Occupational Therapy Degree or Apprenticehsip

[Naturesmuse]

Hi, are there any Occupational Therapists out there who can help please?
What do you think would be the best route into a career in Occupational Therapy. I am a mum to primary aged kids with bills to pay.
I already have a BSc in an unrelated subject, relevant A levels and Experience in 2 prior jobs working as a Health Coach for a PCN, and an NHS Trust.

I have the following routes/opportunities available.

1. Complete a 2yr pre-registration Masters in OT (which will be quick but a financial struggle, as the bursary and student loan is less than our family needs for a 2nd income).
2. Get a paid job as an OT Social Care Worker and then apply to do the BSc in OT with the local council (I will be paid a salary and the course will be funded).
3. Get a position on an NHS Occupational Therapy Apprenticeship (I will be paid a salary and the course will be funded).
4. Get a paid job as an Occupational Therapy Technical Instructor and then see if its possible to apply to do the BSc in OT with the NHS (I will be paid a salary and the course will be funded, however this is not a directly linked route, so approval study may not be guaranteed).

Either apprenticeship option would take longer (up to 1 year in the initial role to pass probation, and then up to 4 years completing the BSc).
However they would initially be more financially viable as I train.
Also, I wonder whether the MSc carries more prestige?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Having just undertaken a radiography degree, if I had my time again id do the apprenticeship . You're earning, making relationships in teams and learning a much wider appreciation of a specialism whilet embedded in the work environment añ 2t verygh hsnç of employment a the end.

I'm doing the MSc. I worked 0.4FTE for the first 9 months but haven't been able to work part time since (although some of my classmates still do).

Apply for the degree 2016 intake. Then see if you can get your foot on the door for a work placed route into OT in the mean time.

2026 I mean

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