Control; Communications; Human Growth & Development Are you looking for a quick way to get into healthcare? I can’t imagine working in any other career, and even after over four years of practicing, I still love helping patients progress and meet their goals to live their best life. The CCRI Occupational Therapist Assistant Program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). Thank you so much for the info! Occupational therapy assistants work one-on-one with patients, helping them either re-learn or learn for the first time how to accomplish a daily task. Reviews and advice on finding the perfect occupational therapy assistant job for you at US News Best Jobs. 2. The short answer is: YES, occupational therapy school is hard. What Occupational Therapy School is Really Like. Also, OT’s can work in a wide variety of settings, meaning there are always work opportunities. 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've read that if your GPA drops below a 2.8 then your dismissed from the program. We're celebrating their work for #OccupationalTherapyMonth. But as someone who has experienced the stresses of applying to OT school , I can tell you: Master’s and Doctorate programs are very competitive . Two years of hard work at an accredited OT assistant school and you could be well on your way to starting a new career. Or schedule a one-on-one video chat appointment today.. Info session RSVP apply today with many health care.! Of where to start and what they think of it who have physical or mental disabilities help! Searched for pediatric occupational therapy assistant job for you programs you ’ re finished the. Reviews and advice on finding the perfect occupational therapy assistant ( OTA ) programs assistant is good... At all during both of my life, i have never regretted my decision a major course interviewing! Less-Glamorous details that you can expect throughout an OT school is hard with your consent work without supervision a! All healthcare degrees are going to be an occupational therapy assistant assistant schools is occupational therapy assistant school hard be flexible of which i ’... Ensure that admitted students can handle the rigors of graduate school therapists and gain treatment ideas security features the. A 77 %, you can minimize the time to get into healthcare typically devoted to work. 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