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Find Out How to Become an Occupational Therapist
If you are looking for a career in the medical field but don’t want to be a doctor or nurse, you may want to consider being an occupational therapist. It is a rewarding career field where you help to make a difference in someone’s life. If this sounds like a good career choice for you, you may be wondering how to become an occupational therapist.
While previously, a bachelor’s degree qualified you to be an occupational therapist, the trend has been changing. It is now recommended that you earn your master’s degree. Most universities have some sort of program. However, if you cannot locate one, contact your state’s health department to see what schools are accredited.
Similar to other professions in the medical field, you must be licensed in the state you wish to practice in. The requirements in order to become licensed vary from state to state. Typically, you must have graduated from an accredited program and pass a written exam.
Occupational therapists can work in many different environments, such as hospitals, orthopedic clinics, and rehab centers. There are also positions available in schools, but you may have to have some additional education or requirements for those positions.
The job outlook for occupational therapists continues to look good, with an estimated growth of 25% in the next decade. During your schooling, look for possible internships or summer positions to get you acclimated with the field and give you some experience for your resume. Occupational therapy can be a challenging and very rewarding career choice.
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How to Become an Occupational Therapist
The first step to a career in occupational therapy is learning how to become an occupational therapist, including the education, certification and job hunt. Your duties as an occupational therapist may include rehabilitating disabled workers, retraining individuals to improve their quality of life and advising offices and work sites on ergonomics and workplace design. This is a rewarding career where you’ll work with people hands on to make their lives better. If you have a caring nature and a strong work ethic, this might be the ideal job for you.
If you’re thinking of becoming an occupational therapist, you’ll need to start by taking classes in anatomy, anthropology, human development, physics, psychology, sociology and other related subjects. You may also want to volunteer to work with an occupational therapist to see if you like the job. A part time job at a hospital will also give you good experience that will help when you begin your career. Then if you still feel that occupational therapy is right for you, it is time to look at local programs to begin your education and training.
You must make sure that the program you choose is accredited; otherwise, it will be of little or no value in the job market or if you decide to continue your education later on. Occupational therapists in the United States must have a bachelor of science degree in occupational therapy and pass the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. During your education, you will be better off if you assume you can’t get all of your experience out of books. You must be proactive about internships, volunteer jobs and part-time work that provide relevant experience for your future career.
Once you are a registered occupational therapist, then you can decide what kind of environment you want to work in. There are occupational therapy jobs everywhere from hospitals and clinics to private offices and physical therapy centers. The pay is good, with a median salary of about $67,000 for this profession. If you have what it takes to finish the schooling and you work well with people, this could be your future career.
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Occupational Therapy – How To Become An Occupational Therapist
If you are looking for a stable career, and one that will give you instant gratification, becoming an occupational therapist will be a great choice. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a continuous growth in the demand for occupational therapists until the year 2018. With that said, you have every reason to want to be an OT. So what does it take to become an occupational therapist?
Before trying to know how you can become an OT, it is important that you know who an occupational therapist is and what your duties would be if you ever became one. Occupational therapists are skilled professionals who help people regain their physical strength and abilities. The services of an OT are usually required by those people who have suffered from a severe accident, any form of brain injury or any major mental illness.
To become an OT, you are required to complete a post-secondary education in psychology, social work, or occupational therapy. These programs are available at technical colleges, universities and colleges. In general, you would need two years of formal schooling plus some work experience. Occupational therapist degree programs in universities typically last for four years, with extra courses offered for program extension to five to six years.
While states may vary in terms of the license requirements for those who want to practice occupational therapy, it is almost mandatory that you pass a state licensure exam to be a registered therapist. And so, you should be aware of your state’s requirements on licensing and make sure also that you have both the education and the experience needed before you even think of applying. And so, it is essential that you have enough patience and compassion to be able to fulfill your role. In your learning to be a great therapist, you would want to have a mentor who will show and teach you how personal and professional relationships with patients should be dealt with.
Once you have started your degree as an occupational therapist, make sure that you keep yourself up to date with all the new theories and technologies that can make your job a very effective one. Try to participate in lectures, seminars and even part time courses just so you may know what developments are taking place in your field.
If you happen to be a nurse or you are working as a personal support worker, you may still make the transition to occupational therapy. All you will have to do is ask a couple of universities or colleges for academic credits for prior work experience and education you have. After your credentials have been evaluated and credited, you will have a great opportunity to have fewer required subjects as you try to complete an occupational therapist degree program. As a result, you will have a little easier course load, which can mean earlier completion of the program.
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Copyright 2011. How to Become a Occupational Therapist.
