| ||||||||
![]() | ||||||||
| Add to Favorites | ||||||||
|
|
|
|
Online Education Guide - What is a College Major? View College Majors - Alternative Medicine - Clinical Laboratory Science - Communication Disorders - Counseling - Dental Hygiene - EMT & Paramedic - Forensic Medicine - Gerontology - Health IT - Healthcare Administration - Healthcare Management - Health Promotion - Health Services - Life Care Planning - Long Term Care - Medical Informatics - Nursing - Nutrition & Food Science - Occupational Safety - Occupational Therapy - Pharmacy - Physical Therapy - Physician Assistant - Psychology - Public Health - Radiologic Science - Respiratory Therapy - RN to BSN - Sports Science |
Home | Career Pathways | Online Education Guide | Health & Medical Majors | Occupational Therapy Online Education GuideGuide to College Majors in Occupational TherapyWhat is Occupational Therapy?According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, occupational therapy is "skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve independence in all facets of their lives." Occupational therapy provides people with the life skills they need to live as independently as possible. Occupational therapists, assistants, and aides are the professionals that assist and instruct patients as they undergo occupational therapy. They use a wide variety of tools, equipment, and activities to teach the skills patients need to become more independent. The occupational therapist is usually responsible for creating a treatment plan for each patient, and the occupational therapist assistants and aides assist in carrying out this plan. Occupational therapy is available for people in all age groups with a variety of needs. A child with a developmental delay may undergo occupational therapy to assist him or her with activities that will strengthen his or her physical and mental development. A woman who suffers a stroke may require occupational therapy to help her improve hand-eye coordination, or to regain balance. The family of a man with Alzheimer's disease may meet with an occupational therapist to learn how to help him participate as fully as possible in family activities. Occupational therapy occurs in a variety of settings. Occupational therapy most often takes place in hospitals, where the staff works with people of many age groups and of differing abilities. Occupational therapy also occurs in mental health facilities, nursing homes, and home health care organizations. Occupational therapists and occupational therapist assistants are required to be licensed. As part of this licensure, occupational therapist assistants are required to hold an associate's degree from an accredited occupational therapy program. Occupational therapists must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited school, though in 2007 this requirement will change to a Master's degree. Occupational therapist aides are usually required to have only a high school diploma, though some postsecondary coursework can increase their job possibilities. The outlook for careers in the field of occupational therapy is favorable. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupational therapists, occupational therapist assistants, and occupational therapist aides can expect job growth to be faster than average. The elderly population is most often in need of occupational therapy services, so as the aging population grows, so will jobs in occupational therapy. In particular, occupational therapist assistants and aides may see an increase in job opportunities as occupational therapists delegate more duties to them. Career Education in Occupational TherapyUndergraduate and Graduate degree and certificate programsOccupational therapy degrees are available for students interested in a career in occupational therapy and for occupational therapists seeking to further their education. Entry-level careers can often be attained with an associate's degree while advanced positions are available to students earning a bachelor's degree or higher. An associate's degree in occupational therapy qualifies the student for an entry-level career as an occupational therapist assistant. This degree requires general education courses such as English and mathematics, as well as courses designed to prepare the student for a career in occupational therapy. Students are usually required to complete an internship or a certain amount of fieldwork in order to graduate from the degree program. Students applying for admission to an associate's degree program should already hold a high school diploma. Associate's degrees typically take two years to complete and are offered at technical and community colleges. Graduates of an associate's degree program in occupational therapy are usually prepared to take the national exam required to earn a license as an occupational therapist assistant. Currently, a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy is sufficient education for obtaining a license and a subsequent career as an occupational therapist. In 2007, however, this standard will change. At that time, occupational therapy students will be required to earn a Master's degree or higher in order to qualify for a license or a career as an occupational therapist. Because of this change in standards, many universities are no longer offering bachelor's degree programs in occupational therapy. Instead, many offer a combined bachelor's and Master's degree program. This type of degree program typically takes five years to complete. Many students opt for this combined degree because it often requires less time than a bachelor's degree and Master's degree earned separately. The coursework taken in the first four years of a combined bachelor's and Master's degree program usually earns the student a bachelor's degree. For occupational therapy students, this degree is often in occupational science or health science. Earning this portion of the degree is not sufficient for becoming licensed. Students must complete the fifth year to earn their Master's degree in occupational therapy and be qualified for licensure. For students who already possess a bachelor's degree, Master's degree programs in occupational therapy are offered. Some Master's degree programs are intended for students with no prior experience as an occupational therapist. These programs are called entry-level programs. Entry-level programs prepare students to take the national examination required for licensure as an occupational therapist. Fieldwork is usually required. Post-professional Master's degree programs are intended for occupational therapists interested in expanding their knowledge of occupational therapy and increasing their effectiveness as an occupational therapist. Students in post-professional Master's degree programs often specialize in an area related to occupational therapy. Common specializations include administration, pediatrics, and gerontology. Post-professional Master's degree programs typically do not require a residency or an internship because the students are already practicing occupational therapists. Both the post-professional and entry-level Master's degree programs in occupational therapy can take two to four years to complete. Graduate certificates in occupational therapy are available at some colleges and universities. Graduate certificates are short courses of study that usually require five to fifteen courses. These programs are for occupational therapists who wish to expand and strengthen their professional education. They typically involve a concentration in one area of study. Common areas of study are aging, pediatrics, and developmental disabilities. A PhD in occupational therapy requires that the student have experience as an occupational therapist. PhD programs often focus on research. Students may choose an area of study, or an emphasis, and conduct their research within that area. A dissertation presenting their original research is usually required for graduation. PhD programs often offer courses in management that prepare the occupational therapist for a career in health services management. A PhD can take more than six years to finish. No matter the degree program, occupational therapy education requires basic and advanced courses in science. Anatomy and physiology, biology, and sociology are courses that are typically required in bachelor's and master's degree programs. Courses in medical terminology, intervention strategies, and developing effective programs are also commonly required. Required courses for PhD candidates often vary with their area of study, but may include management courses, courses in aging, and courses in theory development. Universities offering online occupational therapy degree programs: Boston University - Online Occupational Therapy Degree What can you do with a College Degree in Occupational Therapy?Career options for aspiring occupational therapists
Salary Information for Careers in Occupational TherapyIn occupational therapy, as with many fields, earned income often increases with education levels. In 2002, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the median annual income of occupational therapist aides as $22,040. Occupational therapist assistants, who are required to have more experience and education, had a median annual income of $36,660. Occupational therapists earned a median annual income of $51,990 in 2002. Occupational therapists working in nursing homes earned the highest annual income of $53,930, while those in working in schools earned the lowest annual income of $45,740. Medical and health services managers are often required to have extensive education and experience, which may afford them a higher salary. The median annual income for medical and health services managers in 2002 was $61,370. Income varies depending on the size of the facility and the amount of responsibility given to the manager. Medical and health services managers in hospitals earned $65,950, significantly more than other medical and health services managers. Those in physician's offices reported a median annual income of $55,600 and those in nursing homes reported earning $55,320 annually. Certification and LicensureOccupational therapists and occupational therapist assistants are both required to earn and maintain licensure in the state in which they practice. Occupational therapist assistants must graduate from an accredited occupational therapy program, usually earning an associate's degree. They must also pass a national examination given by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy. When these requirements are met, occupational therapist assistants are given the title "Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant." Occupational therapists usually are required to complete an accredited occupational therapy program that leads to a bachelor's degree or higher. Beginning in 2007, however, only a Master's degree or higher will be sufficient for obtaining licensure. Occupational therapists must also pass a national examination. Upon successful completion of all requirements, the occupational therapist is considered an OTR, or Occupational Therapist Registered. Requirements for earning a license vary from state to state, so it is important to check with the state licensing board to determine the exact requirements of a particular state. After obtaining licensure, occupational therapists and occupational therapist assistants are required to maintain it. Every three years they must complete a minimum of 36 professional development hours. These professional development hours are typically earned by participating in activities approved by the state licensing boards. These activities may involve participating in local professional organizations or attending conferences or lectures. Other Associations and Certification Bodies:
Explore Related Degree Programs - Online Degrees in Occupational Therapy Copyright 2005 World Wide Learn |
Online Degrees & Certificates
Looking for Online Education?
- Get Started in E-Learning
Accreditation Answers
Need More Help? |
|
|
"It's not easy being green." -- Kermit the Frog Online Degrees | Online Colleges & Universities | Online Associate Degrees | Online Bachelor Degrees | Online MBA Programs | Online PhD Degrees | Career Training Home | About World Wide Learn | Site Map | Press Room | Partner With Us | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use "The World's Premier Online Directory of Education" World Wide Learn. Copyright 1999 - 2008. Last updated on November 08, 2007. |