What is the Best Degree To Become an Occupational Therapist?
The best degree to become an occupational therapist is a master's degree in occupational therapy. This is actually the mandated educational standard for becoming a licensed occupational therapist. Admission to these degree programs is quite competitive, so candidates will need to have a high GPA and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
Students should have impressive grades in prerequisite courses. These include physiology, human anatomy, kinesiology, biomechanics, psychology and medical terminology. Many universities also require students to have taken classes in humanities, writing, statistics and social sciences. These master's degree programs usually take two and a half years to three years to complete.
Occupational Therapy
The purpose of a School of Occupational Therapy purpose is to integrate classroom coursework and clinical fieldwork together in ways that promote practical skills, contextual learning and professional competence. The curriculum of these degree programs ensure that students will be capable of handling demanding workloads, complex health programs and rapidly changing health care environments. The curriculum will introduce community-based practice models and evidence-based practice and research. This training helps students to gain specialty
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These programs also emphasize the critical role that psychosocial skills play through the whole cycle of patient care. Students learn the leadership development and advocacy techniques needed to excel in professional roles in health and human services. After graduation, students will be ready to provide meaningful occupational-based services to diverse individuals, groups and organizations. Students will be prepared to promote the health and wellness of their clients through gainful
Becoming an Occupational Therapy Assistant has been an ambition of mine for several years now. After researching, job shadowing, and talking to professionals, I have decided to make Occupation Therapy my career. My passion is to help patients by participating and assisting them in their recovery from injuries and disabilities. My compassionate and caring attitude will be vital assets in pursuing this career. After training in Occupational Therapy, it is motivating for me to know that I will be a part of assisting patients to gain back their independence. Helping others is something that I am passionate about in my career and in my spare time. I have been on several mission trips to Haiti and other places which I have provided care for others in a medical setting.
Occupational therapy is also known as the dynamic and developing healthcare profession that deals with people in ways of regaining their skills required for the every days of life. For a very long time I have always had the desire to achieve my dreams in becoming an occupational therapist. I am very well equipped with creativity, flexibility and the ability to aid people in solving their every day’s life challenges they get involved in. Occupational therapy is quite involving and needs good strategies and skills for one to be successful in the program.
Townsend & Polatajko (2007) state that “Occupational therapy is the art and science of enabling engagement in everyday living, through occupation; of enabling people to perform the occupations that foster health and well-being; and of enabling a just and inclusive society so that all people may participate to their potential in the daily occupations of life”.
Occupational therapy is projected to be one of the fastest growing jobs in the upcoming years. This job has the potential to be an exciting career for someone interested in a healthcare profession. One of the rewarding things about being an occupational therapist is the ability to help people reach their goals while earning a good salary and benefits. Occupational therapists help people across their lifespan by increasing their range of motion on their joints and helping people get back to their daily lives. Learning more about the origins of occupational therapy, what an occupational therapist does, how to become an occupational therapist, and what the job outlook is for this career may help someone make an informed decision about their potential career path.
Growing up around a nurse, I have known from a young age that I wanted to work within healthcare and after researching occupational therapy I was sure that it was the career I am suited for. Helping to improve a person’s quality of life and their independence, along with the diverse nature of the work is very exciting to me.
Occupational therapy is a career focused on helping people who have or are at risk for developing an illness, injury, disease, disorder, condition, impairment, disability, activity limitation, or participation restriction. An OT’s scope of practice may involve addressing “the physical, cognitive, psychosocial, sensory, and other aspects of performance to support engagement in everyday life activities that affect health, well-being, and quality of life” (Definition of Occupational Therapy Practice for the AOTA Model Practice Act, 2017). I don’t feel like occupational therapy is the right career for me because I feel like I lack certain characteristics that someone in this profession should have.
I find occupational therapy to pique my drive to teach people valuable life skills as well as learn from those people and their experiences. Being an occupational therapist would allow me to have one-on-one interactions with patients and establish meaningful relationships over the course of time. It would also give me the dutiful privilege and responsibility of instilling confidence in others and helping them realize their full potential in self-suffiency. All of my personal experiences, challenges, educational backgrounds, and professional interactions have guided me toward pursuing my goals of gaining experience working in all populations, enabling patients to thrive in their daily lifestyle, and spread public awareness of what OT has
Occupational therapy made its first appearance in a modern-day setting during the 18th century; however, occupational therapy dates back to 100 BC. The United States medical system adopted occupational therapy in the 19th century. In 1910, occupational therapy became a realized profession. Then, the main focus was working with individuals to get them to a fully functional state. Around 1930, standards of practice were developed for occupational therapists (OT’s). The career continues to evolve and change as new illnesses and disabilities arise. Even with all the changes, the main focus remains intact: helping people.
The career that interests me the most is Occupational Therapy. I chose to interview Debbie, a Registered Occupational Therapist who received her Bachelor’s in Occupational Therapy from Western Michigan University. She is working at Lynwood Manor which is a long-term rehabilitation facility.
You must receive a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, programs to get a DPT degree usually last about 3 years. Most DPT programs require at least a bachelor's degree for entrance. Another option is to go into a program that offers both. “ Some programs admit college freshmen into 6- or 7-year programs that allow students to graduate with both a bachelor’s degree and a DPT.” (Physical Therapist) This can make the whole process of becoming a physical therapist become easier. You must also get at least 30 weeks of clinical work in order to gain experience. It is also beneficial to apply for a residency program for additional experience. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “All states require physical therapists to be licensed.” (Physical Therapist) So along with a DPT, bachelor's degree, and clinical work, you must also become
An occupational therapist becomes trained and licensed in the healthcare profession and obtains the credentials to make a complete assessment of the impact of an injury that is causing the activities of the patient at home and in work situations
Growing up I struggled with the constant question, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” With so many different career paths to choose from, it’s hard to become overwhelmed. As college gradually tiptoed in on me, I began to feel like I would never find the profession right for me. The few things that I did know I wanted in my future career were very simple to me. They were a job in the healthcare world where I could go home each night knowing I made a difference in someone’s life. A job that wasn’t just following a routine everyday but required creativity and brought new challenges while working with a diverse population.
Occupational science in practice enables therapists to understand the patient as an occupational being, thus enabling the therapist to implement assessments that are occupationally focused, especially during the early stages of the occupational therapy process.
We are all born to live, not to simply exist. Experiences in life have taught me there is a purpose behind each individual’s existence. Discovering this purpose, has been challenging. My educational and professional background have helped shape my immediate and long term professional goals. Becoming an Occupational Therapist has become both my immediate and long-term goals in life.
Occupational therapy is a form of therapy for those recuperating from physical or mental illness that encourages rehabilitation through the performance of activities required of daily life (O’Brien & Hussey, 2012; American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2014). The goal of OT intervention is to increase the ability of the client to engage in everyday activities, for example, feeding, dressing, bathing, leisure, work, education (O’Brien & Hussey, 2012; & AOTA, 2014).