Roll call - Any Occupational Therapists or OT assistants here?

[MVal]

Hi all, I am looking to make a career change in the next couple of years and have been considering occupational therapy. I've been working as an administrative assistant for over eight years in some fashion and I just can't see myself continuing in this current path until I FIRE. I once worked as a secretary for a university OT department after having never even heard of OT prior. Thinking back now, what those students were learning seems a whole lot more rewarding than what I'm doing now and my liberal arts BA is just gathering dust, anyway. Now that FIRE is my goal and I see OT workers make a higher salary than I do, I want to consider it.

Let me know if you are a COTA or OTR and what you like/don't like about what you do and the process of how you got to where you are. I'm hesitant to get any kind of Masters degree because of the cost and potential debt, but I've read an OTA training and certification can be had for under $10K and in two years, which is much more appealing. But maybe a full Masters would be worth it, I'm not sure. I'm 33, single and child free, so I could create options in my life if needed.

[Emg03063]

I'm not, but have been a consumer of OT services.  Very worthwhile work, IMHO.

[MVal]

I'm not, but have been a consumer of OT services.  Very worthwhile work, IMHO.

Thanks for the input. Yes, my company is on the campus of a large hospital system and each year we attend a gala event whose proceeds benefit the children's therapy center on campus--they always show a video of all the work and lives touched there and it seems like a wonderful thing, especially in light of the rising rates of autism in this country.

I've also heard OTs can travel and find work almost anywhere in the world, which is another huge draw for me.

[Clean Shaven]

I have a close relative who is an OT.  She says that a master's is required now for OT work, but not COTA. (Was different when she started apparently.)  Says that jobs are plentiful for OT, and you can do the traveling / visiting gig easily.