This post provides detailed information on the occupational therapist career, including how to become one and the various opportunities you can explore in the occupational therapy field.
How to Become an Occupational Therapist
If you are interested in becoming an occupational therapist, here are steps to take:
- Acquire a Bachelor’s Degree
If you want to work in occupational therapy, then you should first get a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, such as Biology, Health Science, or Psychology.
If you have a Bachelor’s degree in a discipline unrelated to your intended field, you may need to complete prerequisite courses before going to graduate school.
2. Acquire a Graduate Degree
The next step to becoming an occupational therapist is to obtain a graduate degree from a recognized university.
You can go for a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree or a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD).
The curriculum for both the MOT and the OTD will contain the fieldwork hours required to sit for the licensure exam, in addition to the required coursework.
3. Obtain Certification
After finishing a MOT or OTD, it is important to pass the National Board of Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination to practice in the United States.
State license requirements differ, so check with your state’s occupational therapy regulating office.
4. How Long Does It Take to Become an Occupational Therapist?
If you already have a Bachelor’s degree, it can take you two to three years to earn a graduate degree in Occupational Therapy.
This also depends on the program and university you choose.
You should budget between 30 and 90 days to study for and take the NBCOT exam.
Occupational Therapist Career Advancement
There are different job roles for an occupational therapist as they grow their careers, some of these may include:
- Maternal-Fetal Therapist
A Maternal-Fetal Therapist is a therapist who treats women with serious illnesses during their pregnancy.
They help with correcting medical diagnoses and help patients regain control over their own lives.
A Maternal-Fetal Therapist must be a Certified Nurse-Midwife in order to be successful.
2. Resident Occupational Therapist
A Resident Occupational Therapist is a newly graduated occupational therapist who is working towards attaining their license.
They need to work under supervision of a licensed occupational therapist for at least 18 months before they will be allowed to take the licensing exam in most states.
3. Senior Occupational Therapist
A Senior Occupational Therapist is an occupational therapist who has been practicing for at least ten years and holds a license.
They are in charge of overseeing the training and development of new graduates and supervise the resident occupational therapists.
4. Director of Clinical Services
A Director of Clinical Services is an occupational therapist who oversees all other occupational therapists’ interventions and programs.
They make sure that there are enough resources available in order to offer the best treatments to patients.
They make sure that everything falls into place in their hospital.
They will also be responsible for supervising the staff and making sure they are performing their jobs well.
5. Training and Evaluation Coordinator
A Training and Evaluation Coordinator is an occupational therapist who directs the occupational therapists that are working in their clinic.
They are responsible for setting up and mentoring new graduates of their profession, as well as evaluating outcomes of interventions.
More tips on Occupational Therapist Career Advancement
6. Clinical Education Coordinator
A Clinical Education Coordinator is an occupational therapist who will oversee all that is going on in the areas of clinical education, practice testing, research and evaluation.
They make sure that all areas of the clinic are functioning properly and will also keep up with new legislation in order to keep themselves as up to date with guidelines as possible.
7. Residency Program Director
A Residency Program Director is an occupational therapist who oversees all areas of the residency program.
They supervise the education and training of occupational therapists and make sure they are following new legislation and guidelines.
They will also evaluate their graduates in order to see their development throughout the programs and whether they are successful or not.
8. Proficiency Assessor
A Proficiency Assessor is an occupational therapist who is charged with observing the work of other therapists in order to determine their proficiency level.
They review the records, reports, and assessments made by the therapist in order to ensure that they are providing a high quality of care.
They will discuss these findings with the therapist in order to help them improve their knowledge or skills.
9. Licensure Exam Developer
A Licensure Exam Developer is an occupational therapist who develops tests for occupational therapists’ licensing exams.
They design, write, and maintain the exam content in order to ensure that the licensing board is providing relevant and up to date information.
10. Psychologist/Clinical Psychologist
A Psychologist/Clinical Psychologist is an occupational therapist who works on psychological conditions.
They treat individuals with conditions such as autism and ADHD, as well as those who have suffered a stroke or brain injury.
Challenges faced by Occupational Therapist on the Job
The challenges faced by occupational therapists on the job include:
- Long hours
Occupational Therapists work long hours. They spend most of their time in the clinic, either assisting parents in preparing their child for therapy, teaching therapy techniques to other professionals, preparing children for assessment and treatment, or conducting studies on the physical development and motor skills of children with disabilities.
2. The need to keep up with new legislation
Occupational therapists must keep up with all new legislation so they can make sure that they are giving their patients the best possible care at all times.
As legislation changes and becomes more in depth, occupational therapists are required to be up to date on the information so they don’t get on the bad side of the law.
3. Physically demanding
Occupational therapists will often spend hours conducting evaluations on children with disabilities or working with other health professionals to develop therapeutic methods for treating a variety of disabilities.
Many occupational therapists are required to provide physical therapy independently or under the supervision of a physician.
Major Benefits of Occupational Therapy Career
There are many benefits the occupational therapist career provides, including:
- High paying occupation
Occupational therapists are high paying and generally make more than $60,000 a year, which is above the mean for most occupations in the United States.
They have the opportunity to earn significantly more by specializing in a certain field such as pediatrics.
2. Career opportunities
Occupational therapists have the ability to specialize in a field and work with children, adults and elderly people.
They can work in a variety of settings, including private practices, hospitals, and schools.
3. Job security
Occupational therapists are generally paid well so they are unlikely to lose their job anytime soon.
They will continue to be employed if they perform their duties well, even if there is a decrease in demand for their services.
4. Specializations in occupational therapy
There are a number of different types of careers available for occupational therapists.
You can specialize in pediatrics, gerontology, or the field of physical therapy.
By specializing, you will get open a range of job possibilities, including working in school settings or private practices, as well as in hospitals and nursing facilities.
This specialization provides you with more challenge and variety which translates to higher pay.
5. Job satisfaction
Occupational therapists are generally satisfied with their work because they are able to make a positive difference in a person’s quality of life.
The patients often appreciate the efforts of the occupational therapist because they feel as though their rehabilitation is getting better and faster.
More Benefits of Occupational Therapy Career
6. Location flexibility
Many job positions require that occupational therapists live in specific areas, but this is not necessarily the case for employment as an occupational therapist.
Occupational therapists are generally free to choose where they want to live regardless of whether it is in rural or urban areas.
7. Flexibility to work with a variety of people
Occupational therapists work with all types of people, and this gives them the opportunity to acquire many new skills that aren’t possible with other occupations.
They can work with children, seniors, and people from different cultures, which gives them exposure to different lifestyles, and the ability to learn about their own culture at the same time.
Conclusion
The occupational therapy career is a high demand profession that can provide many opportunities for the professional. Occupational therapists have the ability to specialize in a certain area of practice as well as work with people from all walks of life, and they are generally paid very well.