PT or OT?

[Josnnaf219]

Hi everyone,

I'm going to be applying to OT school in several months. Unfortunately, I've been getting cold feet about pursuing a career in OT, as OT school is very expensive (USC tuition is over $120,000). I understand that PT school is also very expensive, but the salary of PT's is also slightly higher than that of OT's. Salary is very important to me, as I plan to continue living in Santa Monica, CA. PT also appear to be more of a respectable field compared to OT.

I originally was going to pursue an education in Physical Therapy, but then fell in love with the OT field after shadowing various therapists.

Why are you pursuing a career in PT? Have you ever thought about becoming an OT? Why did you decide against it?

Thanks! And sorry for the long post!

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[DesertPT]

Salary is very similar, if not identical. PTs and OTs within the same facility will often make the same rate. The small (maybe 7-8%) difference you see on a national average scale is probably to do more with demographics somehow, or maybe that a higher percentage of OTs work in peds. But if you feel you would enjoy the work of an OT better than that of a PT there is no reason to switch. If debt to income ratio is a deal breaker for you than unfortunately no rehabilitation profession is going to work for you.


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[DesertPT]

Also, if your worried about tuition, don't go to USC.


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[turtlot]

Hi everyone,

I'm going to be applying to OT school in several months. Unfortunately, I've been getting cold feet about pursuing a career in OT, as OT school is very expensive (USC tuition is over $120,000). I understand that PT school is also very expensive, but the salary of PT's is also slightly higher than that of OT's. Salary is very important to me, as I plan to continue living in Santa Monica, CA. PT also appear to be more of a respectable field compared to OT.

I originally was going to pursue an education in Physical Therapy, but then fell in love with the OT field after shadowing various therapists.

Why are you pursuing a career in PT? Have you ever thought about becoming an OT? Why did you decide against it?

Thanks! And sorry for the long post!

Hey! My first choice was to go into PT when I was first exposed to it. But after going through undergrad and being an OT patient, I had seriously thought about going into OT. I didn't really commit to doing PT until right before I applied. One of the things that sealed the deal towards PT is the approach I wanted to take. I wanted to treat patients "holistically" which means I wanted to treat them literally from head to toe while building that personal relationship with patients. I'm not saying you won't get the same type of interaction as an OT but, I want to treat feet, knees, backs, and shoulders. Second, the type of specialty I wanted to do really determined my shift towards PT. As a PT, I am able to take a more "science" based specialty meaning I could become a neuro, pediatric, cardiothoracic, or women's health specialist as opposed to OT's who can become more life-oriented specialists such as gerontology, mental health, or feeding/swallowing. Third, as an undergrad I greatly enjoyed the physics-related classes I took. OT's tend to be more psychology-based.

Everyone is different. You just need to know what type of goals you want to accomplish.

I hope this helps!

 

[OHIO PT]

If your main goal is which will command a higher salary in your area I would research how many OT schools vs PT schools there are in your general area. Demand can really dictate which profession has the higher salary.

My company contracts with SNFs and in one area we work in Ohio we are desperate for an OT. The PT schools far outweigh the number of OT schools in our area.

Also consider what setting you think you want to work in.

 

[DesertPT]

Hey! My first choice was to go into PT when I was first exposed to it. But after going through undergrad and being an OT patient, I had seriously thought about going into OT. I didn't really commit to doing PT until right before I applied. One of the things that sealed the deal towards PT is the approach I wanted to take. I wanted to treat patients "holistically" which means I wanted to treat them literally from head to toe while building that personal relationship with patients. I'm not saying you won't get the same type of interaction as an OT but, I want to treat feet, knees, backs, and shoulders. Second, the type of specialty I wanted to do really determined my shift towards PT. As a PT, I am able to take a more "science" based specialty meaning I could become a neuro, pediatric, cardiothoracic, or women's health specialist as opposed to OT's who can become more life-oriented specialists such as gerontology, mental health, or feeding/swallowing. Third, as an undergrad I greatly enjoyed the physics-related classes I took. OT's tend to be more psychology-based.

Everyone is different. You just need to know what type of goals you want to accomplish.

I hope this helps!

this is an extremely outdated old-school view of the difference between OT and PT.

If one were to simplify them down to one sentence, PTs are experts in human movement and OT's are experts in the therapeutic use of every day activities. obviously it is more complicated than that. There are major differences in the training and philosophy of the two professions, and there is also a large degree of overlap. However, the view that OT's treat the upper extremity from the elbow down and work on fine motor skills and PT's treat the lower extremity plus spine and shoulders and work more on gross mobility is a very outdated one that unfortunately still persists in many facilities.




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[beestrng]

nvm

 

[apta_pharaoh]

PT is better. I always thought of it as PTs can do what OTs can do but OTs really cannot do what ever a PT can do. At least in my facility. It's an accident facility and geriatric facility. OTs can only work on balance regarding the legs of geriatric and for accident patients the insurance does not pay OT at all. Where I used to work as an aide a while ago the PT would always say "I can do that there's no point of having him here" (referring to the OT), whenever an elbow patient came in. Another problem with OT I have is evidence based practice they are philosophy psychology based as stated above.

 

[DesertPT]

PT is better. I always thought of it as PTs can do what OTs can do but OTs really cannot do what ever a PT can do. At least in my facility. It's an accident facility and geriatric facility. OTs can only work on balance regarding the legs of geriatric and for accident patients the insurance does not pay OT at all. Where I used to work as an aide a while ago the PT would always say "I can do that there's no point of having him here" (referring to the OT), whenever an elbow patient came in. Another problem with OT I have is evidence based practice they are philosophy psychology based as stated above.

What a garbage post. If you want to continue to believe this, I hope you can come up with some more thoughtful evidence for why PT is "better" than OT besides this incredibly poorly thought out rambling based on anecdotal experience.

Sadly I expect that most of us have heard PTs say similar things to what you are describing in clinical practice. The problem is that outdated traditions that have existed for many years within rehab facilities often prevents the different rehab disciplines from focusing on what they truly have unique expertise in. Artificial lines were arbitrarily drawn in the sand many years ago so that rehab managers didn't have to listen to people complain about other people stepping on their toes.

PTs who believe that OTs add no additional value for the patient beyond what PT can provide might as well be glorified techs, or at best PTAs. If they had the clinical reasoning abilities and theoretical science foundation that members of a doctoring profession should be expected to have today, they would be able to look critically at the training that both PT's and OT's receive and understand where there is overlap and where there are differences, and how the two professions can collaborate and bring their expertise together to improve outcomes.


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[redrose424]

PT is better. I always thought of it as PTs can do what OTs can do but OTs really cannot do what ever a PT can do. At least in my facility. It's an accident facility and geriatric facility. OTs can only work on balance regarding the legs of geriatric and for accident patients the insurance does not pay OT at all. Where I used to work as an aide a while ago the PT would always say "I can do that there's no point of having him here" (referring to the OT), whenever an elbow patient came in. Another problem with OT I have is evidence based practice they are philosophy psychology based as stated above.

What even is "philosophy psychology" based?

 

[apta_pharaoh]

What a garbage post. If you want to continue to believe this, I hope you can come up with some more thoughtful evidence for why PT is "better" than OT besides this incredibly poorly thought out rambling based on anecdotal experience.

Sadly I expect that most of us have heard PTs say similar things to what you are describing in clinical practice. The problem is that outdated traditions that have existed for many years within rehab facilities often prevents the different rehab disciplines from focusing on what they truly have unique expertise in. Artificial lines were arbitrarily drawn in the sand many years ago so that rehab managers didn't have to listen to people complain about other people stepping on their toes.

PTs who believe that OTs add no additional value for the patient beyond what PT can provide might as well be glorified techs, or at best PTAs. If they had the clinical reasoning abilities and theoretical science foundation that members of a doctoring profession should be expected to have today, they would be able to look critically at the training that both PT's and OT's receive and understand where there is overlap and where there are differences, and how the two professions can collaborate and bring their expertise together to improve outcomes.


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When did "I" say they were not beneficial? At my old job "a" PT would always say he does not need help because he is able to do everything the OT was doing. In fact the smartest person I've ever worked with who's at my job now is an OT granted he was trained overseas. It's a FACT that many insurances do not pay for occupational therapy even though the injury is within their scope and even normally for them (hands,elbows shoulder). My boss(DPT) who's a very comfortable millionaire and has 17 clinics said this to me when I asked will PT take over OT, and why don't you just hire 2 PTs since they can't do x? "2 units of PT generates less than 1 unit of PT and 1 unit of OT. OTs have their own budget but physical therapy and speech therapy has to share one, so OTs are not going anywhere because of the money"(as he rubs his hands and laughs). The OP is very concerned with SALARY. PT is better, they are responsible for more body parts and can do anything an OT can do that matters, OTs cannot do everything a PT can do and bill it. I do not mean their knowledge, I mean scope. I cannot see how anyone would think OT is better besides less schooling I guess. Tell me why OT is better?

@redrose424 those are separated not one thing.

 

[beestrng]

nvm

 

[OHIO PT]

When did "I" say they were not beneficial? At my old job "a" PT would always say he does not need help because he is able to do everything the OT was doing. In fact the smartest person I've ever worked with who's at my job now is an OT granted he was trained overseas. It's a FACT that many insurances do not pay for occupational therapy even though the injury is within their scope and even normally for them (hands,elbows shoulder). My boss(DPT) who's a very comfortable millionaire and has 17 clinics said this to me when I asked will PT take over OT, and why don't you just hire 2 PTs since they can't do x? "2 units of PT generates less than 1 unit of PT and 1 unit of OT. OTs have their own budget but physical therapy and speech therapy has to share one, so OTs are not going anywhere because of the money"(as he rubs his hands and laughs). The OP is very concerned with SALARY. PT is better, they are responsible for more body parts and can do anything an OT can do that matters, OTs cannot do everything a PT can do and bill it. I do not mean their knowledge, I mean scope. I cannot see how anyone would think OT is better besides less schooling I guess. Tell me why OT is better?

@redrose424 those are separated not one thing.

You seem to have very little knowledge about this topic, maybe stop responding with such ridiculous posts. I 100% can not do everything an OT can do at my job. There a plenty of OT's in my company that make more than PTs in my company. It is dependent on a lot of different factors. And the fact that OT has their own budget of Med B money is not the only reason OTs arent going anywhere.

You are clearly an OP PT with very little respect for OTs and little knowledge of their roles in many other settings. Do some reading or experience something outside your clinic and educate yourself.

 

[OHIO PT]

You are clearly an OP PT with very little respect for OTs and little knowledge of their roles in many other settings. Do some reading or experience something outside your clinic and educate yourself.

NVM, it appears you aren't even a therapist yet. No wonder you have such little knowledge regarding this topic, maybe limit the areas you give advice in to things you actually have experience/knowledge in.

 

[DesertPT]

PT is better, they are responsible for more body parts

I certainly hope PTs and OTs are treating people not body parts. And I'm not sure where you got the idea that the OT scope of practice is limited to the upper extremity. If you are thinking only in terms of outpatient orthopedics, think again. I have seen many OTs treat patients with lower extremity impairment and none of them have been sued.

 

[apta_pharaoh]

You seem to have very little knowledge about this topic, maybe stop responding with such ridiculous posts. I 100% can not do everything an OT can do at my job. There a plenty of OT's in my company that make more than PTs in my company. It is dependent on a lot of different factors. And the fact that OT has their own budget of Med B money is not the only reason OTs arent going anywhere.

You are clearly an OP PT with very little respect for OTs and little knowledge of their roles in many other settings. Do some reading or experience something outside your clinic and educate yourself.

No more back and forth. If you could hire only( I know there are many variables) one and wanted to make money who and treat more patients who would you choose? If you could do it over again would you be a PT or OT? I just said the smartest person I know is an OT. He teaches me more than any PT. BUT PTs can do more. Saying you know OTs who make more is irrelevant when there are some PTAs, and RNs that make as much as both PT and OTs. Who averages more money? Not saying it is significant. As stated OTs are beneficial. I will never be one to discredit a career that has helped so many people. This is what a man who's been recognized by apta and owns clinics said about OTs being taken over.

 

[apta_pharaoh]

I certainly hope PTs and OTs are treating people not body parts. And I'm not sure where you got the idea that the OT scope of practice is limited to the upper extremity. If you are thinking only in terms of outpatient orthopedics, think again. I have seen many OTs treat patients with lower extremity impairment and none of them have been sued.

They can't bill it where I work for sure its outpatient geriatric, they can't touch accident patients at all here. They split body's between OTs and Pts with post surgery patients. Even inpatient acute I've seen it split up where they both go and do something the PT could have done. Does it help yes! does it generate more money yes!

 

[redrose424]

When did "I" say they were not beneficial? At my old job "a" PT would always say he does not need help because he is able to do everything the OT was doing. In fact the smartest person I've ever worked with who's at my job now is an OT granted he was trained overseas. It's a FACT that many insurances do not pay for occupational therapy even though the injury is within their scope and even normally for them (hands,elbows shoulder). My boss(DPT) who's a very comfortable millionaire and has 17 clinics said this to me when I asked will PT take over OT, and why don't you just hire 2 PTs since they can't do x? "2 units of PT generates less than 1 unit of PT and 1 unit of OT. OTs have their own budget but physical therapy and speech therapy has to share one, so OTs are not going anywhere because of the money"(as he rubs his hands and laughs). The OP is very concerned with SALARY. PT is better, they are responsible for more body parts and can do anything an OT can do that matters, OTs cannot do everything a PT can do and bill it. I do not mean their knowledge, I mean scope. I cannot see how anyone would think OT is better besides less schooling I guess. Tell me why OT is better?

@redrose424 those are separated not one thing.

You still didn't say what it was and how it relates to OT, because you simply made it up.

As I remember though you are always making ridiculous posts.

 

[Second*Adulthood*Rocks]

Hi everyone,

I'm going to be applying to OT school in several months. Unfortunately, I've been getting cold feet about pursuing a career in OT, as OT school is very expensive (USC tuition is over $120,000). I understand that PT school is also very expensive, but the salary of PT's is also slightly higher than that of OT's. Salary is very important to me, as I plan to continue living in Santa Monica, CA. PT also appear to be more of a respectable field compared to OT.

I originally was going to pursue an education in Physical Therapy, but then fell in love with the OT field after shadowing various therapists.

Why are you pursuing a career in PT? Have you ever thought about becoming an OT? Why did you decide against it?

Thanks! And sorry for the long post!

Hi Josnnaf219. I am currently a pre-physical therapy student, but I originally wanted to pursue OT. I would be happy to explain my personal reasons for the change of heart. Like you, the expense of PT school caused me to pause. The fact that PT school (in my area) is 3 years opposed OT school being 2 years also caused me to pause. Losing wages for an extra year while in school added another financial dimension. I am a more mature student returning to school later in life, so my pre-requisites were outdated, meaning I would have to take quite a few over again for PT school, but not quite as many for OT school. That of course, also caused me to pause. Also, I really liked the idea that OTs truly help people to live full, independent lives.

With all of these reasons, the logical choice seemed to be OT school. Even so, I switched my focus to PT. I had 2 main reasons.

#1) One of the reasons I decided to pursue becoming a PT instead of OT is displayed in the heated argument above between other forum members. I noticed there was just too much confusion and confrontation about what OTs do and the place of OT in health care. With the general population I expected it, but I noticed too much of it within the actual healthcare community. They weren't open-minded misunderstandings with the intent to understand more either... it was usually heated and could get a little nasty. I didn't want to feel like it was always going to be an uphill battle to defend my field to other healthcare practitioners. I respect OTs and their work immensely. On the PT side I believe I can be an advocate for OT without feeling the need to defend my own personal career choice and field. It just seemed like too much confrontation that I didn't want to be a part of. I truly hope I'm not offending anyone, but that was my personal take and my personal choice. Nothing more.

#2) I wanted to work with the aging populations, which is why I originally thought OT would be perfect. But, I was disappointed with the approach that I noticed with OTs and the aging population. I noticed a lot of interventions that would have worked great for children being used as interventions with the aging population. Now I am sure that's not industry wide, but it was something that I noticed personally while making my decision. I just felt that someone who had 70+ years of life experience, lived through wars, raising a family, and so many other experiences, deserved more interventions that reflected their stage of development. The OTs I saw always treated the patients with dignity and respect, they were amazing people. I just noticed that the actual approach of interventions seemed geared toward children instead of adults. Maybe its more about American culture instead of the OT field itself, as we are a very youth-oriented culture. Either way, I wanted to focus on adults, particularly aging adults because I truly believe it's a demographic that I can bring a lot of compassion to. I personally felt I could do that more with PT than with OT because of the interventions that I personally saw being used.

These are just my personal opinions, based on my own experiences. I am definitely an advocate for both OT and PT, children and adults, and all sorts of different types of interventions. I don't mean to say that OTs are youth oriented, but I do believe our American culture is youth-oriented. I am definitely not saying that OTs use inappropriate interventions for adults, but I did personally witness a few interventions that seemed more geared toward children from my personal perspective. I really hope my personal experience and opinions are taken for what they are, not an industry critique or review, just my own personal thought process.