Is occupational therapy the best career for you? Occupational therapy (OT) is a holistic health care profession that offers future career growth, flexibility, and opportunities for advanced practice specialization, among other benefits.
This article will explore the top five signs that OT is a promising career fit for you.
1. You Want a Meaningful Occupational Therapy Career with Purpose
Occupational therapy is a holistic health care profession that promotes health, well-being, and the ability to participate in what people want and need to do.
It's a career that allows you to make a real difference in people's lives, helping them to participate in meaningful activities and achieve their goals, whether it's caring for themselves, others, working, or attending school.
Occupational therapists provide services for clients across the lifespan. OT is the only profession that helps people do what they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities, or occupations.
OTs promote health by helping people prevent or live better with injury, illness, or disability.
A client-centered approach is essential to the occupational therapy process, from evaluation to treatment planning and intervention, to discharge from services.
A client-centered approach means that OTs consider the whole person, not just the injury or disability. Factors considered include:
- Mental health
- Environmental and social factors
- Personal goals
- Mind-body-spirit connection
Additionally, OTs provide education, training, and support for clients' families and other caregivers to promote safety and well-being. They serve as collaborative members of the health care and school teams to consider all aspects of a client's care.
Occupational therapy considers the bigger picture, making it a meaningful career path for those seeking a profession with a purpose.
2. You’re Looking for a Health Care Career with Strong Job Growth
If you're looking for a profession with expected job growth over the length of your career, then occupational therapy is an excellent choice.
The job outlook for the field of occupational therapy is positive. Occupational therapists are in demand, and employment is expected to grow by 14% between 2024 and 2034, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This growth translates to about 10,200 openings projected for OT each year. That's significantly faster growth than the national average for all jobs, offering a promising future for those entering the field.
3. You Value Flexibility in Your Occupational Therapy Career Path
Flexible Settings
Occupational therapists work in a wide variety of settings, offering diverse and flexible scheduling options. Occupational therapy services may be provided in a client's home, hospital, rehabilitation center, school, community setting, or private clinic, among other places. OTs may also offer services virtually, via telehealth in schools, hospitals, and clinics.
There are also opportunities to work as a traveling occupational therapist. Traveling OTs work on a short-term contract basis and can work at various settings within their community or state, or fill temporary positions nationwide and internationally.
OTs can be found filling roles in some less expected settings as well, such as neonatal intensive care units (NICU), mental health settings, correctional facilities, corporate wellness programs, non-profit organizations, and primary practice settings.
Occupational therapists can progress into roles beyond providing direct services to clients, their families, and caregivers. Some examples of occupational therapy roles outside of the clinic include
- Entrepreneurship: private practice, consulting, telehealth, online and brick-and-mortar businesses related to OT, creating products, and providing services.
- Administration: manager, director, health care administrator, program director.
- Leadership and Advocacy: appointed roles on committees and boards, advocacy for policy change, coordination of community events, and grant writing.
Flexible Schedules
Different settings have different scheduling needs, allowing for flexibility. For example, a clinical setting may work well if you enjoy working later in the day after school or after work hours.
School-based settings typically offer morning and midday schedules with weekends, holidays, and summers off. Hospital settings may offer flexible days with preferred days off during the week.
4. You Enjoy Creative Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking
Occupational therapists use critical thinking and creativity every day. Every client has different needs, reasons for being referred to OT, budgets, support systems, and a definition of what it means to participate in meaningful occupations.
OTs are problem solvers who find ways to help clients overcome a variety of barriers, including physical, social, financial, and environmental obstacles.
Occupational therapy, as a profession, has historically been about doing things and being active. The artistic influence within OT has been recognized from the profession's inception and is part of what motivates clients and distinguishes OT from other health care fields.
OTs use creativity to incorporate meaningful activities as interventions, inspiring their clients to participate. Many meaningful activities used as interventions are craft-like, such as drawing, macrame, and assembling puzzles.
In hand therapy and orthopedic settings, OTs use their critical thinking skills and creativity to construct individualized braces and orthotics from thermoplastics and other materials, which can be dynamic and complex.
5. You’re Excited About Occupational Therapy Career Specializations
Experienced occupational therapists can pursue advanced practice and specialize in areas of interest. Board-certified regions of specialization, advanced certification, and other credentials are available for OTs to advance in the field continuously.
- Pediatrics: supports children from birth through adolescence and very early adulthood
- Gerontology: addresses the unique needs of older adults
- Physical Rehabilitation: focuses on restoring or adapting to lost functions due to illness, injury, or disability
- Hand Therapy: treatment of the upper extremity (hand, wrist, arm, and shoulder) to restore or regain function resulting from trauma, disease, or other abnormalities.
Signs an Occupational Therapy Career Is Right for You
Occupational therapy may be a good fit for you if you're looking for a meaningful career that will give you a sense of purpose and that's expected to grow substantially in the future.
OT is a profession with flexibility, opportunity for advancement, and specialization. A career in occupational therapy allows you to use your creativity and critical thinking skills daily. OTs make a difference in people's lives while also finding meaning and purpose in their career field.
