{

Occupational Therapy Career Research

HLTH 419Karen Wortham Clemson UniversitySpring 2016

• Occupational Therapy (OT) is a field of allied health which helps patients participate in activities of daily living through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2016a).

• An occupational therapist may work in a variety of settings including, but not limited to: • Pediatrics• Geriatrics• Schools• Workplaces• Home Health• Rehabilitation Hospitals

Introduction

• 18th century- Occupational therapy begins in the roots of the humanist movement, treating mentally ill patients previously thought to be possessed by demons. These patients often suffered inhumane treatment, however, and were commonly imprisoned for life (Missouri College, 2014).

• Early 19th century- Benjamin Rush and Dorothy Dix pushed for the humane treatment of the mentally ill (Missouri College, 2014).

• 1917- Occupational therapy was first recognized as a profession with the founding of the National Society for Promotion of Occupational Therapy.

• 1921- The National Society for Promotion of Occupational Therapy became the American Occupational Therapy Association

• 1923- Standards for education and training of occupational therapists were developed and AOTA makes program accreditation a stated function of the organization

• 1999- Post-baccalaureate degree required for an accredited occupational therapy degree (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2016b).

History of OT

• As of 1999, post-baccalaureate work (master’s or doctorate) is required for an accredited occupational therapy degree (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2016b).

• The field of occupational therapy continues to grow and shift with advancements in the medical field

• Growth in the field will be driven by an aging Baby-boomer population and as people remain active later in life (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015).

• Autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, and various other illnesses and disabilities will continue to create a demand for OT (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015).

OT Today

• The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2015) cites that occupational therapists earns an average of $80,000 per year• The 10th percentile earns $52,670 • The 90th percentile earns $112, 950

Salary Ranges

{Image: Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014). Occupational employment statistics. Retreived January 19, 2016 from http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291122.htm#(3)

Salary Ranges by State

• Occupational therapy is a field with a lot of potential for growth (American Occupational Therapy Association, 2016c). • U.S. News (2014) Ranked OT as #13 on its list of

The 100 Best Jobs with 29% employment growth expected between 2012-2022.

• TIME magazine listed occupational therapy in its January 2014 article entitled, “These Are the 5 Most In-Demand Jobs Right Now” (Matthews, 2014).

• Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates occupational therapy to grow 27% between 2014-2024, creating over 30,000 new jobs (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2015).

Growth Potential

• In order to become an occupational therapist, a bachelors degree is generally required prior to graduate school. • Some programs may make exceptions for especially

qualified applicants with 90+ hours of collegiate work completed (Augusta University, 2015a).

• No particular degree is required, but each graduate school has a list of requisites (including pre-requisite coursework) for entry into the graduate programs.

• I am particularly interested in the Master’s of Science in Occupational Therapy program at Augusta University.

How to Become an OT

• Augusta University (formerly known as Georgia Regents University) offers a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy

• Augusta University has a well-established program, and is currently accredited (Augusta University, 2015a).

• Augusta University’s program includes an on-campus low vision clinic, allowing students to gain experience working with low vision patients during their master’s program (Augusta University, 2015c).

• Tuition costs per semester are included below (Augusta University, 2015b):

Augusta University: A Local Graduate Program

Residential Status

Full Time Student (12+ Hours)

Part Time Student (1-11 Hours)

In-State $4,548.00 $484.00Out of State $14,220.00 $1,185.00

• For the entry level degree of a Masters in Occupational Therapy at Augusta University, there are prerequisite materials listed on the Website (Augusta University, 2015a):• An overall GPA of a 3.0 or higher

• A 2.8 (or higher) math and science GPA • GRE score of 290+ (verbal and reasoning scores combined) and a GRE

Writing Score of a 3.5+ • Extensive shadowing hours or life experience within the field of OT• Three letters of recommendation: references from two occupational

therapists and a third reference from a professor or mentor• Completed pre-requisite courses

• Anatomy with lab• Kinesiology or Anatomy II• Human Growth and Development• Introduction to Psychology• Abnormal Psychology• Statistics• Physics with lab• Ethics, Philosophy, or Religion• Medical Terminology

Requirements for Entry at Augusta University

• I have decided to become an occupational therapist because it allows for connection and healing between people.

• As a child, I was raised to believe that every sphere of wellness (physical, mental, occupational, emotional, spiritual, social, and environmental) needs therapy every now and then because people are not perfect.

• I am passionate about the field of occupational therapy, and I hope to one day work in a pediatric neurological rehabilitation setting.

• I think Augusta University’s program would help me achieve these goals.

• I meet the requirements for admission to the program. My overall GPA (3.94), math/science GPA (3.80), GRE Scores (verbal reasoning 159, quantitative reasoning 153, and writing 4.5), shadowing hours, letters of recommendation, and prerequisite courses fulfill the requirements of admission.

My Goals to Be an OT

• During my O*Net Interest Profiler Evaluation, the three characteristics topped my interest list, showing what I would enjoy in a career. Descriptions of the characteristics are included from the O*Net website (“O*Net interest profiler: Score report,” n.d)• Social- people with a social career interests enjoy things

like giving advice, teaching, and helping and being of service to others. I scored a 36 in this interest.

• Investigative- people with investigative interests enjoy searching for facts and figuring out problems. I scored a 16 in this interest.

• Artistic- people with artistic career interests enjoy creative work that can be done without a set of rules. I scored a 15 in this interest.

• On the career matching section of the evaluation, I was matched to Occupational therapy as “Best Match” career (“O*Net interest profiler: Career list,” n.d )

O*Net Interest Profiler Results

• Below are some examples of how the three characteristics have been demonstrated in my life:• Social- I have taught and tutored many middle and

high school students through college. Most predominantly, I have served as a coach to my local speech and debate team. I enjoy seeing others learn and watching information “click” in their minds.

• Investigative- During my first shadow experience in a therapy setting, I had to problem-solve rapidly while working with a patient. The patient was a young Hispanic who had suffered a stroke and needed a translator. Unable to wait for the hospital’s translator due to other hospital schedules, I stepped in to translate the commands the therapist gave.

• Artistic- I have always enjoyed artistic opportunities. When I was shadowing in a pediatric occupational therapy clinic, my favorite part of the day was doing arts and crafts with the children.

O*Net Lived Out

• The history of occupational therapy shows how the career has grown and changed since it was first recognized almost 100 years ago.

• Today, the future looks bright for OT and new innovations bring further opportunities for growth in the field.

• I think I would fit Augusta University well because my academic qualifications qualify me for the program. In addition, I am interested in neurological rehabilitation, and I believe the low vision clinic would offer a new experience and perspective to my understanding of how the brain and senses work in unison.

Conclusion

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2016a). About occupational therapy. Retrieved January 20, 2016, from http://www.aota.org/about-occupational-therapy.aspx

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2016b). History of AOTA accreditation. Retrieved January 20, 2016, from http://www.aota.org/education-careers/accreditation/overview/history.aspx

American Occupational Therapy Association. (2016c). The job outlook for occupational therapy. Retrieved January 20, 2016, from http://www.aota.org/Education-Careers/Considering-OT-Career/JobOutlook.aspx

Augusta University. (2015a). Admissions and curriculum information. Retrieved January 19, 2016 from http://www.gru.edu/alliedhealth/ot/prospaddcurr.php

Augusta University. (2015b). Graduate programs tuition. Retrieved January 22, 2016 from http://www.augusta.edu/tuition/graduate.php

Augusta University. (2015c). Occupational therapy low vision rehab clinic. Retrieved January 19, 2016 from http://www.gru.edu/alliedhealth/ot/lowvision.php

Bureau of Labor Statistics (2015). Occupational Therapists. Retrieved January 20, 2016 from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/occupational-therapists.htm#tab-1

Matthews, C. (2014). These are the 5 most in demand jobs right now. TIME. Retrieved January 19, 2016 from http://time.com/404/5-most-in-demand-jobs-right-now/

Missouri College (2014). A brief history of occupational therapy. Retrieved January 20, 2016.

O*Net interest profiler: Score report. (n.d). Retrieved January 19, 2016 from http://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip-print?t=i&z=0&i=061615341406

O*Net interest profiler: Career list. (n.d). Retrieved January 19, 2016 from http://www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip-print?t=o&z=5&i=061615341406

U.S. News and World Report (2014). Occupational Therapist. Retrieved January 20, 2016 from http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/occupational-therapist

References