How Do I Become an Occupational Therapy (OT) Practitioner?
Becoming an occupational therapy practitioner is a rewarding career choice that involves helping individuals improve their ability to perform daily activities and regain independence. If you are interested in pursuing a career in this field, there are several steps you can take to become an occupational therapy practitioner.
How Do I Get Started?
Start by learning what schools offer occupational therapy programs.
What Do OT Candidates Study?
Each school has its own specific requirements or course prerequisites. Check the websites of the schools to which you are applying for requirements specific to their programs. With this in mind…
Some Popular Undergraduate Majors for OT:
- Kinesiology
- Biology
- Psychology
- Exercise physiology
- Chemistry
- Health sciences
- Education
- Sociology
- Therapeutic recreation
Common Course Prerequisites for OT:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Physics
- Statistics
- Developmental psychology
- Biology
- Abnormal psychology
- Sociology/Anthropology
- Kinesiology
- Medical terminology
Becoming an occupational therapy practitioner requires dedication, education, and ongoing professional development. By following the steps outlined above, you can embark on a fulfilling career in this rewarding field.
FAQs
Occupational therapy is a well-paying profession. The amount of money you can make as an occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant can vary depending on several factors, such as where you work and how much experience you have.
Occupational therapists make a competitive salary, with a median annual wage of $93,180 in 2022, and the top 10 percent earning over $123,870. As an occupational therapy assistant, you can also expect a good salary, with a median annual wage of $64,250 and the top 10 percent earning over $85,580 in 2022. But remember, it’s not just about the money; it’s about making a positive impact on people’s lives. Salary information for occupational therapists and assistants is based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The amount of time will depend if you want to become an occupational therapist (OT) or occupational therapy assistant (OTA). An OT requires a minimum of a master’s degree, while an OTA is a minimum of an associate’s degree.
After finishing high school, you’ll go to college and study occupational therapy. Then, you’ll need to pass a national board certification exam to become a professional occupational therapy practitioner and start helping people in hospitals, schools, or other places where they need support.
Occupational therapy (OT) is all about helping people do important activities in their everyday lives. Occupational therapists work with people of all ages who have challenges with their bodies, thinking, learning, or emotions that make it hard to do daily activities. They help them become independent, learn new skills, make changes to their surroundings, and feel better overall.
Physical therapy (PT) helps people move better and become stronger. Physical therapists work with those who have problems with their bodies, like injuries or difficulties moving. They help them get stronger, more flexible, and able to do things they want to do physically.
PTs help people to walk, OTs help them to dance!
