Should I study occupational therapy?

Q: Who would you be able to help as an occupational therapist? Select all that apply:

A brain injury patient, An elderly person with mobility issues, A car accident survivor, A child with a physical disability

Q: Which of the following would increase your success in getting into a strong Masters program? Select all that apply:

getting a high GRE score, getting an OT internship, shadowing an OT

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Answer:

A child with a physical disability ,

A car accident survivor ,

A brain injury patient ,

An elderly person with mobility issues

Sources:

1 https://www.aota.org/about/what-is-ot

2 https://www.aota.org/about/what-is-ot

The Path to Becoming an Occupational Therapist

If you choose to become an OT in the United States, the required education to start practicing will be...

Bachelor's Degree and GRE
Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Degree, including fieldwork experience
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Exam
State license
Continuing education to maintain credentials (every 2-3 years)

Other countries will have their own required education path, so be sure to check with OT professional associations in your country if you're not planning to practice in the US.

Two Career Paths for OTs

A therapist (standing) smiles at their patient (sitting).

Regular OT Practitioner

With a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree

and the required licensing, you can start practicing in a large variety of settings, including:

schools
hospitals
rehabilitation facilities
home health

A graduate in their cap and gown looks at their professor (also in graduation clothes) on a TV screen.

OT Research & Leadership

If you obtain a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree,

you can also help advance the field via:

OT research
teaching in academia
advocacy organizations
OT management

Did you know?

OTs can also get additional post-professional certifications to increase their specialty skills, such as in low vision, autism, diabetes, hand therapy, and more.

OTs truly provide holistic care!

Sources:

1 https://www.aota.org/career/become-an-ot-ota

2 https://learningpath.org/articles/Study_Occupational_Therapy_Masters_Degree_Doctorate_Online_Info.html

3 https://learningpath.org/articles/Study_Occupational_Therapy_Masters_Degree_Doctorate_Online_Info.html

4 https://otpotential.com/blog/where-to-go-ot-degree

College Courses to Take

In order to apply for a Masters of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program, you should take prerequisite courses during your undergraduate studies, such as:

biology
anatomy
physiology
medical terminology

It's helpful to major in:

pre-occupational therapy
health sciences
kinesiology
neuroscience

Drake says no to "taking summer classes to meet pre-reqs" and yes to "doing a major that lines up with pre-reqs".

Say I get into my Master's program...what then?

Once you're in a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) program, you'll be taking OT-specific classes (e.g. Foundations of Occupational Therapy, Exercise Therapy).

The most important parts of the MOT, according to my OT friends, are the fieldwork courses that give you hands-on experience providing therapy for real patients!

Quiz

Which of the following would increase your success in getting into a strong Masters program? Select all that apply:

Answer:

shadowing an OT ,

getting a high GRE score ,

getting an OT internship

Did you know?

Many of my friends who are OTs say that establishing study groups was a great way for them to not only find motivation to study and keep their grades up, but also practice hands-on skills with each other! This is also why snagging good fieldworkduring the Master's program is key.

Sources:

1 https://www.myotspot.com/ot-school-prerequisites/

2 https://www.organizationalpsychologydegrees.com/lists/common-courses-in-an-occupational-therapy-degree-program/

Take Action

So, are you interested in this holistic healthcare profession? Are you ready to help people get back on their feet and live independently?

A man looking serious and saying, "I want to help! Put me to work."

Here's how you can start deciding to pursue occupational therapy TODAY!

Research prerequisite courses for occupational therapy Masters programs.

Volunteer in a hospital to see if you like helping people through healthcare.

Ask to shadow an occupational therapist to get a feel for the job.

Check out this Byte to learn what a typical day looks like for OTs.

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Have you ever had to help someone do a simple daily task because they got injured and couldn't do it themselves?

An injured woman, completely wrapped in a cast, lies on the bed with her arms outstretched.

That's when occupational therapy comes into play!

Occupational therapists are healthcare professionals who examine the holistic needs of patients and come up with treatment plans to help them.

If you want the opportunity to change a person's life for the better, you should study occupational therapy.

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy enables people of all ages to participate in daily living.

— American Occupational Therapy Association

Occupational therapists (OTs) work with people at any stage in their life. They assess patients' lives and interests, and then develop treatment plans to help patients improve their ability to participate in their occupations.

For example, an OT can help a stroke survivor relearn how to take a shower independently, teach a child to hold a pencil, or coach someone experiencing mental health struggles how to manage stress.

Occupational therapists can help patients with the following:

Hands chopping parsley on a cutting board.

Daily Activities

taking a shower
getting dressed
eating with utensils

A wheelchair parked next to a line of stools.

Adaptive Equipment

wheelchairs
shower chairs
other equipment for daily tasks

A woman wearing a shirt that says "You Matter".

Mental Health

socializing with others
executive functioning
stress management

A man walks down steps littered by shoes, with a wheelchair waiting on the side.

Home Safety

fall prevention measures
improving accessibility at home
training family/caregivers

Quiz

Who would you be able to help as an occupational therapist? Select all that apply:

The Path to Becoming an Occupational Therapist

If you choose to become an OT in the United States, the required education to start practicing will be...

Bachelor's Degree and GRE
Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Degree, including fieldwork experience
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Exam
State license
Continuing education to maintain credentials (every 2-3 years)

Other countries will have their own required education path, so be sure to check with OT professional associations in your country if you're not planning to practice in the US.