Comments on: Which Is A Better Career? Physical Therapist? Occupational Therapist?

By: Therapist over the phone

Therapist over the phone — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 02:35:07 +0000

Therapist over the phone…

[...]Which Is A Better Career? Physical Therapist? Occupational Therapist? « PT Clinic Management[...]…

By: Nikka

Nikka — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:42:26 +0000

Thanks to everyone this imformation really helped me.

By: too doo

too doo — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:53:01 +0000

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.

By: physical therapy

physical therapy — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 14:41:03 +0000

physical therapy…

[...]Which Is A Better Career? Physical Therapist? Occupational Therapist? « PT Clinic Management[...]…

By: Andrea

Andrea — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 14:31:27 +0000

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!!

By: LISA

LISA — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 23:05:57 +0000

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.

By: blah

blah — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:34:17 +0000

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!

By: Chris Biel

Chris Biel — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 23:10:09 +0000

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

By: jim m

jim m — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 20:33:51 +0000

occupational is a rewording Field and pays well

By: mistify

mistify — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:16:05 +0000

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.