OT in EI

What is an OT

An occupational therapist is a practitioner who aims to help their clients with the things in their life that they may want or need to do. Occupational therapists focus on access to the activities of daily living; this may include being able to access the restroom safely, being able to do favorite hobbies like paint, engaging socially, managing an unfamiliar environment, finding regulation across emotional and sensory systems, and much much more, practically anything you can think of!

Hours

Your hours as an OT in EI is highly dependent on several factors. One of the main factors is weather or not you are a part of an agency/broker, or if you are an independent contractor. As an independent contractor it is common to choose only the hours that work best for you and for your schedule, one of the biggest pros when considering independent contracting. If you are working for an agency or broker, the next determining factor is weather or not you are hired on and request to be a full time or part time employee.

If you are a full time employee your hours, productivity, time, etc. may be measured in a variety of ways, depending on the organization you are working with. For example an organization may measure full time in terms of productive hours. For example a company may expect therapists to be seeing clients, or attending meetings for clients for ~50 productive hours a month. This leave room for the therapist to drive between clients, to document, to attend teaming meetings, etc.

How to become an OT

Requirements:

Graduate from an American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) accredited OT program
Currently both a Masters Degree and a Doctorate Degree or OTD are accepted in the field of Occupational Therapy
After graduation, you must then, study, sit for, and pass the NBCOT exam.
Apply for state licensure.

Average Salary

2023 Average Salary of an OT in theUS:

Annual:~$96,000

Hourly: ~$46.5

OTs in Home Health:

Annual: ~$110,500

Hourly: ~$53

Check average OT salaries in your state

by clicking the piggy bank above.

All above statistics found on the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

It is important to note that in this field there is opportunity to earn a much higher hourly salary for visits, up to $75 an hour, in a position where you are likely an independent contractor without benefits or cacelation compensation.

How to become an OT in EI

Requirements:

You must meet all requirements to be an OT, i.e. you must graduate from an accredited program, and pass the NBCOT.
You must hold a state license in occupational therapy for the state or states that you wish to practice early intervention.
Depending on the state you are hoping to work in, this process may vary slightly. In most states you will complete an online training/provider training for being an EI provider. These trainings are often through the state's EI regulatory agency.
It is also likely that you will be asked to take a tele-health provider training module as well.
If you are being hired by an EI broker or an EI contracting agency, it is also likely that you will need to complete further trainings that are specific to the organization you are working for, and their policies and procedures.
It is also often required that you register as a medicaid provider
Other agency/state specific requirements such as a background check, fingerprinting, and CPR will likely need to be renewed.

Different Ways to be an OT in EI

Contractor vs in-house:

May be a great option for:

Parents
Those working multiple jobs
Those who want to choose their own hours

May not be a great option for:

New OTs
Those without experience in EI
Those who like or need more support from their team
Those who have more difficulty managing their own schedule/finances/benefits/billing, etc.
See more info on our "In-House v.s. Contracting" page under resources

A Day as an OT in EI

One of the best things about EI is that every day can look different. A typical day for a practitioner may be to head out in the morning and seeing a few clients, documenting in their car before heading to the next one. After a few clients the practitioner may find somewhere to grab lunch while finishing up their notes for the morning. This would be a great time for many OTs to add in a meeting or tele-therapy session on their computer. After this an OT may finish out their day with another tele-therapy session, an IFSP review, etc. or they may have another kiddo in person before being done for the day.

It is also common for many organizations and EI brokers to have meeting and teaming days. On these days it is common for therapists to see a few kiddos in the morning, and then to head to a meeting location for several hours of teaming and meetings during lunch time. During this time therapists can ask their team for ideas and opinions to support the kiddos they are working with. This is also a common time for focus groups, and more directed conversation and learning opportunities. After these meetings therapists often finish the rest of their day by visiting a few kiddos or attending meetings for kiddos.

What Documentation May Look Like

What You May Need

Requirements:

Many EI Providers are required to have personal transportation. Discuss this with the site you are interested in.
Internet access to participate in tele-health visits or meetings. This may be at your home, a work space, or a hot spot.
You will also likely want to have snacks and water in your car. Some OTs even keep a cooker with them!
It is also recommended to have other tools in your car to keep you comfortable, like a nail file, change of clothes, masks, etc.

Additional Requirements

Many organizations host weekly teaming meetings and in-services or trainings to continue supporting their team and their practitioners these may include topics such as:

Autism, feeding, sensory regulation, assistive technology, etc.

You will also need to maintain your licensing and complete continuing education and requirements in line with your organizations requirements

What an EI Organization May Provide

Depending on the organization an Early Intervention site may provide:

A work phone and phone number
A work laptop
Related chargers and accessories to access, support and connect different technologies
Supportive and required assessments and tools
A lending library for toys, switches, and assistive technology
Mileage reimbursement

Who Is On Your Team

In EI you may work with practitioners from a variety of backgrounds. The primary disciplines seen in EI are occupational therapists, physical therapists (PT), speech language pathologists (SLP), and developmental interventionists (DI) which may come from a variety of backgrounds but are often early childhood special educators (ECSE).

Other specialists who may provide support in EI include nutritionists, audiology, vision, lactation consultant, sleep specialists, social emotional specialists (often a DI therapist), and many more, depending on the resources available to your county.