Retraining as an OT at 52

[OTover50]

I want to change career, I have always had very desk based, academic jobs and I simply can't muster up the enthusiasm for them any more and I think the sector I'm in is unlikely to want to employ me until retirement age.

I have always wished that I had done something actually working with people and think OT would suit me really well. However, I'm 52. Am I being realistic? A

And what would I need to do to get onto an MSC? I've got a humanities degree that's nearly 30 years old. I thought of doing some work as a carer and volunteering in a local rehabitalitive garden scheme.

Obviously I've looked online at courses, but would really appreciate thoughts from others.

I am now 53 and I decided to pursue a new career a few years ago. I also started by applying for an MSC, my degree was also just under thirty years previously. It really isn’t hard to get onto an MSC course to be honest.

Unfortunately, I did not manage to secure an opportunity in my new chosen career, nobody was interested in the 50 year old trainee, I didn’t even find a recruitment agent willing to so much as talk to me. I enjoyed my time at university, I was able to do it full time for a year, so I don’t regret it, but it didn’t get me anywhere careerwise. Sorry for being a little negative, it is not to say you won’t have better luck than me!

Don't apologise for being negative @Aprilx that's a really helpful insight. Do you mind me asking what sort of field you were looking at? I was hoping that OT might be an areas where maturity would be an advantage, but perhaps I'm being over optimistic

Certainly, I was looking to make a move into HR. I was a very experience in management and had run large teams so had pretty good employment related experience anyway. When I complete my masters I also completed CIPD level 7. I probably was competing with a lot of young (mainly female) candidates for entry level roles, indeed all my course mates were soon snapped up.

How disappointing, I would have thought that would be a brilliant fit.

I can't really help with the study side of things and i am based in Australia so maybe not helpful at all but can definitely say that as a large company we are almost always looking to recruit an OT somewhere! Even better when they're prepared to move or travel to regional sites.

Personally at our site we have mostly had speech pathology students placed with us but at least 1 of those was in her late 40's early 50's.

I taught on an OT course recently and there were a good few older students.
Not sure about the employment side of things, but I certainly found that having students with previous life/work experience was great for the dynamics of the class.

You are quite right about the dynamics of the class. I thought nobody would want me in their working groups, turned out they were fighting over me! 😁

But no, it didn’t help in the real world. Too much ageism unfortunately.

OT is definitely an area where maturity is beneficial and there is a major shortage, you would have no problem whatsoever getting a job! I qualified at 46 and I wasn't the oldest on the course, I've tried to retire but keep getting asked to do more bank shifts in my old trust (I'm semi retired having taken my NHS pension), also have locum agency mithering continually offering jobs after working for one month with them 5 years ago. It's been a very enjoyable occupation for me so long as you don't want to be rich😂

My friend's an OT and they are crying out for more. You can become an OT assistant to try it out (requires no qualification but low pay) and then look into retraining. I'm sure wherever you are they will fully support you to retrain, and I think it may be possible 'on the job' (not 100% sure of that though). Go for it!

Also 52 and looking for new direction.
Currently a TA and my energy levels are waning.
Just need something quieter and less demanding, with a bit more pay!

I'd get in touch directly with a few local hospitals with their OT departments. OTs tend to be really lovely, I'm sure they'd talk to you to give advice.

Hi! Mature student OT here! 👋
is there a particular reason you want to do an MSC?
i had been trying to get onto an MSc since 2017. I wasn’t ever successful and decided to bite the bullet fro 2022 entry on the bsc! It’s grear

@Whattheflipflap tbh it's because an MSC is shorter and I'd have to self fund.

That's very reassuring @Mossstitch and @MerryMarigold. Great idea to contact some hospitals too. I might email DS's old OT and ask her advice, she was absolutely lovely.

Have you done another NHS degree.
i thought I would have to self fund having done a humanities degree straight after school and then teacher training in my twenties. But I don’t.

How recent was that @Whattheflipflap ? that would be absolutely brilliant

NHS bursaries: Eligibility - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Looks promising, for some reason I thought this had stopped

Definitely go for being an OT. I trained as a staff nurse and regret it! I still work in a hospital but not as a nurse now and I'm medically unable to drive so being an OT is out of the question.
They get paid more than nurses and the job seems far less stressful and quite interesting. Plus there are lots of opportunities not just in hospital settings.
Lots of people train as HCPs at 50+, I've known quite a few!

We don't get paid more than nurses, it's exactly the same bands. Band 5 on qualifying.

Look on NHS Jobs for trainee/apprenticeship OT roles.

My Trust offers them - it's a three/four year course and you are employed as a band 4 while training. They belong to a particular team, but also do placement blocks in other areas of the Trust.

The fees are paid for you. It's a slightly longer route than doing the MSc, but by the end you have loads of on the job experience, a guaranteed job and no huge student loans.

Thanks Spartak, that sounds great. What kind of experience would I need to apply for one of those roles?

I'd get some experience as a carer or HCSW and then apply for OT assistant roles as they come up- they are rare and quite competitive but no reason you wouldn't stand a good chance! Lots of trusts fund courses now too which will save you a fair bit of money. Ive worked with HCPs across different roles that have qualified in their 50s and had no issues getting jobs.

My cousin is a former OT (registration lapsed during SAHM years) aged early 50s. Whenever she toys with going back to work employers seem to be biting her hand off including supporting her to get re-registered.

Lots of trusts now offer an apprenticeship route. If you do not have experience of working in an ot team, I would suggest looking for an OT assistant role within a trust that offers apprenticeships. There are rules though. You need to have a level 3 qualification within last 10 years and be able to work minimum 30 hours a week and various other things.
FWIW as an OT manager, if you are fairly fit and healthy, age and life experience is probably an advantage. OT is a very rewarding job too. I have been an OT for 34 years and loved every minute.

@OTover50 hi! I’m 50 and just secured my first clinical role (not OT) after over 25 in another professional sphere. My experience was seen as a real plus due to the nature of the specific role. No ageism for me but definitely a pay cut… Good luck. Go for it if you can afford training.

I think the sector I'm in is unlikely to want to employ me until retirement age.

As a teacher, this is exactly how I feel. Experience is not only not valued but obviously penalised. I have looked at the OT training, but taking out student loans at this stage in life really depresses me. I also can’t really afford the drop in salary whilst putting my own DC through university.