PT & OT Programs Across the US have Seen a Decline in Applications for Years
In this episode, we take a look at a recent conversation on LinkedIn about the steep decline in occupational therapy (and physical therapy) school applications. Since I was a professor in an OT program, this trend has been on the radar: PT & OT Programs across the US have been experience a decrease in the number of applicants year over year.
A post by Sarah Lyon raised an important question: Why are fewer students choosing OT, and what does that mean for the future of the profession? In response, I share several factors that may be contributing to the decline — and in this episode, I unpack those ideas in more detail.
What we cover in this Episode:
- Why confusion about OT entry-level requirements (Master’s vs. OTD) is discouraging prospective applicants.
- How rising tuition and questionable ROI impact PT & OT’s attractiveness compared to other health professions.
- The role of corporate healthcare and private equity in fueling burnout — and how that shapes the profession’s reputation.
- Why other clinical degrees often carry higher compensation ceilings and broader leadership opportunities (ROI).
- What these trends mean for the future — and why this might actually be a unique opportunity for new students entering PT & OT Programs now.
We post videos of certain podcast episodes, including this episode, which can find on the YouTube Channel.
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Rafael E. Salazar II, MHS, OTR/L (Rafi) is a healthcare consultant, speaker, and host of he Better Outcomes Show. He helps healthcare startups, SaaS platforms, and organizations craft clear positioning, humanize the patient experience, and go to market effectively. He’s the author of Better Outcomes: A Guide to Humanizing Healthcare and principal at Rehab U Practice Solutions. His work on Telehealth has been discussed in Forbes, and he’s advised on projects ranging from digital health product launches to multi-million-dollar healthcare transformation initiatives.
Today, Rafi helps innovative healthcare companies like technology startups, platforms, SaaS companies & innovative healthcare organizations develop effective positioning strategy and business development plans through his consulting work. He also leverages his experience as a professor and academic to speak and train on the topics around humanizing the healthcare experience & healthcare innovation. In addition, Rafi also owns and operates ProActive Rehabilitation & Wellness, a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic treating patients with musculoskeletal pain.
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I’ve consulted on projects from multi-million-dollar state initiatives to early-stage product launches. My work’s been featured in Forbes, and I also speak at healthcare events and conferences on topics like innovation, digital health, and humanizing care. I also speak and train at healthcare conferences, events, and organizations on topics related to technology-enabled care, healthcare innovation, healthcare positioning, and humanizing the healthcare experience.
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