OTA vs OT | Imamother

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Forum -> Working Women

OTA vs OT

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amother

Mon, Apr 15 2013, 3:23 pm

For those in the field, can you outline what you know about the differences in going into Occupational Therapy vs. becoming an OT Assistant:

Length and difficulty of coursework
costs of various programs
If you know about 'frum' programs
(I.e. the girls can be placed in 'culturally appropriate' internships, working with children, or, if with adults, mainly on women. Someone we know is working on men coming straight from prison in handcuffs. Nothing against prisoners, but I can't see my sweet sheltered 19 year old working on them!)
Salaries in NJ and elsewhere
Ability to work part-time eventually
Current job market in schools

If you work in Lakewood, are you willing and able to have someone observe you (assuming patients agree, of course...)

DD is desperate to decide what to do, career-wise, and I don't know how to advise her.

amother

Amethyst

Mon, Apr 15 2013, 3:59 pm

Do you know what the schooling entails?
http://ajot.aotapress.net/cont.....l.pdf
The above link is to a legal document that describes what ots do.
Read pages 12-14 carefully before deciding.
Everything in those charts will be covered. In detail.

Last edited by amother on Fri, Feb 22 2019, 3:41 pm; edited 1 time in total

amother

Amethyst

Mon, Apr 15 2013, 4:02 pm

Also, it is almost impossible not to work on adults during schooling.
If you want details feel free to pm me. I can tell you what the schooling is about so you and your daughter can make a more informed decision.

Last edited by amother on Fri, Feb 22 2019, 3:40 pm; edited 1 time in total

amother

Mon, Apr 15 2013, 8:56 pm

TY, that is very helpful. No, my young daughter is not ready to be an OT.

But does an OTA cover all that as well?

amother

Mon, Apr 15 2013, 9:02 pm

It doesn't sound like either of these is a good choice for your dd. Training to be an OTA requires working on various populations. Most OTA jobs are in adult settings.

happy1234

Wed, Apr 17 2013, 2:13 pm

I don't live in New Jersey but I am a full time OT and I work in a public school. The schooling for an OTA is a little shorter than an OT but you have to take an exam at the end to become certified. The salary for an OT is about 60K.
If your daughter wants to work with frum people she can work as a contract therapist. There are many jewish agencies that place therapists in jewish schools.
Your daughter can attend Touro which is a frum setting but you have to complete a fieldwork or an internship and it wont necessarily be a frum environment but your are able to make requests.
You can pm me if you want more information.

Strudel

Wed, Apr 17 2013, 3:22 pm

OTA's take a 2 year Associates degree, while OT's need a Masters degree.

The training covers all populations, so if you want to keep your daughter sheltered, it might not be the right career for her.

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