Are you a creative, holistic thinker who feels best when helping others live their best lives? In this article, we will cover the following to help you decide if occupational therapy might be the career for you:. Occupational therapy OT is a form of rehabilitation that helps people with health challenges re-engage in meaningful daily activities.
Occupational therapists OTs focus on education, functional training, and participation in everyday activities, rather than relying on pharmaceuticals or surgical interventions. Occupational therapists OTs are considered allied health professionals, and they work alongside physicians, nurses, physical therapists, speech therapists , respiratory therapists, and many other health practitioners.
OTs collaborate with fellow health providers to deliver holistic care to patients who have suffered from debilitating illnesses or injuries. OTs are unique in that they use evidence-based interventions to help patients participate in the activities they find most meaningful. That means care is extremely holistic and tailored to each individual patient. And, while other rehabilitation professionals are also trained in helping patients regain function, we OTs are unique because we also address cognition and mental health—in essence, we truly take a mind-body approach in our care delivery.
If you are curious about the similarities, differences, and interdisciplinary opportunities within the standard rehabilitation team, check out our guide: OT vs. PT vs. SLP: Similarities and Differences. This is a critical step before you decide to invest the time, money and energy needed to enter the profession.
I also recommend that you do plenty of informational interviews with OTs, and shadow them whenever possible before you begin pursuing this career path. Occupational therapists generally work with patients who have sustained effects of debilitating diseases and injuries. OTs help patients determine which types of life activities are most meaningful to them. Then they work with said patients, family members, and caregivers to develop strategies to help the patients participate in such activities.
These can range from anything like cooking or participating in the community garden club, to bathing and dressing independently. We believe that returning to normal daily activities not only aids in the healing process, but is also the true, overarching goal of rehabilitation. That means that occupational therapists realistically spend a significant portion of their days writing notes about cases and communicating with other members of the care team. Occupational therapists blend science with a healthy dose of compassion.
OTs need to be somewhat analytical, but also patient and encouraging. They should enjoy science especially anatomy and kinesiology and enjoy working with the general public. OTs need to be excellent listeners and problem-solvers, and also need to understand how to effectively teach others. OTs also need to be very safety-oriented. From teaching family members how to safely assist with bathing and toileting, to demonstrating safe use of medical equipment—a huge focus in OT is teaching safety awareness.
Lastly, a good OT should be able to work collaboratively with others on a multidisciplinary team. If you become an OT, you will have opportunities for advancement in your career. You can become a clinic owner, or you can opt to specialize and remain an employee. You can also pursue a number of different non-clinical or alternative OT careers. For example, it is common to work in more demanding settings, such as SNFs and acute care, right out of school.
However, once their debt is paid off, some therapists find themselves transitioning to pediatrics, outpatient, or mental health settings. As I noted, OT is very fulfilling. You are working with patients when they are at their most vulnerable, and you are teaching many of them skills so they can participate in a life they feel is worth living. Most occupational therapists have a minimum of a master's degree in occupational therapy.
If students have completed an undergraduate degree in occupational therapy, they can usually complete a one-year master's degree program at some colleges and universities. Some universities also offer a bridge program from a bachelor's to a master's degree to allow students to complete the degrees in a shorter timeframe. Occupational therapy students take courses in behavioral neuroscience, kinesiology and functional anatomy.
They also learn about research in the field and the practice of occupational therapy. Either after obtaining a master's degree or during school, students must gain clinical experience in different healthcare settings. Students can do their fieldwork in mental health, geriatrics, physical disabilities or pediatrics. Licensed occupational therapists need to pass the examination with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy before they are allowed to work as an occupational therapist.
The exam questions aim to evaluate a candidate's ability to make conclusions about a patient's needs, gather information about their occupational performance, choose the appropriate therapy and manage and direct occupational therapy services. All states require occupational therapists to become licensed before they can start practicing.
Occupational therapists need to graduate from an accredited program to meet the qualification requirements for licensure. Candidates need to ensure they meet the licensing requirements for the state in which they want to practice.
Occupational therapists need to do continuing education units CEUs to keep their licensure. The CEUs are credits professionals earn by taking regular classes after becoming licensed. The CEU requirements for each state differ. Most CEUs can now be done online. Related: Jobs that Require Certifications and Licenses. Once occupational therapists become licensed, they can remain generalists. However, occupational therapists can also choose to continue their education to complete specialized training in driving and community mobility, school systems, low vision, feeding and eating and swallowing.
The foundation promotes research and provides educational information, scholarships, conferences, expos and more. Occupational therapists and author, Barbara Smith, compiles a variety of resources for occupational therapists on her website. Along with her books, visitors can find articles, videos and fun tools and toys to help in their occupational therapy practices. Dexteria is an app developer that has created a nice selection of highly-rated apps to help improve math, comprehension and fine motor skills.
Those who are considering a career in occupational therapy may find it useful to hear why other people decided to enter the field. AOTA provides videos of occupational therapists explaining why they decided occupational therapy was the career for them. Professionals can check out reviews for different apps and items to see if they are worthwhile before buying them for themselves.
Occupational therapists can find a huge array of products and tools to help them help clients. Pencil grips, weighted vests, sensory pillows, strengthening tools and tons more can be purchased here. The American Occupational Therapy Association has various job search and prep tools to help occupational therapists and occupational therapist assistants build resumes, prepare for interviews and find jobs in their area.
Joining professional associations can help occupational therapists build their professional networks and learn more about the changing landscape of occupational therapy. Continuing education units CEUs are education credits professionals earn by periodically taking classes after they have become licensed. Each state specifies how many CEUs occupational therapists need to take before they can renew their license.
Students earn CEUs by taking approved courses, which are often available online. AOTA offers continuing education courses for occupational therapists and offers a database of approved, non-AOTA continuing education providers. Students who want to specialize in certain areas of occupational therapy typically have to earn a doctorate or gain specialized certifications after working in the field for a while.
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Related careers you may explore include physical and recreational therapy. To qualify for a position as an occupational therapy assistant, students complete two years of study, including the following courses:.
In most states, occupational therapy assistants need to pass national certification exams before they can practice. Although certification is voluntary, becoming certified as an occupational therapist shows a dedication and commitment to your work and will be attractive to potential employers.
Licensing is required for therapists in all states; check with the state in which you plan to work. An occupational therapy job will provide you with the opportunity to work in a number of different environments.
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