Occupational Therapist: Career Information

Occupational therapists (OTs) are health professionals who are responsible for helping patients regain their ability to perform daily living and work activities. Their patients have generally lost these abilities because of mental, physical or developmentally or emotionally disabling conditions.

Occupational therapists held about 104,000 jobs in 2008.

One must earn a master's degree or a more advanced degree in occupational therapy to work as an occupational therapist. Biology, psychology, sociology, anthropology, liberal arts and anatomy are all appropriate college majors for those who ultimately want earn a master's degree in occupational therapy.

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In the United States occupational therapists must be licensed in order to practice. To obtain a license, applicants must graduate from an accredited educational program and pass a national certification examination.

Employment of occupational therapists is expected to increase much faster than the average for all occupations through 2018.

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In 2009 occupational therapists earned a median annual salary of $69,630.

On a typical day an occupational therapist will:

• assist clients in performing activities of all types;
• use physical exercises to help patients increase strength and dexterity;
• use activities to help patients improve visual acuity and the ability to discern patterns;
• use computer programs to help clients improve decision-making, abstract-reasoning, problem-solving, memory, sequencing, coordination, and perceptual skills;
• design or make special equipment needed at home or at work;
• develop computer-aided adaptive equipment and teach clients with severe limitations how to use that equipment in order to communicate better and control various aspects of their environment;

Occupational therapists may work with particular populations, for example children or the elderly, or they may work in specialized settings including mental health.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Occupational Therapist, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos078.htm (visited December 2, 2010).
Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET Online, Occupational Therapists, on the Internet at http://online.onetcenter.org/link/details/29-1122.00 (visited December 2, 2010).

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