When it comes to choosing a career, it’s important to think about your skills along with your preferences. Think about certain subjects or types of work that come to you naturally and that you generally enjoy. Perhaps you’re a math wiz or love working with your hands – whatever it is, pay attention to those talents and preferences, and they’ll lead you to your ideal career.
If you enjoy education or healthcare settings and like working with babies and toddlers, you should look into early intervention positions as potential career options. This field is ideal for those who have thought about becoming a doctor, nurse, or teacher but prefer to work in sustained smaller groups or one-on-one settings with their patients or students. There are many options in this career path – perhaps one is the ideal career for you.
Early Intervention Speech-Language Pathologist
Early intervention positions are targeted at infants, toddlers, and young students, and these candidates work in a variety of medical or educational roles. One common role is an early intervention speech-language pathologist who focuses on students with speech or feeding delays, or those who are at risk of delays. They work in schools, daycare centers, pediatric medical settings, and even in their patients’ homes depending on the need.
To work as an early intervention speech-language pathologist, you’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree in a related field such as communication sciences and disorders (CSD) and a master’s degree in speech-language pathology or a similar field. Speech-language pathologists must also pass a Praxis exam and get a state-approved license before they can start practicing.
Early Intervention BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst) Clinician
One of the most in-demand early intervention positions is an early intervention BCBA clinician. In this role, clinicians work with babies and young students who have behavioral disabilities or developmental delays. BCBA clinicians can work with individuals with autism, ADHD, OCD, and anxiety disorders, among other behavioral disabilities.
Early intervention BCBAs also earn a master’s degree, generally in an area such as psychology or behavior analysis. Part of their education includes fieldwork, requiring all BCBA clinicians to experience work in various settings. They must also pass a certification exam and obtain licensure from a state-approved agency.
Early Intervention Occupational Therapist
As an occupational therapist in early intervention, practitioners work with infants, toddlers, and young students to help improve or regain motor skills, sensory processing, and social behavior, among other areas. Occupational therapists can specialize in different areas such as neurology or autism spectrum disorder and can work in healthcare support or an educational setting. All occupational therapists in early intervention focus on helping their patients gain skills to thrive as independent individuals.
Those who want to work as an occupational therapist in early intervention must earn a bachelor’s degree in a related field such as physiology or biology. After that, they need to earn a master’s degree in occupational therapy and pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). As with all early intervention positions, occupational therapists must also obtain certification licensure from their state or a state-approved organization.
Early Intervention Physical Therapist
Those who work as physical therapists in early intervention focus specifically on motor skills and cognitive abilities related to disabilities or developmental delays. They can work in a school or other educational setting, in a home, or in a medical facility, depending on need. Their goal is to help patients work through their physical and cognitive disabilities early to improve their overall quality of life.
Physical therapists in early intervention must earn a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy or a similar field and go on to obtain a master’s in physical therapy. As with most early intervention positions, they must also complete supervised fieldwork to complete their degree. Once their education is complete, they must earn a license or certification in order to practice as a physical therapist in early intervention.
Finding the Ideal Job Setting for You
With so many early intervention positions out there, it’s likely you’ll find one that speaks to your skills and interests. However, that’s only the first step in finding your ideal job setting. There are several online job boards that advertise early intervention positions throughout the country. Some of these positions are now online or follow a hybrid work schedule. Look for positions that promote ongoing professional education and training so that you can always stay at the forefront of your field. With the job growth rate for early intervention specialists looking to increase by an average of 9% annually between 2018 and 2028, there are plenty of opportunities available for those looking to choose this rewarding career path.
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