Other OT-Related Information Conflicted about COTA options

[geronamo26]

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Does it make sense to do COTA if you don't want to work in pediatrics? It seems like pediatrics is one of the practice areas in OT that is very popular. It would seem like I would only be using technically only 2/3rd of my degree in a way because I don't want to work as a pediatric COTA. I've thought about mental health and rehabilitation, but there doesn't seem to be a huge demand for mental health OT/OTAs despite what OT websites state. I'm so conflicted. Any suggestions?

 

[cb31]

Does it make sense to do COTA if you don't want to work in pediatrics? It seems like pediatrics is one of the practice areas in OT that is very popular. It would seem like I would only be using technically only 2/3rd of my degree in a way because I don't want to work as a pediatric COTA. I've thought about mental health and rehabilitation, but there doesn't seem to be a huge demand for mental health OT/OTAs despite what OT websites state. I'm so conflicted. Any suggestions?

I've never seen a COTA in peds, there is a HIGH demand for them in skilled nursing facilities tho. Im not really sure about them in mental health settings.

 

[sportschick21]

Does it make sense to do COTA if you don't want to work in pediatrics? It seems like pediatrics is one of the practice areas in OT that is very popular. It would seem like I would only be using technically only 2/3rd of my degree in a way because I don't want to work as a pediatric COTA. I've thought about mental health and rehabilitation, but there doesn't seem to be a huge demand for mental health OT/OTAs despite what OT websites state. I'm so conflicted. Any suggestions?

I was thinking the same thing about COTA. I work with a PTA and she said that usually COTA's only have the option to work in a school system (or somewhere else with peds) and a skilled nursing facility & unfortunately not in an outpatient setting, unless it's a children's hospital, etc.

 

[beestrng]

I see a lot of COTAs in SNF. A ton!

Have not seen a COTA in outpatient or acute/inpatient yet.

 

[geronamo26]

I see a lot of COTAs in SNF. A ton!

Have not seen a COTA in outpatient or acute/inpatient yet.

Why aren't COTAs used in hospitals/outpatient centers? I am thinking about COTA and all I hear are the many settings that can work in. However, mental health doesn't seem prevalent in OT and hospitals and outpatient centers don't use them very often either. I've also never heard of many COTAs in home health, mostly PTAs. I work as a restorative aide and see many COTAs in snf. Would I be stuck in snfs as an COTA?

 

[beestrng]

Why aren't COTAs used in hospitals/outpatient centers? I am thinking about COTA and all I hear are the many settings that can work in. However, mental health doesn't seem prevalent in OT and hospitals and outpatient centers don't use them very often either. I've also never heard of many COTAs in home health, mostly PTAs. I work as a restorative aide and see many COTAs in snf. Would I be stuck in snfs as an COTA?

I do not know why COTAs were not used. This may be due to a regional thing where I am at. When I asked COTAs about other settings, they all say pay is way better in SNF.

Cannot really comment on HC setting for COTAs. I only know 2 people doing it in. There is a heavy demand for OTs in home care in my area, but all the OTs I talk to dislike it.

No comment on mental health. Never been in that setting.

 

[OTfromIT]

Why aren't COTAs used in hospitals/outpatient centers? I am thinking about COTA and all I hear are the many settings that can work in. However, mental health doesn't seem prevalent in OT and hospitals and outpatient centers don't use them very often either. I've also never heard of many COTAs in home health, mostly PTAs. I work as a restorative aide and see many COTAs in snf. Would I be stuck in snfs as an COTA?

I thought about this a bit last year when I didn't get into OT school - maybe I would try to go COTA. After spending time at an outpatient clinic, a rehab hospital, a community hospital, and SNF's, I came to the following conclusion (with no hard data to back this up...) - at hospitals, there are a lot of incoming varied diagnoses. Thus, it might make sense to bite the bullet salary-wise and have the ability for each MOT/OTD staff member be able to do evals. I only met one COTA, who was grandfathered in somehow. At SNF's (or at least the ones I was at) by comparison, it seemed like most of the ailments were related to being old - the COTA's seemed to do pretty much the same therapy routines with each patient. Plus, at the SNF's, there weren't as high a patient intake or turnover. And for the big box OP clinic, OT's were only doing hand therapy. So...I'm not implying you would be stuck in SNF's as a COTA, but I preferred to go for the flexibility of the MOT.

 

[geronamo26]

I do not know why COTAs were not used. This may be due to a regional thing where I am at. When I asked COTAs about other settings, they all say pay is way better in SNF.

Cannot really comment on HC setting for COTAs. I only know 2 people doing it in. There is a heavy demand for OTs in home care in my area, but all the OTs I talk to dislike it.

No comment on mental health. Never been in that setting.

I'm surprised. Why do they not like home care? I like the variety of focus in OT (rehab, mental health?, developmental disabilities, etc), but I'm starting to notice that practice settings for COTAs are quite limited. Im sure OTs have more opportunities, but I have no interest in becoming an OT.

 

[beestrng]

The demand is high in an really undesirable area.

Regarding the mental health topic, @InfoNerd101 has been posting a lot in regards to Occupational Therapy and mental health. He/she posted in a variety of subforums but the responses are interesting.