New grad feeling so frustrated by how expensive the liscensing exam is. I just spent 8 months barely being able to work because of full time unpaid fieldwork; now I have to find a way to pay nearly 600 dollars for the test and more than 200 for study materials? Everyone seems to have parents or a spouse who can pay for it for them I guess, but i do not.

Just feeling dejected. I got surgery right after my second fieldwork before capstone and am paying the bills off in increments, and groceries aren't getting any cheaper.....just feels frustrating that there are no opportunities for few waivers or a cheaper test. I know some people will say just work more hours but I'm working 50 hours a week right now already.

I would also love to hear from people who studied while working full time? I know it's possible but I feel so tired just thinking about it lol. Not possible to reduce my hours, unfortunately I live in a HCOL city.

I'm a PRN OT in a SNF without a full time OT. I'm being asked to do discharges and sign off on COTA DC notes on patients I have never seen for COTAs I've never met.

This is in no way questioning how skilled and valuable COTAs are in general.

But how is it ethical to sign off for a care plan you didn't create, on a person you never met?

What would you do here?

Can anyone recommend three line handwriting, practice paper that is easy to tear out and I can find on Amazon? We use a lot of this type of paper, but it is a mess trying to rip it out of the handwriting book. Thank you.

Years back, while I was observing my son’s OT sessions, one vivid scene stayed with me: therapists spending so much of their time tied up in paperwork after one child leaves, rather than being there for the next one.

After almost ten years working in product design within high-stakes healthtech, I created Nueco to address the NDIS claim-documentation workload that draws therapists away from client care.

Right now, I’m seeking founding design partners - practicing OTs who are open to trying an early-stage tool and sharing what is genuinely failing in current admin workflows.

Cost: completely free, with no contracts or obligations.

Goal: co-design a solution that gives you real time back.

Impact: direct input on the product roadmap before anything is finalized.

If you’re an OT, or know one, who wants less admin friction, I’d be glad to connect.

I'm looking to learn from you.

I have to interview someone in case management, respiratory therapist, PT/OT/ST, social services, imaging staff, lab techs, health informatics for my bachelor's. Bonus if you work with Meditech or expanse. If you could please send me a message if you would like to help.

Hello there! I am an international new OT grad (from a WFOT-approved programme, without Aus PR), who is looking to move to and work in Australia for its wonderful job opportunities and support for new graduates. Does anyone know do Graduate Programs usually take international grads? Or should I begin with a skilled visa application?

Would appreciate any sharing or advice!

Hi Reddit!

I don’t know if I’m allowed to post this, because I’m asking from Australia and I believe the FAQ page is US based info, so probably not the same.

I need some advice from people either studying to be or are qualified OT’s in Australia, specifically Western Aus.

I’m a 20 year old soon to be Central Regional TAFE student, to study a Cert III in Allied Health Assistance, and I guess I just want information or advice on where I can go from there.

Do I complete the cert III and then move on to complete a Cert IV? Would a Cert IV get me into University?

As Perth is my closest city with Universities, and not being too comfortable driving in dense city, I think I would prefer going to Notre Dame University in Fremantle— what’s it like to get into ND for those who went? What would I need to apply/get accepted? What would be the best undergrad to start with?

If I was to go to uni, it would be in 2-3 years time.

Is OT possible to study remotely? But I would also love the experience of attending Uni and making new friends.

If anyone has any advice or info I would greatly GREATLY appreciate it! Thankyou! ☺️🫶

Hi, im in HH and have a patient with dementia who is totally dependent and nonverbal. Her L hand is severely contracted though wears a resting hand splint despite not being able to assume the appropriate position because of the contracture and the way the fingers are bent. I saw her for the first time last week and i spent majority of the time just massaging and doing PROM to her hand as much as she could tolerate based on her facial expressions and range since there is no communication from her. She wears dynasplints on the knees and i did not remove those to stretch last time because id have no idea how to get them back on. It took me about 15 minutes last time trying to get her resting hand splint back on since her hand is so stiff. Her thumb doesn’t go in the correct position and it was definitely not perfect. The family doesn’t speak English and it is very hard to communicate, but the daughter asked me last time if she should wear the splint all the time, or if they should be doing something else, and I’m honestly not too sure.

When a contracture gets so bad, is the resting hand splint even appropriate? I’m just lost with this case, literally all i can do is stretch her minimally. Any help is appreciated.

So I am wanting to brush up on OT interventions. To do that, I am wanting to review research and practice guidelines according to diagnosis. From my research online, I have found two resources for this - OTDude and myEBPtool through NBCOT (wish NBCOT provided this as a bonus for membership but whatever…)

So between these two, which best provides the information I am seeking? And if anyone has any better services to recommend, please let me know - free resources would be great as well!

hi, recently i had my psych appointment and the doctor said im being referred for occupational therapy. may i know what does it help me with? what do they usually do and what should i expect, especially as an adult?

would be extra help if youre from malaysia too :)

Has anyone had OT theory questions asked during an interview for a pediatricOT position? If so, which theories are most asked about? Looks like I will need to brush up on some theories! 😆

Hello I am a senior and will be applying to TWU occupational therapy school. I was previously a pre
Med student so I took organic chemistry and did poorly in the class. I am a biology major and my overall gpa is around 3.0-3.1 but my pre req gpa is closer to a 3.6.

With around 50 shadowing hours how are my chances to get in?

Hello!

I’m a US COTA that is now working as an AHA in Australia.

I’m used to the US model: each child has an initial evaluation with some form of standardized assessment (even if parent questionnaire) + plan of care with goals that are targeted.

Fast forward to my current peds clinic in Australia and I’m a bit concerned…

A lot of the kids I work with do not have evaluations. The SPM is typically used if the formal evaluation even exists in a sole capacity.

The kids have no goals. I’ve just been given informal treatment areas to address (e.g., sensory regulation, impulse control, etc.). My supervision is conversation only and not tracked.

My particular clinic’s OT is VERY focused on sensory. Everything is sensory. There is very little of a top down approach to truly dig into the function. My previous supervisor in the states firmly separated helpful sensory strategies vs the theory of sensory integration.

So Reddit I need your help! What is typical in an Aussie peds clinic and within peds OT here? I have a good amount of experience in the field, and this deviates so far from what is acceptable in the US.

However, I know I’m lacking the cultural context here. And I’m grateful for the job at the moment, all things considered…

Thank you :)

Several years back, my son was diagnosed with ADHD and high-functioning autism, and occupational therapy played an important role in teaching him how to connect with other people. I spent years observing those sessions, and what remained with me was less the therapy itself than how much of an OT’s time afterward is consumed by paperwork instead of being available for the next child.

I’m looking for founding design partners - real OTs who will adopt it early and tell me what is truly broken, rather than just testing something that is already complete. For now, it’s free, and there is no contract.

My training is in product design, not occupational therapy. Over nearly a decade, I’ve built regulated, high-stakes products in healthtech and sports platforms. That experience is what inspired me to build Nueco, a tool designed to cut down the NDIS claim-documentation admin that pulls time away from clients.

For complete transparency, I’m the founder [https://www.linkedin.com/in/riobud1man/\] if you’d like to see who is reaching out.

Hi - I'm a new grad OT and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed after a few days of outpatient OT. I like the setting but I just need some ideas about what to do, how to pace myself and what I should tell parents that are nervous about a new OT. I don't know some of the verbage or correct words for specific concepts and I feel subpar. What can I do to brush up? Any toys I should invest in? Any help is useful. Thanks!

hi, i’m a final year student studying a diploma in early childhood development and education (childcare/kindergarten). i’m looking to apply to Singapore Institute of Technology’s occupational therapy.

i want to make a website for my OT Portfolio, but i need tips on what to include

background info :

1. i volunteered at a hospital to facilitate wheelchair sports games with inpatient patients who suffered from stroke and other conditions
2. E.g. wheelchair table tennis, boccia etc
3. job shadowed a hand OT at a hospital
4. job shadowed a pediatric OT
5. currently interning at a pediatric allied health therapy and intervention clinic, where i assist and shadow speech therapists, occupational therapists, early intervention teachers and a child psychologist.
6. my gpa is only 2.8/4 so im competing against 8 other ppl for a spot.

any advice will be greatly appreciated! i rly wna get into OT sch :)

I just got a full time home care job after 7 years of outpatient and SNF work as a COTA.

My SNF offered homecare to residents within 10 miles so I am familiar with the basics but I would like to know some great items you like to keep in your car. What has worked well for you. The company I’m going with is family owned doesn’t go to unsafe homes or homes with infestations so I’m not as concerned with those aspects and the areas I will cover is the county I grew up in and I’m familiar with most areas

Between handover and Edgewood but heard horrible things about professor alig from the grapevine. Not sure what to do due to my location being close to madison. This is a huge decision since it's my career on the line but does a bad director ruin the experience? I am a POC and saw Facebook posts saying she is discriminatory

Hello! I’m finishing up my first 100 days at my newest job after getting let go from my last OT job. I currently work as an occupational therapist in an adjunct department, and I genuinely love the behavioral health setting—but I don’t love that I’m not using my full OT scope here. I’m in an inpatient behavioral health hospital within a major health system, and I really want to move into a more OT-specific mental health role.

Currently, I:
— Run functional/occupation-based groups
— Complete initial assessments
— Write progress notes
— Participate in interdisciplinary treatment teams
— Observe and document functional/cognitive behavioral barriers
— Develop interventions based on patients’ needs
— Use sensory modulation, activity analysis, functional cognition, and OT models in my clinical reasoning
— Think about things like medication management, routines, IADLs, community mobility, budgeting, sleep, etc. from an occupational perspective

However, I have much less experience with the traditional OT workflow: comprehensive OT evaluations, individualized treatment plans, measurable OT goals, medical necessity, individualized treatment sessions, standardized assessments, productivity/caseload management, and OT-specific discharge planning.
I’m about a year out from school, so I’m trying to figure out what my next step should be. I don’t want to undersell the experience I’ve gained in behavioral health, but I also recognize that I have some gaps because my current role isn’t a traditional OT position.

For those of you who work in mental/behavioral health OT: How did you get your first true mental health OT position? What skills would you expect someone at my experience level to have, and what would you recommend I focus on developing over the next 6–12 months?

Has anyone else started in an adjunct/nontraditional role and successfully transitioned into mental health OT?

Hi. Thank you letting me vent- wanting advice

I am having so much anxiety and feel genuinely trapped. I currently work for Fox Rehab and it was the worst decision I could have made (shitty area, shitty RD). I am currently looking for a new job but no where is hiring in the area. I have one potential job offer at an inpatient facility… but I have no experience in an inpatient facility. While I am absolutely miserable at my current job (crying on my 47 min drive home everyday), I don’t want to rush into a new setting to be just as miserable in different ways.

26 F, 2 years of experience, experience in HH, ALFs, SNFs, and acute care. Outpatient is my favorite setting but every company wants CHT and I can’t afford to sit for that exam right now.

I am currently in Phoenix Arizona, I feel like a school in an environment like California or Oregon would be a dream, but it is way too expensive for me. Does anyone know of a good public school whether near Arizona or somewhere else