Jul 24, 2024
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For those interested in becoming an occupational therapist, the sheer diversity of choices for advanced certification is an exciting draw to the field. Whether you dream of working in a certain setting or serving a specific population, there’s a specialization that exists to help you get there and, most importantly, stand out from the pack.
However, more options can also mean more confusion. So we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of what OT students and recent grads should know about the specialties and certifications available to them.
When you’re fresh out of school, you may not be thinking about pursuing a certification right away. However, it’s definitely something worth having on your radar, says Jeremy Furniss, OTD, OTR/L, BCG, and current director of quality at the American Occupational Therapy Association.
Furniss encourages young OTs to look toward advanced certification as an organizing factor for continuing education, as well as “the other requirements that are needed to meet licensure anyway.”
“Why not have an end goal in mind that really helps to structure those efforts and develop you as an advanced practitioner in an area you’re passionate about?” he says. “A specialty certification signifies to potential clients and employers that you’re an expert in your field and committed to staying up-to-date on best practices.”
For those who are unsure what direction to take, Furniss believes fieldwork settings can prove useful in narrowing your options, even if it’s simply by helping you realize what you’re not interested in.
Laura Ramsey, a recent OT grad based in Connecticut, says per diem work is another great way to gain exposure to different settings and explore potential certifications. In fact, it was a per diem position in a hospital that reinforced her passion for working with clients in a home care setting. This realization led her to pursue a certification in home modifications and start her own business with her friend Ashley Marino, called Livable Spaces. Ramsey and Marino conduct home evaluations and develop custom designs catered to their clients’ specific abilities and lifestyles, which has been invaluable in setting them apart from other OTs in the area.
Now that we’ve established the benefits, what are the options available for OTs? The short answer is: A whole heck of a lot! The AOTA offers a number of board and specialty certifications, but they aren’t the only certifying organization in town.
There are nine board certifications and specialties offered by the AOTA:
These are other specialty certifications available to OTs that are offered through various specialty associations:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the mean annual wage for OTs is $89,470. The highest paid OTs work in home health care services, with an average annual wage of $102,640. However, it’s important to note that your income as an OT varies depending on a wide range of factors, such as your location, experience, market saturation, etc.
Kate Washa Boyd, MS, OTR/L, CLT, LSVT BIG, founded OTSalary.com to increase transparency around OT compensation in various work settings. Boyd says her research efforts have found that skilled nursing is one of the highest-paying specialties, and she names hand therapy as one of the more lucrative specializations. Still, she says, “It depends on so many variables, as well as an individual’s willingness to negotiate their salary.”
Boyd recently earned her third certification. She says this professional level expertise is the best way OTs can expand their skill set and make themselves more marketable in different settings, thus increasing their salary potential.
“The great thing about OT is that it’s so broad and there’s so many different certifications you can go for,” Boyd says. “Don’t be afraid to move jobs to find the perfect fit. Every time you do so, you have another option to negotiate your salary.”
Now for some more details on the board certifications offered by the AOTA.
With the number of senior citizens on the rise, gerontology is one of the most popular specialties and involves working with the aging population in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, outpatient settings, skilled nursing facilities, and in-home healthcare.
This OT specialty focuses on mental health treatment and prevention services for those with severe and persistent mental illness, with a focus on function and independence.
OTs who specialize in pediatrics help children succeed in daily activities such as learning, socializing, and playing, as well as general functioning skills.
This specialty gives OTs the ability to “design and implement physical rehabilitation interventions that are client-centered, contextually relevant, and evidence-based to facilitate optimal occupational engagement,” according to the AOTA.
At the moment, the requirements for board certification include:
However, it’s essential to note that the AOTA recently announced that the traditional application process will be changed to an exam-based certification in late 2020. The current portfolio process will accept submissions through December 2019.
Obtaining a specialty certification is a less intense process than getting board-certified.
The AOTA offers specialty certifications in the following areas:
Expertise in helping clients adjust to challenges that impact the ability to drive safely, such as physical, mental, and sensory abilities.
Expertise in modifying or adapting environments (e.g., home, school, work, etc.) to meet the needs of their clients and maximize their safety and independence.
Expertise in working with clients who have difficulties with feeding, eating, and swallowing.
Expertise in working with adults who have deficiencies in acuity and visual field as a result of eye disease/conditions or brain injury.
Expertise in providing and promoting occupational therapy in public or private school settings.
As we mentioned above with the boards, exam-based advanced certifications will replace the current peer-reviewed reflective portfolio application process in late 2020. Here are the current requirements for the specialty certifications offered through the AOTA:
Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of other specialty certifications you can pursue to advance your knowledge as an OT.
ATP professionals analyze the technology needs of consumers with all types of disabilities, helping them to select and properly use adaptive devices from hearing aids to augmentative communication.
This certification is just what it sounds like, and it’s ideal for OTs who have a desire to help clients improve functional activities through water-based therapeutic exercises.
DIR, which stands for the developmental, individual-differences, and relationship-based model, is a framework that enables OTs to promote and understand the positive development of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This certification allows OTs to better construct a program tailored to a child’s unique challenges and strengths.
Earning a CHT certification is a process more rigorous than most, but one that’s known to be well-paying within the OT field. This specialty is ideal for OTs seeking advanced clinical knowledge and skills to help clients regain manual skills and resume functional activities with their hands and upper extremities.
The lymphedema certification is for OTs who wish to specialize in successfully treating and managing clients affected by lymphedema and other related conditions.
A Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist helps older individuals live in their homes safely as they age, recommending home modifications and solutions based on safety and functional needs.
This certification is a natural fit for OTs who wish to advance their skill set, knowledge, and confidence in working with both children and adults with autism.
For OTs who love working with humans and horses, a hippotherapy certification enables them to incorporate equines and equine movement in treatment.
This certification allows OTs to deepen their knowledge of caring for clients who have experienced a brain injury.
This certification is a worthwhile endeavor for OTs who wish to improve the outcomes for clients with diabetes in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
This certification enables OTs to specialize in the areas of industrial rehabilitation, work injury, and work hardening/conditioning.
This certification is ideal for OTs wishing to expand their toolkit with kinesio taping, a rehabilitative taping technique designed to facilitate the body’s natural healing process.
OTs with this certification have expertise in improving the function of clients who have vision impairments.
OTs who want to better serve adults with severe mental illness can benefit from having the CPRP credential.
A CSRS certification is a great option for OTs who want to work in rehabilitation settings with clients who’ve experienced strokes.
Driver rehabilitation specialists work with clients who are dealing with injuries, disabilities, or the effects of aging to help improve their function and independence behind the wheel.
OTs certified in LSVT BIG help clients with Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions to improve their functioning.
NDT is a hands-on treatment approach to enhance the functioning of children and adults who have difficulty controlling movement due to neurological challenges, such as stroke, brain injury, and cerebral palsy.
This certification is ideal for OTs who seek a deeper understanding of Saebo’s Functional Dynamic Orthoses and Saebo Arm Training Program, which allows them to help clients who have experienced a neurological injury.
Image courtesy of iStock.com/Gemalbarra
Last updated on Jul 24, 2024.
Originally published on Feb 21, 2020.
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Hannah Chenoweth is a contributing writer for Berxi. She is a Baltimore-based freelance writer who enjoys covering healthcare and human interest stories. Feel free to connect with her at hannahchenoweth.com.
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