5 Reasons It Pays to Be an AOTA Student Member

Sue Ram, Gannon University

As I make the transition into the second year of my occupational therapy doctorate (OTD) program, I’ve taken the time to reflect on all of the ways I have been involved with AOTA through my student membership. In my program and many others, it is required that students maintain AOTA membership throughout the span of their OT or OTA programs. Throughout the past year, I have had the opportunity to experience the immediate and long-term benefits of being a student member. Here are 5 ways to use your student membership to its full potential:

1. Score Major Discounts. I don’t need to remind you how much we are paying as students! Budgets are tight, and we want to be able to do things like travel and buy textbooks. The good thing about being an AOTA student member is that you can receive great discounts on not only specialty and Annual Conferences, but also promotional items, textbooks, and NBCOT exam prep materials.

2. Boost Your Résumé. Being an AOTA student member allows for many opportunities to boost your résumé and gain relevant experience. In my program, we have had AOTA Board Members video chat with us about professional development opportunities through the program Boardroom to Classroom. In addition, the opportunity to present student posters at conferences is also a great way to show off your research skills. There are also short-term opportunities at conferences that allow you to help set up sessions or volunteer in the Expo Hall. Having these experiences on your résumé lets employers see that you are committed to contributing to the profession and building professional skills.

Celebrating AOTA National Backpack Awareness Day

3. Find Networking Opportunities. My AOTA student membership has allowed me to connect with many of our Association’s key players, both online and in person. From interacting on OT Connections to attending Special Interest Section (SIS) discussions at AOTA’s Annual Conference & Expo, I have had the opportunity to build relationships with OT students and mentors who are willing to help me along the way. You can also opt to run as your school’s Assembly of Student Delegates Representative for the opportunity to connect with other student representatives across the nation to make your voices heard.

4. Gain Leadership Experience. There are many AOTA volunteer positions open to OT and OTA students. You can apply for a Special Interest Section (SIS) Internship and work closely with leaders who share the same OT specialty practice interests as you. You can also run for office for the Assembly of Student Delegates Steering Committee. These positions can allow you to gain new leadership skills while making a positive impact on the profession and your career. There are also opportunities to complete fieldwork or a doctoral experience at the AOTA headquarters. Make sure you tune in to AOTA emails and AOTA’s social media accounts to stay on top of application openings and due dates.  Explore how you can get more involved at AOTA. 

5. Advocate & Feel Empowered. There are still many key legislators who are unaware of the distinct value of OT. The AOTA Legislative Action Center is an easy tool to use to reach out to members of Congress and other Representatives. With the ability to send letters in just a few clicks, AOTA makes it effortless to get your message to those who are making decisions that affect the profession. There are other opportunities to advocate through events such as AOTA Capitol Hill Day or Virtual Hill Day. AOTA also has a political action committee (AOTPAC) that is dedicated to furthering the occupational therapy profession’s legislative aims. There are fun ways to get your SOTA involved with fundraising challenges to help support the AOTPAC.

Advocating for OT at AOTA Capitol Hill Day

Now that you have new knowledge about the benefits of being a student member, I challenge you and your SOTA organization to visit AOTA’s website and look into opportunities that interest you. Being involved with our national Association will teach you useful skills and give you positive experiences that will allow you to become the best OT or OTA you can be!

Learn more about AOTA student membership.