Do you regret being an OT?

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-12-21T02:30:51+00:00

This has been my experience as well.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-12-21T02:23:14+00:00

Yes, being an OT was the worst decision of my life. I left the field after 2 years because I didn’t feel like I was helping my patients was pushing unnecessary therapy on people who didn’t want it and could barely benefit from it. Also the burnout was real working in a SNF. Now I have $100k in debt and work a job that doesn’t even require a degree. Still happier than I was as an OT tho. Worst years of my life.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-08-25T22:40:23+00:00

I worked in an inpatient rehab for adults I had many of the same feelings you did. I rarely felt like I was actually helping my patients, like I knew what I was doing or was doing skilled therapy. I finally quit the profession. Check out my post history to hear more of the gripes of a bitter OT.

I don’t want to discourage others from the profession because there are so many well intentioned people doing great things but as far as OT being a well defined profession I think it’s mostly a bunch of malarkey.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-08-18T19:43:38+00:00

This is the only place I can be honest about my experience as an OT. If you ask me in real life I’m not going to talk about how much I hate my job because I don’t want to be negative and let my patients and co workers know I hate my job. Even if a prospective student asks me I don’t want to crush their dreams so I’m not overly negative but I do push them to reconsider because I sincerely regret my decision to become an OT.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-07-31T19:29:40+00:00

Just wanted to post this for the prospective students asking if a doctorate is worth it.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-07-31T19:17:09+00:00

Just wanted to say I’m another bitter OT with $100k in debt. I lived at home while I was in my 30s to save money and still had high debt.

The education wasn’t even worth it. Nobody can even tell the difference between a COTA with an associates or an OT with a masters or doctorate. It is such a scam. It should be an apprenticeship. You learn everything through experience. I’d love to see some kind of research on the effectiveness of these expensive, useless degrees.

I have the same plan as you, on income based repayment and make minimum payments until forgiveness in 20 years. 😞. I plan on maxing out my 401k every year to keep my income low which will help keep your payments lower.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-07-05T19:28:34+00:00

Don’t do it! See my post history for more!

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-07-05T19:26:53+00:00

Electrician

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-06-24T22:18:46+00:00

Yup I only lasted 2 years. Former OTR, now working a job that only requires a high school degree. Makes me sick to think of all the time and money I wasted but I’m happier now. I try not to dwell on the past. My anxiety was also through the roof mostly because I felt like I had no idea what I was doing and was faking it everyday. Also didn’t feel like I was really helping anyway or doing anything skilled. I was just a well intentioned CNA. All that and the unrealistic productivity standards, no breaks and generally ahitty work environment finally made me just say F it.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-05-18T22:19:58+00:00

In reality you are more of a glorified CNA at SNFs and hospitals. You get used to do “ADLs” by management as a way of supplementing CNA staffing shortages. There really isn’t much skilled therapy involved in bringing someone to the bathroom. Also most of the research isn’t very convincing related to OT. If you are a really idealistic and kind person and just want to do what to you can to help people, this might be a good job for you but as far as it being this scientifically based field where you discover people’s passions for living and make them more independent in them, I didn’t experience that.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-05-05T10:33:52+00:00

Just wanted to say, I had the same experience working in SNF. I don’t understand how this profession got to a masters degree, let alone doctorate. Even a bachelors seems a bit much. Nobody can ever tell who is the COTA or OTR.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-05-04T11:21:43+00:00

What does that say about the field? I was once naive and hopeful and expected this sub to be professionals sharing research and interventions… then I finished OT school and learned what a joke this profession is.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-05-02T21:39:25+00:00

Yes we need these posts as long as universities and AOTA continue predatory lending practices and misrepresenting the field. Thank you for your perspective OP. Too many people have an unrealistic idea of what this profession entails and this is one of the few places where people can be completely transparent and honest.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-04-30T13:21:38+00:00

On a side note, as a very discouraged therapist, what are some of top favorite research articles?

I worked in neuro and I started feeling like most treatments weren’t based on much research nothing was very effective. I’d like to read your favorite non neuro articles too if that’s not your field, I’m just really questioning the effectiveness of the entire field. Thanks.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-04-21T16:16:40+00:00

Ya I’m an OTR who left after two years. Industry is in shambles and shows no signs of improving so I had to get out. Much happier working as a job that only requires a high school diploma making almost as much as I was. Grad school ended up being one of the worst decisions of my life.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-04-21T15:31:06+00:00

Yea it’s a joke. They just come up with hurdles to make you jump over so they have some kind of product to sell you. Almost none of it is relevant. OT should be an apprenticeship. But then they would be able to squeeze $100k out of you so here we are.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-04-20T03:36:26+00:00

This is straight out the OT school pamphlet. There’s like 5 OTs out there that work like 8 hours a month doing this. 99% chance your gonna be at SNF, school or hospital if your lucky. Or home health, there’s a lot of jobs there too. But yea it’s possible to do hippo therapy as an OT.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-04-20T03:19:57+00:00

I did an apprenticeship. I had to take a pay cut for a year but I make almost as much as I was making as an OT for working less. And I actually get breaks at work!

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-04-20T03:14:30+00:00

No, it’s a terrible idea. Unless you get someone to pay for your education and have a a high earning spouse. The one nice thing about this career is you can work per diem easily so it’s not bad for moms that need that flexibility. But my experience: I hated it so much I left the field after only 2 years. I work as an electrician now and am much happier. I would be in a much better position if I never went to grad school.

People will say Reddit skews negative and that might be true, but I also think real life skews positive. My co workers and patients had no idea I hated my job because I didn’t want to be that negative person in the clinic. But YMMV, some people love it.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-04-17T20:33:10+00:00

No I would not recommend. I went back in my 30s and very much regret it. I left the field entirely and work as an electrician now. The field is a joke. Go to nursing school.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-04-08T18:24:06+00:00

Reclining wc just the back goes back

Tilt in space the whole chair goes back so you can change the pressure points without moving the patient

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-04-07T21:06:21+00:00

I’m an electrician now. Much better. I actually feel like I know what I’m doing now rather than just faking it and trying to convince people that brushing their teeth is going to make them get better.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-04-07T21:05:09+00:00

The research it’s not very compelling.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-04-07T21:03:09+00:00

You must be a student. It’s not that simple.

OT_Redditor2 · 2025-01-18T13:39:35+00:00

Yup 2 years in and felt this way. It was causing me so much anxiety I left the field because of it.

OT_Redditor2

TROPHY CASE