What does an occupational therapist do?
Occupational therapists help people of all ages
regain, develop, or master everyday skills in order
to live independent, productive, and satisfying
lives.
Occupational therapists assess clients with
physical and mental challenges in order to develop
activities of daily living (ADL) that work best for
those clients. For a client with a physical
disability, the first focus is on performing
critical daily routines, such as dressing, grooming,
bathing, and eating. Once these skills are mastered,
a program is then built around the skills needed to
perform tasks such as participating in education,
caring for a home and family, or seeking and
maintaining employment.
For a client with mental illness, the goals are
also based on the ability to function independently.
In treating mental or emotional challenges, the
occupational therapy program focuses on areas such
as managing time, working productively with others,
and enjoying leisure.
Which qualities or personal traits are useful in
practicing occupational therapy?
Occupational therapists need patience,
understanding and compassion when dealing with
clients facing health problems. Patience is
important because many clients may not show rapid
progress and practitioners must be prepared for that
challenge. Being understanding and having compassion
is also vital when working with clients who have
disabilities that require them to undergo extensive
and sometimes painful treatment in order to improve
their function. And finally, occupational therapy is
a field that calls for a certain amount of passion
for the beneficial and life-changing work that
therapists perform.
Where do occupational therapy practitioners
work?
Occupational therapists work in a variety of job
settings. Public schools, hospitals, mental health
centers, nursing homes, physician practices, and
home health agencies are all job settings that may
employ occupational therapy practitioners. With
career advancement, occupational therapists may move
into management, specialization, teaching, research,
or private practice positions.
What are the educational requirements for a
career in occupational therapy?
Educational requirements for an occupational
therapy career may take place at either the
professional or the technical level. The
professional level education prepares one to become
an occupational therapist, while the technical level
education prepares one to become an occupational
therapy assistant.
Preparing for a career as an occupational
therapist requires a student to complete either a
bachelor’s degree or postbaccalaureate degree (i.e.
professional master's degree or entry level doctoral
degree). Beginning January 1, 2007, all new
occupational therapy candidates will need a
postbaccalaureate degree. Preparing for a career as
an occupational therapy assistant requires
completion of a 2-year associate degree. In addition
to these degrees, all candidates will be required to
complete a period of supervised fieldwork and pass a
national certification exam.
Other Requirements: If you are interested in
applying to an occupational therapy program, you
must obtain specific requirements, prerequisites,
and program content from the schools to which you
are applying. Both occupational therapy and
occupational therapy assistant candidates will be
required to fulfill a number of prerequisites, which
may include biology, psychology, and sociology. Most
programs also require volunteer or paid work
experience with persons with disabilities.
How can I learn which colleges and universities
offer occupational therapy education programs?
In our Academic Affairs section, you will find
nationwide listings of more than 300 accredited
occupational therapy and occupational therapy
assistant education programs offered by colleges and
universities.
What is the job outlook for occupational
therapy?
According to the 2000 AOTA Compensation Survey,
full-time occupational therapists earned an average
annual salary of approximately $48,000 and full-time
occupational therapy assistants earned approximately
$30,132.
Does occupational therapy offer opportunities
for individuals of culturally diverse backgrounds?
Yes, the occupational therapy profession is
actively seeking to increase the number of
practitioners representing culturally diverse
backgrounds. Target populations include
African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Native
Americans, Hispanics, and Pacific Islanders. Other
underrepresented groups include people with
disabilities and men.
Who are some of the people who are helped by
occupational therapy?
Infants with developmental problems
Older persons facing health challenges
Persons with disabilities
Persons with mental illness
As an occupational therapist, what tasks would I be
performing during a typical workday?
Depending on your employer or the setting in
which you work, your tasks may include:
Aiding the growth and development of premature
babies
Improving learning environments for physically or
mentally challenged school children
Adapting home environments for people dealing with
the effects of stroke, reduced vision, or other
conditions
Analyzing job tasks and equipment to prevent future
injuries for an injured worker
Measuring the effectiveness of treatment activities
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In the following pages, you will find brief
information useful to overseas Occupational Therapists that want to
work in the United States, Canada, the United
Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Australia and New
Zealand.