What does an occupational therapist do?
An occupational therapist works with patients who have conditions that are mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabling. They help these patients develop, recover, or maintain the skills needed for daily living and working.
The goal of an occupational therapist is to help patients with medical issues and complications to live more independently. Therapists are skilled in the social, emotional, and physical effects of an illness, injury, or disability. In doing so they may plan treatment programs and teach patients how to use adaptive equipment.
Scope of practice
Occupational therapists work with doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and occupational therapy assistants, and other team members to treat patients of all ages, from infants to the elderly. Common tasks and duties include:
- Evaluating patients and determining goals for treatment
- Customizing treatment to each patient’s current ability and goals
- Re-evaluating patients to ensure goals are being met
- Adjusting treatment plans to reflect changes in ability
Specializations
Occupational therapists can seek board and specialty certifications from the American Occupational Therapy Association, including the following.
Board areas:
- Gerontology
- Mental health
- Pediatrics
- Physical rehabilitation
Specialty areas:
- Driving and community mobility
- Environmental modification
- Feeding, eating, swallowing
- Low vision
- School systems
Work environment
Occupational therapists work in hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, offices and clinics, school systems, nursing homes, and home health agencies. They typically work 40 plus-hour weeks during daytime hours, including some weekends and holidays. Occupational therapists work most of their hours on their feet while treating their patients.
Becoming an occupational therapist
Individuals interested in becoming an occupational therapist typically have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. They are very compassionate, patient people with a desire to help others improve their lives. High school students would set themselves up for success by taking science and communication courses, and spending time volunteering helping children or the elderly.
Higher education requirements
Occupational therapists need to obtain a bachelor’s degree which can be any major but is typically biology, psychology, sociology, kinesiology, or a health science major as certain prerequisite courses are required for admission to graduate school.
- Master’s degree program in occupational therapy
- Optional doctoral program in occupational therapy
There are some programs that combine the bachelor’s and master’s degree into one occupational therapy program that can be completed in a total of five years.
Certification process
After completing your graduate-level occupational therapy program, you must pass the National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam in order to become certified as an occupational therapist. Occupational therapists are required to complete continuing education credits each year to keep their license current.
Career opportunities and outlook
Occupational therapists can expect a median annual salary of $85,570.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects job openings for occupational therapists in the U.S. to grow much faster than average. This is due to the growth in the number of people with disabilities who require therapy services and as the large baby-boom generation ages and remain active later in life. There is also employment growth in schools that need therapists to serve children with disabilities.
With additional training and experience, some occupational therapists move into management roles with more responsibilities or start their own practices. Some therapists complete a doctorate degree and become professors while others earn specializations to increase career opportunities.
By the numbers
Occupational therapy is a specialized therapy that focuses on helping you live your daily life more comfortably. Occupational therapists focus on helping you do the activities in your daily routine while you recover from surgery or live with an ongoing condition.
The type of occupational therapy you do depends on your conditions and the activities involved in your work, hobbies and other daily activities. An occupational therapist can teach you new ways to do things like:
- Get in and out of a car while recovering from hip surgery
- Use a dressing stick to pull on clothes after knee replacement
- Do household chores in ways that reduce arthritis pain
Occupational therapists can also:
- Treat your orthopedic injuries of the shoulder, arm, wrist and hand. Some occupational therapists are nationally certified in hand therapy.
- Evaluate and treat workplace injuries and facilitate returning to work.
- Treat patients who have had surgeries, illnesses, strokes or other ailments that limit function.
- Provide intensive therapy in an interdisciplinary team to individuals who need improved function before they return home after a serious illness or injury.
At Aurora Health Care, our occupational therapists offer personalized treatment that’s aligned with the other care you receive, so you can be confident you’re making progress. Working together, your doctors and therapists can help you achieve your goals and get back to the things you love.
What to expect
At your first appointment, your occupational therapist will physically examine the area that’s causing you difficulty. Then you’ll review your treatment plan and discuss your goals.
Your occupational therapy may also include:
- Stretches and exercises that you’ll be able to continue at home
- Education about ways to reduce pain and prevent injury
- Advice on how to make your home or workplace safer and more functional. This might include moving rugs to prevent slipping or installing supports to prevent falls.
- Assistive equipment – like a cane, walker, wrist brace or custom upper extremity splints – and coaching on how to use these new tools
- An on-site evaluation at your home, school or workplace
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How to Become an Occupational Therapist
About this section
Occupational therapists can help people cope with arthritis and other ailments.
Occupational therapists need at least a master’s degree in occupational therapy; some therapists have a doctoral degree. Occupational therapists also must be licensed.
Education
Most occupational therapists enter the occupation with a master’s degree in occupational therapy. Occupational therapy programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, part of the American Occupational Therapy Association.
Admission to graduate programs in occupational therapy typically requires a bachelor’s degree in healthcare and related fields with coursework in biology, physiology, and other sciences. Many programs also require applicants to have volunteered or worked in an occupational therapy setting. Candidates should contact the program that they are interested in attending about specific requirements.
Master’s programs usually take 2 to 3 years to complete; doctoral programs take about 3 and a half years. Some schools offer a dual-degree program in which the student earns a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in 5 years. Part-time programs that offer courses on nights and weekends are also available.
Both master’s and doctoral programs require at least 24 weeks of supervised fieldwork, in which prospective occupational therapists gain clinical work experience. In addition, doctoral programs require a 16-week capstone experience.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
All states require occupational therapists to be licensed. Licensing requirements vary by state, but all require candidates to pass the national examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). To sit for the NBCOT exam, candidates must have earned a degree from an accredited educational program and completed all fieldwork requirements.
Therapists must pass the NBCOT exam to use the title “Occupational Therapist, Registered” (OTR). They must also take continuing education classes to maintain certification.
The American Occupational Therapy Association also offers a number of board and specialty certifications for therapists who want to demonstrate their advanced or specialized knowledge in areas of practice, such as pediatrics, mental health, or low vision.
Important Qualities
Adaptability. Occupational therapists must be flexible when treating patients. Because not every type of therapy will work for each patient, therapists may need to be creative when determining the treatment plans and adaptive devices that best suit each patient’s needs.
Communication skills. Occupational therapists must listen attentively to what patients tell them and must explain what they want their patients to do. When communicating with other members of the patient’s medical team, therapists must clearly explain the treatment plan for the patient and any progress made by the patient.
Compassion. Occupational therapists are usually drawn to the profession by a desire to help people and improve their daily lives. Therapists must be sensitive to a patient’s needs and concerns, especially when assisting the patient with personal activities.
Interpersonal skills. Because occupational therapists spend their time teaching and explaining therapies to patients, they need to earn the trust and respect of those patients and their families.
Patience. Dealing with injuries, illnesses, and disabilities is frustrating for many people. Occupational therapists should exhibit patience in order to provide quality care to the people they serve.
How to Become an Occupational Therapy Assistant or Aide
About this section
Occupational therapy aides help patients with billing and insurance forms.
Occupational therapy assistants need an associate’s degree from an accredited occupational therapy assistant program. All states regulate the practice of occupational therapy assistants. Occupational therapy aides typically need a high school diploma or equivalent and are trained on the job.
Education and Training
Occupational therapy assistants typically need an associate’s degree from an accredited program. Occupational therapy assistant programs are commonly found in community colleges and technical schools. In 2017, there were more than 200 occupational therapy assistant programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education, a part of the American Occupational Therapy Association.
These programs generally require 2 years of full-time study and include instruction in subjects such as psychology, biology, and pediatric health. In addition to taking coursework, occupational therapy assistants must complete at least 16 weeks of fieldwork to gain hands-on work experience.
People interested in becoming an occupational therapy assistant should take high school courses in biology and health education. They also can increase their chances of getting into a community college or technical school program by doing volunteer work in a healthcare setting, such as a nursing care facility, an occupational therapist’s office, or a physical therapist’s office.
Occupational therapy aides typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. They are trained on the job under the supervision of more experienced assistants or aides. Training can last from several days to a few weeks and covers a number of topics, including the setting up of therapy equipment and infection control procedures, among others. Previous work experience in healthcare may be helpful in getting a job.
Both occupational therapy assistants and aides often need certifications in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and basic life support (BLS).
Important Qualities
Adaptability. Assistants must be flexible when treating patients. Because not every type of therapy will work for each patient, assistants may need to be creative when working with occupational therapists to determine the best therapy to achieve a patient’s goals.
Compassion. Occupational therapy assistants and aides frequently work with patients who struggle with many of life’s basic activities. As a result, they should be compassionate and have the ability to encourage others.
Detail oriented. Occupational therapy assistants and aides must quickly and accurately follow the instructions, both written and spoken, of an occupational therapist. In addition, aides must pay attention to detail when performing clerical tasks, such as helping a patient fill out an insurance form.
Interpersonal skills. Occupational therapy assistants and aides spend much of their time interacting with patients and therefore should be friendly and courteous. They also should communicate clearly with patients and with patients’ families to the extent of their training.
Physical strength. Assistants and aides need to have a moderate degree of strength because of the physical exertion required to assist patients. Constant kneeling, stooping, and standing for long periods also are part of the job.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
All states regulate the practice of occupational therapy assistants, with most requiring licensure. Licensure typically requires the completion of an accredited occupational therapy assistant education program, completion of all fieldwork requirements, and passing the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam. Some states have additional requirements.
Occupational therapy assistants must pass the NBCOT exam to use the title “Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant” (COTA). They must also take continuing education classes to maintain their certification.
The American Occupational Therapy Association also offers a number of specialty certifications for occupational therapy assistants who want to demonstrate their specialized level of knowledge, skills, and abilities in specialized areas of practice such as low vision or feeding, eating, and swallowing.
Occupational therapy aides are not regulated by state law.
Advancement
Some occupational therapy assistants and aides advance by gaining additional education and becoming occupational therapists. A small number of occupational therapist “bridge” education programs are designed to qualify occupational therapy assistants to advance and become therapists.
