I am starting my first OT position in 3 weeks and I can't wait. I turn 47 the week before I start work so I think that qualifies as a career changer. I am so looking forward to the new challenges that face me for the second half of my working life.
Kim, Tulsa (studying for the exam, I'm thinking I'll take it on my birthday. Having that finished sounds like a great present)
i am in a strangly similar position.
I will be 48 end of june, started my 1st OT job a couple of weeks ago. I also look forward to the career change, however I realize the learning curve that has to happen before i will feel competent in my new field.
i am hoping that I will have the "fortitude" to travel the path again to expertise in a new and very different career.
I just finished classes & I'm starting my first level II fieldwork on June 1st. I'm excited & nervous, also thinking about studying...I am 43, so it is a career change for me too!
Bayla
I finished OT school when I was 40 and have now been an OT for 5 years. When I finished school I wasn't too sure if I would ever feel competent again. I am now glad that I went back to school and changed careers (I was a Social Worker working with MR and MH populations).
At first I tried working in the MR and MH fields again but I did not really feel like I was an OT. Now that I have been in Rehab for 2 years I feel much more competent and happy with my career choice!! I'm not sure how long my back will hold out but I enjoy my job now!!
Hi!
I'm in my first year of OT school, and I feel like I am in another country and don't know the language. I started grad school at 30, after having spent 7 years working in early childhood education and having gotten very comfortable in that career, thank you very much. Comfortable, but needing a change, and although OT felt like the right move, I'm nervous about finding my niche in it and about "starting from scratch" in a new field. It's been a long time, and I'm not loving the feeling of not knowing what I'm doing (and I haven't even had my level II fieldwork yet!). I'm glad that this forum was created; I think there are a lot of us out there for whom OT feels like the right career, probably bringing together aspects of our former careers into a definition of working with people that sounded like what we wanted to be doing (at least, that's how it was for me). But, man, is it scary!!
I was 45 when I became a licensed OT in 2001. I am so happy to be an OT and be practicing at a great SNF. Like you my past experience was in MH as an LSW, an Activities Therapist and as a case manager. Prior to that I had gone to school to be an art teacher (famous artist) / sociologist. Somehow all these experiences combined help me in this field. I think we career changers offer a lot to this profession. The tricky part was initailly being perceived as much more competent than I was, because I had so much work experience. I had to remind people I was new in this field. I am still growing and learning. Protect that back!
Hey there "old ones". Im proud of each of you. Im 42. Got my degree in '96 and have loved every day of being a therapist. It gets better and better. Remain encouraged by the changes you make in your patience's lives. Make that your priority always. Dont be scared, worried that you wont get it or do as much as you could have. It did take me so many years to finally say, "Wow, Ive got it". But all the meantime, changing lives. Most OT's tend to be creative and eclectic in approach styles. The whole thing is just a continual process of refining skills in order to enhance quality of life, and ensuring safety along the way when appropriate. OT skill really boils down to performing activity analyses. It is knowing the "why" behind the action/inaction. The "why" behind what works and what doesnt work. The treatment may look like anyone can do it, and anyone probably could. The expert that you are becoming is the knowing the physiological rationale behind why what you are doing is working to improve a quality of life. Never be afraid of going back to studying that brain, guys. Its the onion layer thing. Review review review and it finally clicks, in the middle of a treatment session, usually. Take care all. Congrats on perfect 2nd career choices. Kudo's!!
Oops. That would be "patient's lives" not "patience", though we need patience at times when working with our patients!
You are all an inspiration!! I'm 31 and currently considering a complete 360 degree career change (I'm in communications/marketing) to become an OTA or OT. I just completed my first observation at an SNF and have obs. at other facilities (peds., aquatherapy, outpatient) scheduled. What an awesome field! I have a bachelor's and would really love to become an OT, but we're trying to start a family and I can't see how we can afford to almost 1/2 our income for 4-5 yrs. if I go back to school. All the programs in St. Louis seem to require that you start from year 1 - even with a Bachelor's. I also have ADD and even though I made a 3.9 GPA during undergrad, I require a lot of study time and worry about trying to juggle such rigorous coursework with the demands of working part-time and a new baby (God willing). But I really feel this is a calling and don't want to put off pursuing it. Any advice would be sincerely appreciated!
Hi, Denise! Have you looked in to Washington University's entry-level OTD program? I'm in an OTD program at Belmont University in Nashville. W.U.'s program requires a bachelor's degree, and if it's at all like Belmont's entry-level program, your bachelor can be in anything, it doesn't have to be OT or a science. We have students with degrees in psychology, art, education, athletic training, speech and language... entry-level means that you start from scratch learning the field. The OTD program is intense, but very worth it. Here's a link to W.U.'s OTD info:
http://www.ot.wustl.edu/ot/otweb.nsf/WV/22B24D22B036FA268625728A007CA58A?OpenDocument
And, also, don't worry about the nuances of what your personal education experience will be like: my school works very closely with us to make sure that we are staying on track and doing okay. There is a student in my class with ADD, and the faculty have been very helpful and accommodating to her. Another student in my class is about to have her first baby, and a couple of others have children. It's not easy, but they're doing it. If you're passionate about this, then you're right, you shouldn't put it off. Best of luck to you!
-Sara
Barry University in Miami Fl has an entry-level program that meets 2 weekends a month. I just graduated from this program. They will accept any Bachlor's (mine is in Theatre). Classes are every other weekend. We had students commuting from as far away as California. The only time you are full-time is during 2 12 week fieldworks.
The faculty and staff are really caring and will bend over backwards to help you. We had 2 marriages and 2 babies during the program. many of my classmates worked full-time or part-time (myself included), and many have families.
I think that you need to be disiplined and organized to make sure you get all your reading and work done, but it can be done. Going back to school was the most empowering thing i could have done for myself. i realized that my skills and intellect were at a much higher degree than I was allowing myself to use prior to this. (I'm not expressing this very well, but it really was a good experience).
schools website is www.barry.edu
i wish you luck.
lori
I was the oldest student in my class, graduated at 49 yo and can't believe that 10 years have past so fast and so full . I still feel a little lost occasionally because we run into so many new situations every day. But I feel very confident in those areas I have had time to use and refine. Being an OT has been such a blessing to me -such a useful profession and continual learning (perpetual student, my husband says). We are in China and had I still been an office administrator- I would be bored to tears! As it is, I can offer so much more to the expat and local community and I learn from them. I am working at an international school and opening a small clinic/toy library in Sept. How's that for "old-er" age?
My suggestion - stay on AOTA listserve, focus on what you are comfortable doing, add others one at a time as you are able. Relax, Enjoy, and breathe!
Linda
Thank you all so much for your advice and encouragement! Sara - I will check out the Wash U. program, thanks for the tip! I did an observation this afternoon (aqua therapy, very interesting!) and the OT I worked with also suggested I look into Wash U., I definitely plan to do so this week. Crossing my fingers. You're all my inspiration, I think of you often when the "what ifs" start to creep in!
I'm a COTA in SD working full time in MN and am wondering in anyone knows of any easy online courses for OTA-OT. So many of them are too far away and there is no way I could afford time off or the airline ticket to go 1-2x/month for classes.
Thanks!