5 Tips About an Occupational Therapist Career

Individuals investigating career options should consider these five tips about an occupational therapist career. Occupational therapists must be compassionate and competent, because they work with children and adults who have developmental, physical, mental, or emotional disabilities helping them to master necessary skills for daily life and functioning.

They might teach patients ways to compensate for a disability, assist them with recovering physical or motor skills, or help them improve cognitive functioning.

Job Availability

If you’re interested in a career that involves helping people make positive life changes, and that has solid long-term prospects, occupational therapy is definitely a path to consider. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the projected growth rates for occupational therapists between 2008 and 2018 were 26 percent, which is considerably higher than the rate for professionals in most other industries.

Requirements

The field of occupational therapy is regulated in every state, and to obtain a license, occupational therapists must pass a national exam after completion of an accredited degree program in occupational therapy.

Most states require that occupational therapists complete at least a master’s degree program, and many professionals hold doctoral degrees. If you’re interested in becoming an occupational therapist, you should look for programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).

In addition to these requirements, some states require that occupational therapists also meet other qualification to become licensed, and it’s important to learn what they are before enrolling in an academic program.

Specializing

Occupational therapists who specialize in working with certain types of patients or in certain areas, such as treating children, the elderly, or individuals with specific disabilities or diseases, such as autism, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, or ADHD improve their chances of advancing in their chosen fields.

Specialization can be learned through education, experience, or a combination of the two. Your specialization might be determined by the position you obtain when starting out, so it’s important to choose carefully, and carefully assess job offers.

Work Environment

About 29 percent of occupational therapists work for ambulatory healthcare service providers, such as outpatient clinics, mental health institutions, and rehab centers. Others might work a traditional 40-hour week at a school, hospital, or nursing home.

It’s also not uncommon for occupational therapists to work on a part-time basis for multiple employers, or to work as consultants for individual clients, organizations, and institutions. As an occupational therapist, you’ll typically work on your feet, and may have to drive from job to job, which can add physical stress to an already emotionally demanding job.

Yet, the satisfaction of being able to watch other people’s lives improve can provide a strong motivation for working in this field.

Job Availability & Salary

If you’re thinking about a career in occupational therapy, you should also understand the typical compensation and learn about which areas employ the greatest number of occupational therapists. In 2010, the median salary for occupational therapists was $34.77 per hour, and $72,320 per week, according to the BLS.

However, compensation and job availability varies between regions, and individuals living in states like California or Texas have access to more jobs and higher pay than people working in states such as Montana or Georgia.