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. Photo by Alyson McPhee on Unsplash

Daily Activities

  • taking a shower

  • getting dressed

  • eating with utensils

A wheelchair parked next to a line of stools. Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Adaptive Equipment

  • wheelchairs

  • shower chairs

  • other equipment for daily tasks

A woman wearing a shirt that says Photo by Eneida Hoti on Unsplash

Mental Health

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

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...

  1. Bachelor's Degree and GRE

  2. Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) Degree, including fieldwork experience

  3. National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) Exam

  4. State license

  5. 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). Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

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. Photo by Mohammad Shahhosseini on Unsplash

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

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

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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:

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,

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

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