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65A Career Guide

Army

65A: Occupational Therapist

Career transition guide for Army Occupational Therapist (65A)

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Civilian Career Pathways

Top civilian roles for 65A veterans, with average salary and market demand data.

Occupational Therapist

$90K
High matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Civilian Occupational Therapist CertificationState licensure

Rehabilitation Director

$110K
Good matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Healthcare Management CertificationAdvanced knowledge of billing and compliance

Ergonomist

$85K
Good matchStable demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE) certificationStronger understanding of industrial settings

Case Manager

$70K
Moderate matchHigh demand

Skills to develop:

Certified Case Manager (CCM) certificationFamiliarity with insurance processesKnowledge of social work principles

Wellness Program Manager

$75K
Moderate matchGrowing demand

Skills to develop:

Corporate wellness certificationProject management skillsMarketing and communication skills

Salary estimates from VWC career data

Hidden Strengths

Cognitive skills your 65A training built — and where they transfer.

System Modeling

As an Occupational Therapist (65A), you develop mental models of patients' physical, psychosocial, and environmental factors to create effective treatment plans and predict outcomes, understanding how these systems interact.

This ability to model complex systems translates into understanding the interplay of different factors in business or organizational settings, allowing you to forecast outcomes and design effective strategies.

Resource Optimization

You are responsible for maximizing the impact of Occupational Therapy programs within resource constraints, efficiently allocating equipment, personnel, and time to meet patient needs across various settings.

Your experience in optimizing resources directly applies to roles where you must improve efficiency, reduce waste, and achieve maximum output with limited inputs, a critical skill in many industries.

Situational Awareness

In both garrison and field environments, you maintain a high degree of situational awareness to adapt treatment plans to dynamic conditions, assessing patient needs and adjusting interventions based on real-time feedback and environmental changes.

This keen awareness makes you exceptionally capable of quickly understanding and responding to changing business landscapes, anticipating challenges, and adjusting strategies to stay ahead.

After-Action Analysis

You routinely analyze the effectiveness of occupational therapy programs and interventions to identify areas for improvement, adjusting protocols, and sharing lessons learned with colleagues to enhance patient outcomes.

This analytical approach translates directly into the business world where you can evaluate project successes, identify areas of improvement, and implement strategies to enhance performance in future endeavors.

Non-Obvious Career Matches

Ergonomics Consultant

SOC 25-1021

You've been evaluating work-sites, conducting task analysis, and recommending modifications to prevent injuries. As an Ergonomics Consultant, you'll use these exact skills to improve workplace safety and efficiency for companies, directly impacting their bottom line and employee well-being.

Rehabilitation Center Administrator

SOC 11-9111

You've been planning and supervising occupational therapy programs. This administrative experience can easily transition into managing a rehabilitation center, where you'll oversee operations, manage staff, and ensure quality patient care, leveraging your understanding of the healthcare environment.

Corporate Wellness Program Manager

SOC 11-9199

You've been helping soldiers and their families develop healthy lifestyles. As a Corporate Wellness Program Manager, you'll apply your expertise in promoting health and wellness within a corporate environment, designing and implementing programs to improve employee health, productivity, and morale.

Training & Education Equivalencies

AMEDD Officer Basic Course (AOBC), Fort Sam Houston

160 training hours4 weeksUp to 3 semester hours in Healthcare Management

Topics Covered

  • Army Healthcare System
  • Military Medical Ethics
  • Occupational Therapy Principles in Military Settings
  • Combat and Operational Stress Control
  • Ergonomics and Injury Prevention
  • Upper Extremity Rehabilitation
  • Splinting and Assistive Technology
  • Leadership and Teamwork in Healthcare

Certification Pathways

Technical Systems Translation

Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.

Military SystemCivilian Equivalent
Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems (e.g., MHS GENESIS)Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems (e.g., Epic, Cerner)
Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) evaluation toolsCommercial fitness assessment platforms
Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) guidelinesEmergency medical service (EMS) protocols and first aid training
Ergonomic Assessment Tools used for Soldier Performance Readiness Center (SPRC)Ergonomic assessment software and tools used in occupational health and safety
Military-specific assistive devices and adaptive equipmentCommercial assistive technology devices and rehabilitation equipment
Combat Stress Control (CSC) protocols and resourcesMental health crisis intervention and stress management programs
Splinting and orthotics fabrication equipment3D printers for custom orthotics and assistive devices

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