Mature students

[thornrose]

Hi
I am 40 and I am about to embark upon a complete career change. I want to train to become an occupational therapist, at the moment I am an SEN TA at a primary school. I have a daughter who has dyspraxia and Aspergers so my interest in the profession has come from the OT sessions I attended with dd, I found it fascinating and I just want to do it with a real passion.I will need to do an access course as I have no A levels or degree and then 3 years at university. In order to get onto the access course I need "a science" so I have enrolled in a home study GCSE in Human Physiology and Health.My question is has anyone embarked upon a career change at 40? Is it realistic to be employed as newly qualified OT at the age of 43/44? Any thoughts welcome.

I can't give you any specific career advice, but I can tell you that I did a masters last year at the age of 36 and I loved every minute of it. it was a subject I adore and I felt hugely priveleged to have the opportunity to study. I t was fantastic. if you feel passionate about the subject then I think you should do it. you'll only spend the rest of your life wondering what if...

i embarked on my nursing career at 30. There are plenty of people on my course who are in their 40's. I think sometimes the life experience (like you say your interest comes from personal experience) older people bring to a profession like this is invaluable.

Go for it, we only live once, you dont get another go