Degree in OT | Imamother

amother

OP ↓

Wed, Sep 18 2024, 10:00 am

Any OT’s here that can give me some info on this? Considering going to school, how long/hard is schooling, how is the pay, do you have flexibility?
Tia

amother

Jean

Wed, Sep 18 2024, 10:02 am

My baby’s OT just told me that apparently there’s a new rule that new OT’s who will be graduating in 2027 and later will have to get a doctorate, a masters is no longer sufficient.

amother

Lemonlime ↓

Wed, Sep 18 2024, 10:56 am

As an ot for many years I wouldn't recommend this field. Schooling is extremely difficult and time consuming. The pay hasn't gone up with inflation and your salary is usually capped at a modest rate. You don't have a huge earning potential. If you work for an agency you will have flexible hours but you won't make a lot of money or have any benefits. If I was choosing a career today it wouldn't be OT.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Wed, Sep 18 2024, 11:04 am

amother Lemonlime wrote:

Thanks for your response
What would you choose if you were doing it over?

amother

↑ Lemonlime ↓

Wed, Sep 18 2024, 11:12 am

amother OP wrote:

Thanks for your response
What would you choose if you were doing it over?

I have many interests and don't know for sure but probably something in the tech field, or something creative like graphic art/photography etc... I would stay away from the health related industry even though when I chose my career that was the most solid field to go into.

amother

↑ OP

Wed, Sep 18 2024, 12:05 pm

amother Lemonlime wrote:

I hear, thanks
Do you feel the same way regarding other career paths as well, that it’s better not to go for a degree, or specifically these industries?

amother

Lemonchiffon

Wed, Sep 18 2024, 12:19 pm

Not worth it unless you really love the field and are super passionate about it and can't see yourself doing anything else
School is long and hard and you will spend hours and days away from your family in class, studying for tests, writing papers, and doing clinical work and internships

You will take out close to 100k in student loans

If you work in a hospital or medical.setting you are better off than in a school. But even that is not great earning potential

amother

PlumPink

Wed, Sep 18 2024, 1:15 pm

I feel similar to lemon lime, though I absolutely love the work. The pay was ok when it went into the field a couple of decades ago, but rates have not gone up enough to survive COL increases, so it's a bust financially.

amother

Purple

Wed, Sep 18 2024, 1:33 pm

If it is something that you are really interested in and loves then I say go for it. School is long, hard, and expensive. Earning potential is not terrible but not great either. What is nice is that depending on the setting, you can make your own hours or have a lot of flexibility. I would say observe some OTs in various settings (you need observation hours anyway to apply to programs) and see if it is something you are super passionate about. If not then I would recommend finding something else with better earning potential and less time/money/energy investment. I graduated a couple of years ago and not making a great income, but enough to live on for now combined with husband’s income (husband was in Kollel and just took a part time job after we had our second).

amother

Copper

Wed, Sep 18 2024, 2:03 pm

amother Dill wrote:

I love love love being an OT. So do all my OT friends.

I wish I had your enthusiasm! What setting do you and your friends work in?

amother

↑ Lemonlime

Wed, Sep 18 2024, 2:11 pm

amother Dill wrote:

I love love love being an OT. So do all my OT friends.

And me and all my OT friends regret our choice. Where do you work? Are you working flexible hours in a school setting and your dh brings in the main income?

amother

↑ Dill

Wed, Sep 18 2024, 2:37 pm

amother Lemonlime wrote:

And me and all my OT friends regret our choice. Where do you work? Are you working flexible hours in a school setting and your dh brings in the main income?

I have worked in pediatric clinics, SNF and do home health now.