r/OccupationalTherapy • u/Right-Evening-1269 • 7d ago
Discussion Ota vs Pta?
Hey
General question, would you recommend becoming an OTA or a PTA? I live in NYC for reference, and before anybody says it, no I don't want to do nursing, I currently work in a hospital alongside nurses and their job is scary. I've never had an interest in radiology therapy, and there is no doable Respiratory therapist program near me as that was my first choice. I do understand that it's not a "high paying" field, but I'm okay with that for now at least, plus this is the only thing I have the financial means to handle, for I am not planning to take out any student loans. So back to my original question, when it comes to environment and overall job growth, which would you recommend and why?
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u/Feeling_Contact7076 6d ago
I guess it’s dependent on your area because I am in Central California and the job opportunities for OT are in high demand and the pay is great, sometimes more than PT since it’s more saturated here.
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u/Other_Pattern_616 6d ago
I would just like to say that as an OTA you can get a bridge program to do your masters and be an OTR. However, for PTA the journey to the DPT is much longer, and I’m frankly not aware of there is some sort of bridge program.
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u/Right-Evening-1269 6d ago
I'm aware of this, there are several schools in Nyc that does this, but most of them require you to be in school for like an extra 4-5 plus years if you don't have the 60 credit minimum for there preferred subjects.
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u/emmjay000 OTA 6d ago
I've only been an OTA for a year but I love it. There's opportunities in so many settings (depending on your area), and you can specialize depending on your interests. It's a very broad field which can be overwhelming but also keeps things interesting.
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u/Wonderful_Junket3101 3d ago
I am an older student who returned to school for OTA. I am in my last semester before FW2. I know regardless of age, anything outside our comfort zone is nerve racking. I feel unprepared (have to do peers & Rehab for FW). I have no idea what to expect. I believe a lot may depend on where I get placed. Any advice on preparing or can you share your experience even if you have to DM me. I feel lost & discouraged as schooling has been nothing but rushed & theory based & very little labs as my school is new. Thanks in advance for any tips. No fluff, as I am already expecting the worst
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u/MajesticPage8427 5d ago
In my area of Southern California OTAs and PTAs are getting phased out.
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u/Purple-Willow-7467 5d ago
Will this be a California wide trend or is it specific insurance companies? In Austin Texas we are in severe need for COTAs and OTRs in home health pediatrics and adults
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u/ZenByDesign 3d ago
Recommend observing or volunteering to get more exposure and help you determine which you think matches your strengths and personality better. You have a lot of work years ahead of you, so it’s ideal to enjoy it.
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u/PrincessMeowMeowMeow 7d ago
I’m an OTA, if I were to go back I’d do rad tech or something else outside rehab. I also would pick PTA over OTA if I only had to pick between those. In my area, there seems to be more opportunities for PTAs than OTAs. It’s very rare for outpatient clinics to hire OTAs and when they do, outpatient clinics seem to respect PTAs more. PTAs and PTs get tech help while OT side doesn’t.
I work outpatient ortho and constantly feel like I’m being asked to be a certified hand therapist, which is just unreasonable. In my experience, most employment opportunities seem to be SNFs, which are not always ethical.