I’m very fickle about deciding once and for all on a major and everything. I’m fairly certain that I want to be in the health field, and I’m currently enrolled for Health and Sciences, which is broad and helps prepare for more schooling. I don’t know whether I’d like Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy more. Or even recreational Therapy. I’m just going by a career aptitude test I took a while ago, and all of those are listed.. along with Chiropractor. and others. I know nursing isn’t for me already. Anyone have some advice? I haven’t even been in a health setting really because I’ve never been sick with anything. BAH!
#1 by kingbee on February 16, 2010 - 7:48 am
Ok this is a simple answer. I hope that you read this and understand it. I have been two out of the three. I am currently a physical therapist and was before that a recreational therapist. I work with many occupational therapists. Is it at all about how much school you want to do or even about money? To be an OT or a PT it will require you to get a higher education than a bachelors. This is important to understand because despite the fact that they do the same amount of schooling the PT generally makes more money. Job satisfaction depends on what you like. I could see finding job satisfaction in both. I like being a PT and I love the money. If it is about schooling try Recreation therapy because whether or not you get a masters in the program their is a good chance you will be paid the same. You can make up to 25 dollars an hour however $16 is more likely. so PT and OT = more school, but the PT you will like your job I think but will get paid more for it. TR not as much pay but school is a little easier on you. When I was a Rec. therapist I just wanted something more so I went back. If you do the PT route get that physics and chemistry taken care of now!!!!!! Don’t wait like I did. Some of the people I went to school with for PT actually changed their major to chemistry because it helps with entry in to PT school IF you get good grades. That should help. I obviously favor PT but I would do RT before OT
#2 by jannsody on February 16, 2010 - 8:01 am
Perhaps volunteering as well as job shadowing/observing in those fields (occupational, physical, recreational therapy/therapeutic recreation) people from various ages and populations (mental health, geriatrics, pediatrics and such) can help direct one down a certain career path. Both PT and OT can be mentally and physically strenuous as my cousin went to school for occupational therapy assistant. I’m not too sure about rec therapy, but I would think that the person would most likely have to ‘be on’ a lot of the time when doing activity groups as with OT where therapists lead groups.
General career info: http://www.bls.gov/oco and can search ‘occupational therapists’, ‘physical therapists’, ‘recreational therapists’ or such.
For possible volunteer opportunities: http://www.volunteermatch.org
#3 by mistify on February 16, 2010 - 2:16 pm
Both are excellent careers. The difference is in some intricacies. I would say that as an OT, you have to understand psychology more deeply than PT and in PT, you have to understand the hard sciences better.
As an OT, you will work with people not just for upper body or hand problems, but also for cognitive tasks, writing, sensory disorders etc.
As a PT, you will focus much more on movement related problems of the entire body…and although you make work with individuals with cognitive impairments, it’s not your focus to address these as much as movement.
#4 by jim m on February 16, 2010 - 8:33 pm
occupational is a rewording Field and pays well
#5 by Chris Biel on March 23, 2011 - 3:10 pm
I am very undecided of what I really want to take. I am a freshman in college just fininshing my general basics. But am looking into the PTA and OTA programs they seem like something Id really like to do. But I feel like they are about the same except PTA is longer study then OTA please any advice? Please! is OTA rewarding like they say^^ or should I just stay for the long run in PTA??
ahhh
#6 by blah on July 11, 2011 - 6:34 am
Well Chris, I think that it all depends on what you like to do and what makes you satisfied:
First off, don’t go into the OT or PT programs simply for the money: many people who do that aren’t satisfied with the job a few years down the road. But, If you really love working with people in a health setting, then I say go for it!
Also, PT is a lot more strenuous on the body, from what I’ve heard: you have to lift people sometimes, and make sure that all their body muscles are working. Plus, it’s more schooling in the long-run.
OT focuses not only on helping people move, but also helps them to do every day tasks that they might not be able to do anymore because of an accident: that takes less schooling, and its a little more people centered.
All in all, it all depends on what you like and what you’d be happy doing.
Hope that helps!
#7 by LISA on September 11, 2011 - 3:05 pm
I’m currently a Cota. I’ve been a Cota for 18 years and I’m attending school to become a PT. I can tell you from personal experience that you will definitely have to like what you do. The pay is the same. Well no it’s not actually. It depends on what area or setting that you work in and how difficult it is to employ a PT or OT. Of course with anything demand creates more of a need for more money. I currently make more per visit than my PT. However, my Pt has more visits. So, you do the math. Ii personally feel that the job of the PT is just as demanding as an OT. I know that as an OT I deal with a lot more of the Cognitive and family dynamics than PT does. I hope I was able to help. Either way you can’t go wrong.
#8 by Andrea on September 23, 2011 - 6:31 am
Hi Lisa,
Finally, i find someone with the same idea i have. I am stuck between the (2) PTA or OTA. I prefer OTA but my work background for the past 13 years would make PTA a better pick for me. I already have a Bachelors degree in business mgmt but i love what an OTA does and was just accepted into an OTA program, however, i would like to be a PT in the near future. Can you be both a COTA and a PT? I saw that you are a COTA but attending school for PT (is that Doctorate in PT)? Will you continue being both? Good Luck!!
#9 by too doo on November 18, 2011 - 10:53 am
I suggest you do more research! OTs have more avenues to take interms of expanding their professions. PTs not so much. PT is a very specific field and that is PTs work more on body movements, strengthening, balance, etc. OTs do these as well, but they do it differently by incorporating everyday tasks that that the person engage in. Also OTs work at a mental health setting, PTs generally do not. OTs have to take psychology classess and work at mental health setting as part of their internship. PTs do not do that. Both professions requires a M.S. degree and in terms of pay its the same… depends on the place of course. Money should not be the reason why you want to choose a profession.
#10 by Nikka on February 8, 2012 - 5:42 am
Thanks to everyone this imformation really helped me.