Occupational Therapy

The American Occupational Therapy Association executive board defines occupational therapy as the therapeutic use of work, self-care, and play activities to increase development and prevent disability. It may include adaptation of task or environment to achieve maximum independence and to enhance the quality of life. Occupational therapists (OTs) help people who have conditions that are mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabling improve their ability to perform tasks in their daily living and working environments. They also help them develop, recover, or maintain daily living and work skills. Basically, OTs deliver treatment that is focused on helping people to achieve independence in all areas of their lives.

Exposure to the Field

Shadowing & Volunteering

It is suggested that you contact local facilities that employ occupational therapists and/or occupational therapy assistants (e.g., hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, or school systems). These requests are made quite frequently and you will find most facilities accommodating. Be prepared to discuss your reason for the request and your availability.

The Application Process

It is important that you contact the educational programs to which you are interested in applying and make sure you have taken the necessary prerequisites for admission into their programs. One must earn a master's degree or a more advanced degree in occupational therapy to work as an occupational therapist. To obtain a license, applicants must graduate from an accredited educational program and pass a national certification examination.

Undergraduate Experience
Biology, psychology, sociology, anthropology, and liberal arts are all appropriate college majors for those who ultimately want to earn a master's degree in occupational therapy. Specific requirements vary by program. The 3/2 program in OT at WU requires you to complete physiology and an upper-level biology course (many students take the two-semester Anatomy & Physiology sequence and an upper-level biology course offered in University College, which do not have a chemistry pre-requisite), abnormal psychology and developmental psychology, another social science course, and statistics.

Degree Offerings
Both Master’s and Doctoral degrees are currently routes of entry to the profession and are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). Both degree levels prepare graduates to be entry-level practitioners; however, students must hold a baccalaureate degree for admission into the doctoral program. Master’s degree programs may offer an MOT, MA, or MS degree. All are considered entry level degrees, although the MOT is more commonly used to designate an entry-level degree.

The doctoral degree offers additional semesters of study focusing on clinical practice skills, research skills, administration, leadership, program and policy development, advocacy, education, and theory development. Both degree levels require Level I and Level II fieldwork experiences. In addition, doctoral students must complete an experiential component (16 weeks) and culminating project.

Specialization
All entry-level educational programs prepare you to be a generalist. Specializing in one area of practice would be something you would pursue after you graduate and successfully pass the national certification examination. Many practitioners do select a specialty area of practice. Others change their area of practice throughout their careers. Occupational therapy provides a great deal of career flexibility.

Professional Opportunities

OTs work in a variety of healthcare and educational organizations, including: home health care services; nursing care facilities; offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists; general medical and surgical hospitals; and elementary and secondary schools.

On a typical day an occupational therapist might:

  • 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.

An occupational therapy assistant is a graduate of an accredited occupational therapy assistant educational program and is eligible to sit for the national certification examination. Most states regulate occupational therapy assistants. Occupational therapy aides provide supportive services to the occupational therapist or occupational therapy assistant. Occupational therapy aides usually receive their training on the job and are not eligible for certification or licensure. Occupational therapy aide programs are not accredited by ACOTE and certification of aides is not required.

Resources

PreOT Advisor

Kathy Kniepmann

kniepmannk@wustl.edu
Washington University School of Medicine
Program  in Occupational Therapy
4444 Forest Park Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110