According to the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities in occupational therapy rose significantly over the past few years, and are expected to keep rising.
One of the fastest growing parts of the medical industry, the different rehabilitation fields, most prominently occupational therapy, is estimated to continue to rise up to 33% through the year 2020, a 19% greater rate than the general job pool altogether.
With these types of jobs increasing in other nations as well, what this means is there is no better time than the present to enroll in occupational therapy schools to prepare for a fulfilling career as an occupational therapist.
Occupational Therapy as A Profession
Through medical advancement and other technology, we are living a lot longer these days, and our aging population is now larger than ever. Even though occupational therapy involves more than just working with those advancing in years, this population is a large portion of those in need of occupational therapists.
Useful for those in need of assistance in learning new ways to remain mobile and independent, occupational therapy plays an important role in helping aging individuals cope with their increasing limitations, and with any illness or injury that has left a permanent mark with them.
Other areas are in working with children with developmental disorders, disabled children and adults, workplace and environmental concerns, promoting healthy living, and even working with mental health patients.
It is a hugely varied profession with many different aspects and many different specialties that therapists can become involved in more info. It has also been called one of the most desirable careers as well, based on professional and personal satisfaction gained by working directly with the public in ways that so greatly influence them.
In any of these individual areas, the basis behind occupational therapy is teaching people how to live healthier and easier, many times in the face of limitations. Different than physical therapy, where physical therapists help patients rehabilitate after injury or illness, occupational therapists teach coping skills and other life skills for those who must relearn the way they have done things in the past.
This can be anything from simply teaching people how to prevent workplace related injuries through the use of ergonomic tools and health aids, to re-learning how to walk or tie their shoelaces after a stroke.
With the assistance of occupational therapists, patients can learn how to change their daily routines to accommodate for their new limitations so they can still function as necessary, and remain as independent as possible.
Getting the Necessary Education
Getting a degree usually requires four years of undergraduate schooling, and then between two and three additional years of specialized postgraduate education taken at recognized college.
This formal education will include classroom learning, various lab classes where learned techniques are used in roleplaying settings with instructors and other students, and finally, numerous clinical experiences.
Clinical experiences are typically set up at a variety of different facilities where students will be able to observe and work with current occupational therapy professionals in a live therapeutic setting.
Depending on the country, graduates of occupational therapy schools may or may not need to be licensed and certified in order to practice. In the US, they must be both certified and licensed in order to gain employment.
Online Learning for Occupational Therapy
There are no schools online due to the nature of the coursework, most of which is done outside of a regular classroom setting.
While it is not possible for students to earn their main occupational therapy degrees online, continuing education requirements, as well as some classes that prepare practitioners for certain specialties can sometimes be taken in an online format.
Occupational Therapy Specialties
Post-professionally, there are many opportunities for occupational therapists to specialize in one area of therapy. In order to do so, occupational therapists must continue their education through residencies and fellowships, which prepare practitioners for taking specialty board exams. Upon fulfilling these more extensive requirements, therapists then become board certified specialists in their field and may practice as such.
With a median occupational therapy salary of close to $75,000 annually, and specialists that can earn upward of $100,000 per year in practice, a career in occupational therapy is an attractive one for the right individuals.
Those with a strong desire to help others, and who also possess a wealth of patience and compassion typically find occupational therapy to be an extremely rewarding - although challenging - career that they enjoy immensely.
Enrollment into accredited educational programs is both limited and highly competitive however, so those interested in this career path are advised to contact their school of choice early about their application requirements.
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