Building the occupational therapy workforce is vital for the future of our profession. Demand for occupational therapy services is increasing rapidly, a trend that will only continue. Degree-level apprenticeships in England offer a growing pipeline of future occupational therapists to help us meet this demand.
‘Build the Future’ is the theme of this year’s National Apprenticeship Week and we want to do just that.
Through our #ChooseOT campaign, we’re promoting occupational therapy careers to inspire people from all backgrounds to choose our profession. This week, we will highlight the unique features and benefits of occupational therapy apprenticeships to encourage people to choose this route as we keep building our workforce.
Apprenticeships can help reduce traditional barriers to studying and open up opportunities for more people to become occupational therapists.
Apprentices earn a salary and don’t pay tuition fees, making this a more accessible and affordable option for many. People considering a career change or further training can also maintain an income and meet their financial commitments whilst achieving their career goals.
Apprentices learn ‘on the job’ spending 80% of their apprenticeship working and learning with an employer. At least 20% is spent studying at university. This split can suit people who prefer more practical, non-academic settings and those who already have professional experience of occupational therapy, such as a support worker or assistant. This model allows apprentices to integrate their learning into the workplace as they progress through their academic studies.
Offering a variety of routes into an occupational therapy career helps build a diverse and sustainable workforce, which will only benefit our communities and the people we serve, both now and in the future.
This National Apprenticeship Week, we’ll be sharing more about occupational therapy apprenticeships in England and our careers website on social media to help inspire people to consider becoming an apprentice.
You can get involved too!
Look out for our #NAW2021 posts and share, comment and retweet to help reach more people.