Physician Assistant vs Occupational Therapy, Which Career Is Better?

 

Choosing a job in the medical industry involves a great deal of responsibility, especially since all of the options include the preservation of human life.

Making the decision on what career path to pursue and what to study is a big decision, that can be very daunting!

So this article will focus on the differences between Physician assistants and Occupational Therapy to make the final much easier for you.

Physician Assistant (PA) vs Occupational Therapy (OT) Which Career Is Better?

In short, Physician Assistants are thought to be better than Occupational Therapists since they earn more money.

Occupational Therapy (OT) is a better career choice for students than Physician Assistant (PA) since it provides greater flexibility, freedom, and work prospects. Master’s degrees are required for both Occupational Therapy and Physician Assistants.

However, both careers are equally important in the healthcare industry, even though they revolve around totally different practices.

This question’s solution can be found in a person’s interests in one or both of the fields.

Both professions have the potential to lead to a rewarding career; nevertheless, your ability to adapt to the domain you pick is important.

Understanding the differences between the two disciplines is perhaps the most efficient approach to discover and follow your passions.

You may then pick the best choices for yourself, taking into account employment prospects, income, and, most importantly, your interests.

But before we go any further let’s discuss want a Social Worker does compare to Occupational Therapist, what are the differences;

Occupational therapists treat injured, ill, or disabled patients through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. Physician Assistants, also known as PAs, practice medicine on teams with physicians, surgeons, and other healthcare workers. They examine, diagnose, and treat patients.

Now that we’ve answered the main question, let’s look at what it takes to be an Occupational Therapist vs. a Physician Assistant.

So let’s talk about Occupational Therapy?

Being an Occupational Therapist you get the satisfaction of helping people to achieve their life goals by helping them assist them in achieving purposeful activities.

There is flexibility as there are opportunities to work in paediatric, geriatric, hand therapy, neurology and psychiatry, vision therapy, sensory integration therapy etc.

An occupational therapist’s profession is intriguing, gratifying, and enjoyable.

Occupational Therapists are also subjected to mental and physical strain from time to time, particularly when certain patients stop improving and hit a plateau.

Then nothing you try will work. Long job hours, poor patient behaviour, and heavier patients all contribute to the issues.

Occupational therapists must have at least a master’s degree in the field, and some even have a doctorate.

Occupational therapists are required to be licenced as well.

Occupational therapy graduate schools often need a bachelor’s degree and certain curriculum, such as biology and physiology.

Applicants to many programs must also have volunteered or worked in an occupational therapy setting.

Candidates should enquire about particular criteria from the programme they wish to attend.

Master’s programmes typically last two to three years, while doctorate programmes last roughly three and a half years.

Some colleges provide a five-year dual-degree programme in which a student can receive both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.

Part-time programmes with evening and weekend classes are also offered.

So if you are thinking about becoming an Occupational Therapist need to consider the cost of education.

You can expect to pay to study costs of somewhere between $40k to $80k per year.

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A Physician Assistant, or PA, is an important cog in hospital and clinical practices tasked with taking care of incoming patients.

PA often works directly under the supervision of an established medical professional such as a Surgeon or a Head Doctor.

Their job duties can involve taking care of daily matters at the clinic/hospital if the in-charge doctor is unavailable.

A PA typically fulfils the following tasks:

• Documenting and evaluating patient’s history

• Run a routine patient checkup

• Identifying and prescribing necessary medical tests to patients

• Diagnosing an issue with a patient

• Provide full treatment in case of damaged body parts until recovery.

• Communication with the patient’s family to advise, recommend diet, and more.

• Prescribing drugs

• Recording and analyzing patient’s information and progress

• Staying up to date with the newest health trends

• Participate in the many wellness programs for the betterment of the community

Physician Assistants usually study the mainstream medical subjects in their master’s program while also receiving the necessary clinical training to refine their practices.

Earning that degree usually takes at least 2 years of full-time postgraduate study.

Physician assistant graduate school applicants typically have experience caring directly for patients.

It is important to note that physician assistants must complete 100 hours of ongoing education every two years.

You should have a general idea of both careers by now, and keeping in mind all the details, you can evaluate which one would be more comfortable for you.

To make this choice much easier, ensure that you genuinely weigh your interests and critically examine your skills.

You can expect to pay to study costs of somewhere between $50k to $65k per year.

Physician Assistant vs Occupational Therapy, who Earns More?

Physician Assistants earn more than Occupational Therapists, with a wage of $86,280 compared to $115,390 per annum, according to Bureau Labor and Statistics.

Demand for healthcare services will increase because of the growing and aging population, as a result, the employment of physician assistants is projected to grow 31 per cent and Occupational Therapists are projected to grow 17 per cent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Yes, PA’s earn relatively more than OT’s, but at the cost of limited freedom or growth opportunities.

It is up to you to decide which scenario aligns perfectly with your long-term goals.

Final Thoughts

In short, because Physician Assistants earn more money, they are believed to be better than Occupational Therapists.

For students, Occupational Therapy (OT) is a better career choice than Physician Assistant (PA) since it offers more flexibility, freedom, and job opportunities.

Both Occupational Therapy and Physician Assistants require master’s degrees.

The Occupational Therapist is autonomous while the Physician Assistant works under the supervision of a Doctor.

That fact creates the primary problem for the PA profession-their counterparts, Nurse Practitioners are able to practice with more autonomy.

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References

  • https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-1
  • https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/mobile/occupational-therapists.htm