This gives you a sense of who they are and which types of research interests them. This rate is much faster than the average projected growth of professions in the US. That said, there are certain cities where the OT market is more saturated than others. There are numerous factors that impact your salary as an OT. Years of experience, specialization, location of practice, and setting all affect your compensation.
Also, some employers pay hourly rates, while others pay salaries. We discussed a lot of nuance and detail about becoming an occupational therapist in this article, but we wanted to conclude by breaking the process down into 5 basic steps, so you have a concrete idea of the basic roadmap to pursuing this career.
The first step of becoming an occupational therapist is completing necessary requirements to become accepted into OT school. That means earning both a high school degree and an undergraduate degree with the proper prerequisite coursework. For example, you might want to work in a pediatric OT clinic, a school-based OT clinic, a skilled nursing facility SNF , and an inpatient rehab facility.
You might also want to do some observation hours in an acute care facility hospital. You will likely need to take the GRE graduate record examination and get a decent score, along with earning somewhat high marks in your undergrad program.
Please check with the individual programs you are interested in to see if the GRE is required. There are pros and cons for each. That being said, a doctorate might open doors for you down the road, especially if you want to work in academia or research.
You will then need to take continuing education courses throughout your career to keep your license active. This is the case in nearly all states, though there are a few exceptions. I recommend that you start planning as early as possible.
Be sure to continue exploring the trends in the OT field as you pursue your dream. There are always new developments and creative ways to use your education, and the earlier you start thinking about your goals within the OT realm, the sooner you can take advantage of everything your OT school has to offer.
Hello, I agree that the typical manner in which to become an OT is to go to an university. It is not for the majority but for many, often the non-traditional student, this path gets them to the goal!
Hi Heidi! I had mentioned in my email that I was frustrated with the other advice out there that advised people to become an OTA then an OT, what really made me frustrated was they took all the nuance out of the decision. All paths have merit and a career journey is so personal, so I think that at each step people should be presented with quality information and weigh what is right for them. I LOVE your story, and thanks again for sharing it.
I bet you are an awesome program director because of your experience!! I have been frustrated with the transition process for many years and have voiced this many times. I wish as a profession, we could make this process easier for those who after attaining their COTA degree and worked for a little while could be an OTR. I feel that with a revision to coursework on both sides we could align the programming.
If nursing can do it we can too! I hear you! Thanks for writing this highly informative article Sarah! So much helpful information for pre-OT students here. Keep up the great work! Thank you, Laura!! They make a big difference in how well my articles rank on Google! This is a fantastic article! Thank you for writing it and providing solid, accurate information about our profession. I will certainly be sharing this article in the future.
It was nice to have it all laid out as far as the process goes. This is very helpful. Thank you. I do have a question that I hope someone can answer or give me some direction. I am researching for my daughter who would like to become an OT, and we homeschool, so I thought that we would have her get her AA and OTA through dual enrollment. Continuing education is always one of the better options for occupational therapists since it opens up various avenues for advancement in your career.
The next step on your journey once you have earned your occupational therapy degree would be to write the NBCOT.
It is the national board exam for occupational therapy. Almost all states need occupational therapists to take educational courses throughout their practice to keep their licensure active. Although licensure requirements differ with each state, they generally require an NBCOT score, academic transcripts, and a background check.
Before you decide to become an occupational therapist, it is important to know the nuances of opting for a career in occupational therapy. Before you make up your mind, ask yourself. The following are the qualities that aspiring occupational therapists need to work on:.
Apart from the desirable qualities mentioned above, occupational therapists require a particular skill set to get ahead in this field. Many of these skills are acquired during the education program at school but some are only perfected with a lot of experience at hospitals.
The schooling for occupational therapist and to earn an occupational therapist degree involve a lot of science. OTs need to follow a high level of safety standards. OTs need to make sure family members learn how to safely assist with bathing and toileting and demonstrate safe use of medical equipment. Students need to learn new and old safety procedures and be able to teach the patients family members how to put them into practice at their homes. Pursuing your education at a reputed, top-level college will give your certification more value, and careers in OT will be easy to come by.
There are a plethora of schools that offer courses in OT, finding the right occupational therapist school for you is a crucial part of your journey since the degree certification you earn plays an important role in your employment. To learn more about the OT courses offered by NEIT and for more information, drop your queries in the given link and we will respond via email. Depending on the university, the prerequisite courses will be different. Each university has its own set of prerequisite courses you need to complete to qualify for their program.
Majors starting with psychology or science are the best ones to pick for aspiring OTs. That being said, there are many options, and people should pursue whatever undergrad major interests them in school. Find more information about the prerequisite courses by visiting the website of your target schools or by sending them an email. Nevertheless, post-employment the potential for job satisfaction is near infinite. The current demand for individuals with the right education certification in this field is high and qualified individuals can earn a decent living post-employment.
We will cover answers to the following questions in detail:. What is occupational therapy? For instance, you may work with architects and contractors on how to improve building design and accessibility; or, you could consult with companies on ergonomic concerns for product construction. Related careers you may explore include physical and recreational therapy. To qualify for a position as an occupational therapy assistant, students complete two years of study, including the following courses:.
In most states, occupational therapy assistants need to pass national certification exams before they can practice. Although certification is voluntary, becoming certified as an occupational therapist shows a dedication and commitment to your work and will be attractive to potential employers.
Licensing is required for therapists in all states; check with the state in which you plan to work. An occupational therapy job will provide you with the opportunity to work in a number of different environments. The chart below, using data from the U. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, shows the highest level of employment in environments where occupational therapists and assistants generally work:.
0コメント