Occupational Therapy Degrees

Overview

The World Federation of Occupational Therapists defines occupational therapy as a profession concerned with promoting health and well-being through occupation. It is a skilled treatment that helps the less able patients to work through their injuries or relearn important motor skills, especially after a long disability from a disease or accident.

To learn occupational therapy, the principles and techniques are drawn from many disciplines like science, nursing, psychiatry, rehabilitation, orthopedics, and social work. The therapy undergoes various stages such as: referral, information gathering, initial assessment, need identification/problem formation, goal setting, action planning, action, ongoing assessment and revision of action, outcome and outcome measurement, and end of intervention or discharge and review. The occupational therapists follow new approaches like performance skills assessment, adaptive equipment, and environmental adaption.

The curriculum of occupational therapy degrees includes introduction to occupational therapy, regional human anatomy, computer literacy, mental health concepts, physiology and medical ethics. They will also most likely study pathology, gerontology, acute care, neuroscience, case studies, and pediatrics and practice. You can pursue occupational therapy degrees either as a bachelor, master, or a doctorate degree. The duration of this degree may vary from one to four years, depending on the school or program you wish to study.

Benefits

Occupational therapists have the opportunity to work in a variety of fields such as pediatrics, acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, home health, outpatient clinics, specialist assessment centers, hospices and assisted living facilities. Many other fields where occupational therapy practice is emerging include child and youth, health and wellness, and work and industry. The starting entry-level salary for occupational therapists is around $46,300 a year.

Costs

Earning your occupational therapy degree will be expensive, but there are plenty of scholarships and grants available to help offset these costs. You can expect to spend something ranging from $40,000 to $50,000 per year, which includes the tuition costs, books, any living costs, and other expenses that may arise.

Schools

There are many colleges in the United States which offer occupational therapy degrees. Some colleges also offer online certification degrees in occupational therapy. The University of Florida, University of Illinois at Chicago, and the University of Southern California are some of the colleges which offer occupational therapy degrees and certification courses.

Testing & Preparation

For obtaining an occupational degree, the basic requirement is that you must be 21 years of age or above. The student must submit an application for licensure, and other forms, with the required fee. After pursing the baccalaureate or entry-level master's degree in occupational therapy, if you wish to obtain a post baccalaureate certificate in occupational therapy, you need to pass the tests conducted by the National Board for Certification for Occupational Therapy with a minimum of 450 marks.

Financial Aid

The American Occupational Therapy Association provides various scholarships to the students who are pursuing occupational therapy degrees, under stipulated conditions. The Federal Student Aid and USA Funds are the federal provisions of financial aid and scholarships that students may apply for.