A Career in Occupational Therapy

Questions and Answers About a Career

that Celebrates Living Life To Its Fullest!

What is occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy is a health care profession that focuses on

helping people of all ages regain, develop, or master everyday skills

in order to live independent, productive, and satisfying lives.

What qualities or traits are useful in practicing

occupational therapy?

Personal Qualities or Traits

• Enjoy helping people

• Strong communication skills

• Strong interpersonal skills

• Good problem solver

• Enjoy working with others

• Creative

• Flexible

What are the educational requirements for a career in

occupational therapy?

Educational Requirements: Occupational Therapist

• Postbaccalaureate Degree– Entry-level Master’s Degree (MA, MS, or MOT)– Entry-level Doctoral Degree (OTD)– http://www.aota.org/Students/Prospective/FAQs/38216.aspx

• Supervised Fieldwork• Sample Coursework:

– Introduction to Occupational Therapy Practice– Theories of Occupational Therapy– Administration and Management in Occupational

Therapy– Functional Movement and Mobility– Cognition and Perception

Educational Requirements: Occupational Therapy Assistant

• Associate’s Degree• Supervised Fieldwork• Sample Coursework

– Medical Terminology– Anatomy & Physiology– Psychology– Rehabilitation Therapy– Gerontology

Prerequisite Requirements• Biology• Human Anatomy & Physiology• Abnormal Psychology• Sociology or Anthropology• Childhood Development• Statistics• Medical Terminology• Related Volunteer Experience• Related Work Experience

How do I learn which colleges and universities offer occupational therapy

education programs?

Accredited Educational Programs

• In order to become an occupational therapy practitioner, you must graduate from an accredited program.

• Visit the ATOA Web site at http://www.aota.org/Students/Schools.aspx for a list of accredited schools.

• Centralized application system beginning in 2011 for OT programs

Further Information

• Visit the Prospective Students section of the AOTA Web site at http://www.aota.org/Students/Prospective.aspx

• Find answers to frequently asked questions at http://www.aota.org/Students/Prospective/FAQs.aspx

Where do occupational therapy practitioners work?

As an OT practitioner, I could work in physical disabilities…

• Hospitals– Acute care– Inpatient rehab– Specialty units (e.g. spinal cord injury)

• Nursing homes

• Home health

• Work rehabilitation

As an OT practitioner, I could work in mental health…

• Psychiatric facilities

• Psychiatric units in hospitals– Adults or adolescents

• Community mental health programs

• Specialty units in nursing homes (e.g. dementia units)

As an OT practitioner, I could work in pediatrics…

• Schools

• Pediatric units in hospitals– Oncology, burn units, neonatal intensive

care, etc.

• Hospital-based outpatient clinics

• Private clinics

• Private practice

As an OT practitioner, I could work in academics & research…

• Academics & research– Teach in an occupational therapy or

occupational therapy assistant program– Be a clinician and a teacher– Teach and do research

As an OT practitioner, I could work in specialty areas such as…• Hand therapy

• Driver rehabilitation

• Low vision rehabilitation

• Wheelchair seating

• Assistive technology

• Design & accessibility consultation

What is the job outlook for occupational therapy?

Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos078.htm

Job Outlook: Occupational Therapists

• Employment of occupational therapists is expected to increase 23% between 2006 and 2016, therefore growth is expected to be much faster than the average for all occupations.

• Reasons for growth & the need for more occupational therapists:– Baby-boom generation’s movement into middle age– Aging of the population age 75 and older– Increasing numbers of individuals living with chronic

disabilities or limited function

– Improving technologic and medical advances

Earnings: Occupational Therapists

• Median annual earnings of occupational therapists were $66,780 in May 2008.

– The lowest 10% earned $42,820, and the highest 10% earned more than $98,310.

• Top paying industries for this occupation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos078.htm

Industry Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage

Home health $38.03 $79,110

Employment services (managers, directors)

$37.80 $78,630

Other schools and instruction

$36.18 $75,260

Nursing care facilities $35.19 $73,200

Physician’s office $34.54 $71,840

Workforce Trends:Occupational Therapists-May 2008

Industry Employment(thousands)

General medical and surgical hospitals 23,630

Offices of other health practitioners 20,340

Elementary and secondary schools 12,580

Nursing care facilities 8,630

Home health care services 6,390

Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291122.htm

Bureau of Labor Statistics:http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos166.htm#outlook

Job Outlook:Occupational Therapy Assistants• Employment of occupational therapy assistants is

expected to grow 25% from 2006 to 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations.

• Reasons for growth & the need for more occupational therapy assistants:– Increased demand for occupational therapy services (as

previously discussed)– Government trends toward cost-containment measures in

health care– Productivity demands by employers & insurance companies

continues to increase for OT’s– OTA has a vital role in supporting therapy with the steadily

growing elderly population

Earnings:Occupational Therapy Assistants

• Median annual earnings of occupational therapy assistants were $48,230 in May 2008.

– The lowest 10% earned $31,150 and the highest 10% earned more than $65,160.

Bureau of Labor Statistics:http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos166.htm#outlook

Industry Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage

Home health $28.28 $58,810

Employment services (managers, directors)

$25.27 $52,560

Offices of other healthcare practitioners

$24.50 $50,970

Nursing care facilities $24.08 $50,090

Community care facilities for the elderly

$23.43 $48,730

Workforce Trends:Occupational Therapy Assistants-May 2008

Industry Employment(thousands)

Offices of Other Health Practitioners 7.560

General Medical and Surgical Hospitals 5,410

Nursing Care Facilities 4,660

Elementary and Secondary Schools 1,800

Home Health Services 1,000

Bureau of Labor Statistics:http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes312011.htm

Does occupational therapy offer opportunities for

individuals of culturally diverse backgrounds?

Cultural Diversity in the Occupational Therapy Profession

The occupational therapy profession is actively seeking to increase the number of practitioners

representing culturally diverse backgrounds. Target populations include blacks, Asian

Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, and Pacific Islanders. Other underrepresented

groups include people with disabilities and men.

www.aota.org

Whom is helped by occupational therapy?

Parent’s Perspective

“I have learned a lot from being part of the OT sessions and have learned to view everyday objects and activities through an OT lens to incorporate these same tasks and functions into [my daughter’s] daily life without her knowing it’s therapeutic as well!”

Parent’s Perspective

“OT was one of the few therapies that produced an immediate calm. It was something he looked forward to.”

"I enjoyed OT because it was like recess, art, and a massage combined together."

Client’s Perspective

“I began working with an occupational therapy practitioner first as an inpatient and then as an outpatient following a hemorrhagic stroke in October 2008…the occupational therapists focused on my arm/hand movements and my activities of daily living (ADLs) like getting dressed, brushing my teeth, bathing, etc…occupational therapy has played (and continues to play) a critical role in my stroke recovery.”

Client’s Perspective

“The therapist tried to customize the program so that in her professional judgment would help me while still incorporating my personal goals and interests.”

What does an occupational therapy practitioner’s day

actually look like?A glance into the everyday

tasks of a few practitioners

A day in the life of…Penny Donehoo, MS, OTR/L

School-based Pediatrics This OT uses these types

of activities for treatment:

• Sensory recommendations• Adapt clothing and backpacks• Obstacle courses with different

types of tactile experiences• Grasp and handwriting• Adapt locker and classroom

setup

The best part of my day is “when a treatment session goes well and a child achieves greater independence.”

A day in the life of…Alejandro Cuevas, Jr., BA, COTA/L

Adult Physical Disabilities

This OTA uses these types of activities for treatment:

• Self care skills such as dressing or bathing

• Exercises to improve strength and movement

• Suggests adaptive equipment• Evaluates safety in the home “I make it my job every day to make a

difference in someone’s life through compassion, respect, listening, providing humor as a distraction for pain, motivation, and a caring heart.”

A day in the life of…Mary Michaelsen, OTR/L

Mental Health This OT uses these

types of groups for treatment:

• Relapse prevention• Positive communication• Relaxation techniques• Anger management• Stress management “The best part of being a practitioner is

when a patient tells me I have helped them see how special they are, that they are respected and despite their mental illness, they can live a life that is fulfilling.”

A day in the life of…Brent Braveman, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Education and Research This OT is involved in

these types of tasks:

• Develop and deliver lectures• Write journal articles or book

chapters• Meet with colleagues to

collaborate on student issues• Research for classes, research,

or grants• Provide interventions for

research subjects

“Knowing that you have helped to expand the worldview of a client or student and that they see things just a little differently because of you is a great part of being an educator and researcher.”

What is the future of occupational therapy?

2017: A Century of Occupational Therapy

AOTA’s Centennial Vision "We envision that occupational therapy is a powerful, widely recognized, science-driven, and evidence-based

profession with a globally connected and diverse workforce meeting society's occupational needs."