Occupational Therapist Career & Jobs: Training, Salary & Certification Requirements

Many people take their ability to work, recreate and interact with others for granted, but the truth is that many people are not able to perform these simple daily tasks due to physical, mental or social disabilities. When people cannot overcome these difficulties, it seriously impairs their ability to live lives that are fulfilling, and they often become depressed or even violent. Most of the time, all they need is a helping hand, and someone to show them new techniques for regaining their independence. In the medical field, these professionals are known as occupational therapists, and they are responsible for teaching disabled people how to use equipment and different techniques to overcome their physical and mental difficulties. Occupational therapists are usually expected to work closely with mental health counselors, social workers and doctors to help their patients.

Salary Outlook

Average Annual Salary
$54,000
Salary Range
$42,300 - $60,400

Work Environment

There are many different settings in which an occupational therapist might be asked to work, and they usually depend on the specialty of the particular therapist. Most commonly, occupational therapists work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, schools, nursing homes and hospice companies.

High School Preparation

Those individuals who would like to become occupational therapists in the future are encouraged to focus on familiarizing themselves with the health professions and science while they are in high school. Supporting courses include biology, chemistry, physics, physical science, psychology, sociology, and computer skills. It can also be helpful to seek a volunteer position in the health field, like working as an orderly in a hospital, so that interested candidates can develop experience working with people in a health care setting.

Requirements

Currently, the minimum educational requirement for entering the field of occupational therapy is a master’s degree in occupational therapy. This means that aspiring therapists will need to complete a bachelor’s degree that prepares them for post-graduate study in this area of expertise. After they have complete their undergraduate and graduate studies, individuals are required to pass a national licensing exam in order to become certified and qualified to enter the workforce. The most desirable occupational therapists will be those that have chosen to specialize in one area of the field, and those that continue their professional education.

Career Outlook

Thanks to the expanding elderly population, and the increased knowledge that even sedentary jobs can have an adverse affect on people’s health in some circumstances, the demand for qualified occupational therapists is expected to increase rapidly for the next couple of years. Occupational therapists will soon be in demand in more unconventional settings, like corporate health programs and preventative health initiatives.

Professional Organizations

American Occupational Therapist Association
4720 Montgomery Lane
P.O. Box 31220
Bethesda, MD 20824-1220
Phone: (301) 652-2682
www.aota.org