Occupational Therapy Assistant or Diagnostic Medical Sonography?

I just completed my general education courses for my aa and looking to choose a major. But, I have no idea which to choose. The simplest and most rewarding seems to be Nursing based on salary/time of degree but honestly don’t feel nursing is for me. I would like to get an associates or possibly aim for bachelors, to a career with job growth opportunities.

I like the idea of occupational therapy because it reminds me a lot of art therapy in a way I know they’re not exact, but from what I’ve seen they can incorporate similar activities in their practice. I also like the idea of sonography, maybe because I am a photographer and like to takes images? No really, something sparks an interest… not sure which type yet though.

My current community college offers a great diagnostic medical sonography program that’s accredited. They also offer dental hygienist along with others. I currently live in a small city (Central Pennsylvania), there is only one other college that offers Occupational therapy assistant program, and compared to my current college it doesn’t look like a good school but I could be wrong.

Comparing both, which field may have more opportunities for a recent grad (I live in Central PA, but willing to relocate after grad) (especially if I were to just get my associates?) Also, if you were to suggest something else… I am open to other suggestions!

Thank you!

I can’t speak about Occupational therapy assistant, but I know both dental hygiene and medical sonography offer great job security and a comfortable lifestyle. I believe dental hygiene requires a bachelor’s to get licensed. (At least in my state they do.)

I think one of the differences you’d need to consider what type of patient population you’d prefer to work with and the type of patient interaction you’ll have. Sonographers do not have long-term relationships with their patients. They’re pretty much one-and done. They will see patients of all ages, occupations and health statuses. OTAs will see the same patient over and over and over and work with the same patient over several weeks or months. OTAs often work with neurological injury patients. They often with the elderly post-stroke or those with dementia. Conversely they often work with children with developmental delays or neurological deficits like cerebral palsy.

The one medical sonographer I know well works 3 days/week (3 12-hour shifts) at a rural regional hospital and has a very comfortable lifestyle. She works in a medically underserved area so she earns a higher than average salary. She was able to buy her own townhome in relative expensive city. (She commutes to work at her rural hospital that is about 40 minutes away.) Professionally, she’s never needed a degree beyond her AA.

Thank you so much for your response! You have truly helped me figure out my confusion. You don’t know how many negative things I’ve read online from all types of professions that has made me go back and forth in loops. I’ve thought about teaching,therapy,ultrasound,business and have just been overthinking this far too long, I’m not getting any younger and in reality I just want a profession where I can be helpful. I guess everyone’s experience is completely different but I sure love to hear some positive stories of people who’ve made it.

Giving some thought to it, I wouldn’t mind not having a long-term relationship with patients. I also like how sonographers don’t necessarily have the same full responsibility for patient care the way physicians/nurses do. I suppose I liked the idea of OTA because it dealt with therapy and you can involve different activities- sort of like art therapists do! But, from what I’ve seen it’s also a lot more than just that. I also think it’s more emotional heavy compared to a sonographer.

The way you described your friend’s work is exactly what I am aiming towards. Job security and comfortable lifestyle… I would love work/life balance and not have to take work home, not sure if that’s asking for too much. I am already in my mid 20’s, have a toddler and possibly another child in the next two years.

I would love to complete my AA, and have a variety of options to choose from, become licensed and have that as a back up that will allow me to start working with out necessarily requiring a higher degree. I currently live in a rural area, so I am def going to get more information on how the job field is here but I also wouldn’t mind relocating if necessary. Do you know if your friend specialized in general ultrasound or a specific type while studying?

My community college offers:
Diagnostic Md Sonography - AAS
DiagnosticMedSpnpgraphy-UltrTch- AS
CVT Cardiac Sonography - AS
CVT: Invasive Cardio Tech- AS

Whoops, sorry that last major doesn’t apply to sonography

I also mentioned OT seems more emotional heavy compared to being a sonographer but, I do see how sonographers have to also deal with a lot of stress/emotional aspect of the job as well being the first to find out abnormalities or major health issues. I guess that’s all part of the medical field though!

@Melodyx

Medical sonographers may be among the first to visualize any abnormalities, but they are not qualified to make a diagnosis, nor are they expected to. That’s the doctor’s job. A radiologist will review any scans you perform and s/he will make the diagnosis. It’s also the doctor’s job to inform the patient of any findings. So if the idea of giving bad news to patients is stressing you out–stop worrying about that. Not your job. In fact, telling patients anything about their scan results–even if everything appears normal-- is unprofessional and unethical.

My friend does general sonography since that’s what’s needed at her work site. She doesn’t do cardiac sonography and she doesn’t do prenatal sonography.

If you do choose to pursue sonography, it’s important that any program you attend prepares you for the national certification exams. RMDS is one of the major certifications sonographers qualify for. You can choose to certify in a specialty field or as general sonographer. You need to take & pass a year of college physics in order to sit for your certification exam. (How are your math skills? You need to be good at algebra to pass physics.)

Read about it here: http://www.ardms.org/get-certified/RDMS/Pages/default.aspx

I think it’s a good idea to investigate the local job market to see what kinds of positions are available. Relocating is entirely up to you, but if you can find work near you current location, consider getting some job experience there before you move. It makes you more employable in larger, more competitive job markets.

I am an occupational therapist and have been one for 33 years. One benefit to OT is their are any different areas an OTA can work in including schools. Home health , hospitals, out patient settings, assisted living facilities and nursing homes. They can also work in a mental health setting. There is may be some requirements to work holidays and weekends depending on where you work. I can’t speak to sonography, but you may want to look and see if shift work is expected . I would also look at job availability in your area for both.

Thank you both for replying, I truly appreciate it! I love the idea of both Sonography and OT, ultimately to me they both seem great. I was aiming more for sonography since my school offers it. I check job availability in my area for both fields and it looks decent, of course that may change here in a few years but so far it looks great, even in surrounding areas.

Unfortunately, it seems like I won’t be able to do neither.

I spoke to the director of DiagnosticMedicalSonography at my college and she stated the DMS program is a full day time/40hrs a week! They have over 45 applicants and only 12 slot open. I asked if I can take individual classes to pursue this career but she said no that the program is the degree. Seriously? I understand the 12 slot open, I can see the idea of the program,being fast paced with labs but the fact that I can’t even take individual classes/online so I can go at my own pace. In other words then I wouldn’t be able to even choose this as a major because I’d have to get admitted to the program? What a bummer…

As for OTA, it’s offered at another small college near me but it’s also a full time day program only.

I work full time day hours from home, my job is flexible but there’s no way I will be able to quit or find different hours. Sigh… right when I thought I had something going. It seems like my best bet is to probably find another aa that will still open doors.

Dental hygiene is going to be the same way. You enroll in the program and much of your training, especially in the second year, is learning and practicing the skills needed become a hygienist and to pass the licensing exam. Class time/clinic time every day. You see patients starting in the second term. Nothing is online, it’s 40 hours M-F, plus hygiene in my area has 2 6-week summer terms. It is difficult to work other than weekends.

You are right, you have to apply to these programs and there is no guarantee of acceptance. For example, the dental hygiene program near me requires one year of gen Eds, and then can you apply to the program. Based on your grades and interest in hygiene, you may be placed on a waiting list, and it will be another one to two years before you get off the list. Or they may not even put you on the waiting list! It is very competitive, I hardly ever see a direct admit, and this is at a community college.

@Melodyx that’s unfortunate. Most programs in health related professions are day programs and many have long wait lists. I hope that you can find something that works.

I suppose dental hygiene would be the same. I am shocked, I had no idea it would be this hard to get in. And even if I were able to attend the classes full time during the day, it’d still be uncertain considering they have limited seats and will only choose who they consider. I can’t imagine being on a waiting list having to wait a year or two to get accepted. Maybe, if I’d apply straight out of high school. It seems as Carolinamom2boys mentioned most health related professions go by this similar path.

I was hoping I’d could do something with an associates degree or similar, but well I still have all these general ed courses completed so let’s see what other options are out there. I’m still overall confused on which industry to choose from, so I also hope I can settle on something soon! Thank you all <3