Pros
One of the biggest perks of being a school-based OT is the flexibility to create your own schedule, which allows for a great work-life balance. You not only get PTO, but also benefit from paid school breaks, giving you time to recharge throughout the year. Collaboration is a major highlight of the role, as you get to work closely with an interdisciplinary team including SLPs and BCBAs. Quarterly meetings with parents and caregivers help strengthen the home-school connection and keep families involved in their child’s progress. Plus, having access to a fully equipped sensory gym and a beautiful sensory garden provides ample space and tools to help kids regulate, move, and thrive. Being part of a nonprofit organization also means eligibility for student loan forgiveness through the FAFSA Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The school supports professional development with dedicated continuing education funds and days off for career growth, and management is consistently supportive and flexible.
Cons
One downside of working in a school setting is being the only OT on site, which can make it challenging to collaborate with others in your discipline or receive regular clinical feedback from fellow OTs. While professional development is well-supported with continuing education funds and dedicated days off, there’s limited room for upward career growth—as the sole OT, opportunities for leadership or supervisory roles are minimal. The school’s structure is rooted in ABA practices, so you may need to adapt your OT approach to align with behavior-based data collection and documentation systems. Additionally, because it’s a nonprofit organization the pay while competitive for pediatric settings may be lower than what you could earn in a medical, home health or private practice setting.
