Become an Occupational Therapist
Discover occuaptional therapy training and careers.
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As an occupational therapists (OT), you'll help developmentally, mentally, emotionally and physically disabled people improve their ability to live an independent and fulfilling lifestyle by teaching them daily living and work skills. Occupational Therapist Job DescriptionYour typical duties as an occupational therapist will likely include the following:
Find Occupational Therapy Schools One of the largest areas of job growth for occupational therapists is in business consulting. You might choose to specialize in providing architects and contractors with design and accessibility consulting services, or to lend your expertise to such areas as technology development and ergonomics. Occupational Therapist SalaryAccording to Salary.com, the middle 50 percent of occupational therapists earn between $56,770 and $68,004 per year. The top 10 percent earn an annual salary of $75,688 or more. Occupational Therapy Work EnvironmentMost occupational therapists work in hospitals. Other settings in which you might work as an occupational therapist include the following:
Occupational Therapy Graduate SchoolAs of 2007, you must have a minimum of a master's degree to practice occupational therapy. Admission to occupational therapy programs is competitive; to get into your school of choice, focus on earning a high overall grade point average in college (above a 3.3 GPA) and volunteer or work as an occupational therapy aide. Some schools require up to 150 hours of clinical experience prior to admission. You'll also need letters of recommendation from occupational therapists or science teachers. In addition, most schools require a satisfactory score on Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Occupational Therapy Prerequisite CoursesAll OT programs require a bachelor's degree from an accredited 4-year college or university, unless you're entering a joint bachelor's/master's program. Prerequisite coursework generally includes:
Find Occupational Therapy Schools Occupational Therapy Degree OptionsIf you've earned a master's or doctorate in occupational therapy from an accredited college or university you are eligible sit for the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). If you already have a bachelor's degree in another field and you want hands-on experience as soon as possible, you might consider entering a post-bachelor's certificate program. Otherwise, master's degree programs are the most common path of entry to the OT profession. After several years of practicing, many OTs choose to earn a doctorate degree. Occupational Therapy CoursesAs an occupational therapy student, you'll study subjects ranging from medical terminology and physiology, to mental health and gerontology. Students in training also need to undertake 6 months of supervised fieldwork in clinics or community organizations in order to gain hands-on experience before completing their program. Time to CompletionThe average master's degree program takes a student two and a half years to complete. The first year and a half is usually devoted to completing required coursework in a classroom setting; in the last year, students gain experience in a clinical setting. OT Licensing RequirementsAfter graduating from an accredited OT program, OTs must pass a national certification examination from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Successful completion results in the title of registered occupational therapist (OTR). |




