Careers in Occupational Therapy

Careers in Occupational TherapyCareers in Occupational TherapyOccupational therapy involves the rehabilitation of patients who have lost their ability to perform activities of daily living or work due to physical or mental illnesses. There are at least three people on an OT team an occupational therapist (OT), an occupational therapy assistant (OTA), and an occupational therapy aide. Each of them had to fulfill differenteducational and licensing requirements and are responsible for carrying outspecific job duties. Salaries differ as well. Compare behauptung three occupational therapy careers to see if one is right for you. Occupational Therapist The occupational therapist leads the OT team and has the most significant responsibilities of all the people on it. After evaluating a patient to determine his or her deficits and needs, the therapist sets goals and develops a treatment plan. He or she also identifies ways to improve a patients environment. For example, an OT may recommend doorways be widened in a patients home to accommodate a wheelchair or may suggest equipment to use in the workplace that will help an individual perform his or her job. This high level of responsibility requires the most education of all three occupational therapy careers. To become an OT, one needs a Masters or Doctorate Degree in Occupational Therapy from a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) (Masters Degree Programs Doctoral Programs). To be admitted to a graduate program, you will have to earn a bachelors degree that includes courses in biology and physiology. Plan to spend four years in college and then two to three years in graduate school. Many programs require work experience which can be fulfilled by working or volunteering in an OT setting. After graduation, you will have to pass an exam administered by the National motherboard for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). Median Annual Salary (2017)$83,200 Median Hourly Wages (2017) $40 Number of People Employed (2016) 130,400 Projected Job Growth (2016-2026)24 percent (much faster than the average for all occupations) Projected Job Openings(2016-2026)31,000 Occupational Therapy Assistant Becoming an occupational therapy assistant is a great option for someone who doesnt want to spend at least six years on post-secondary education or isnt sure this is the right choice at the moment. OTA is the second fastest growing of all professions that require only an associate degree, and it is one of the top 20 highest paying of those careers. An occupational therapy assistants job duties come with less responsibility than an occupational therapists but more than that of an occupational therapy aide. Working under an OTs supervision, he or she makes sure patients are correctly performing activities specified in their treatment plans and, depending on whether state law permits him or her to do so, helps the OT develop those plans. You will need an as sociate degreefrom an occupational therapy assistant program at a community college or technical school program. It must be accredited by ACOTE. Find a list of them on the American Occupational Therapy Association website. It will take two years to complete your education. Your preparation will include clinical fieldwork. After you graduate, you will have to pass an exam administered by the NBCOT if you plan to practice in a state that requires OTAs to be licensed. Most do. Median Annual Salary (2017)$59,310 Median Hourly Wages (2017) $28.51 Number of People Employed (2016)39,300 Projected Job Growth (2016-2026)29percent (muchfaster than the average for all occupations) Projected Job Openings(2016-2026)11,400 Occupational Therapy kchengehilfe Although an OT aide has the fewest educational requirements and receives the lowest salary of the OT team, his or her contribution is essential. An occupational therapy aide sets up treatment rooms and prepares equipment and materials. He or she helps patients get to and from those rooms and may also perform clerical duties such as answering the telephone and setting up appointments. To get a job, you will need a high school or equivalency diploma.Employers provide on-the-job training. Working in this job is a great way to learn about the field before investing in the education required to become an occupational therapy assistant or even an occupational therapist. Median Annual Salary (2017)$29,200 Median Hourly Wages (2017) $14.04 Number of People Employed (2016)7,500 Projected Job Growth (2016-2026)25percent (muchfaster than the average for all occupations) Projected Job Openings(2016-2026)1,800 Comparing Careers in Occupational TherapyEducationLicenseMedian Annual SalaryMedian Hourly SalaryOccupational TherapistMasters or Doctorate DegreeRequired in all states$83,200$40Occupational Therapist AssistantAssociate DegreeNational certification in most states$59,310$28.51Occupational Therapist kchengehilfeHS Diploma and On -the-Job TrainingNone$29,200$14.04 Sources Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,Occupational Outlook Handbook Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor,O*NETOnline(visited December 13, 2018).