Occupational Therapy Jobs Are on the Rise

Occupational Therapy jobs are on the rise! There are more positions ready to be filled every day by caring, driven and compassionate people like yourselves.

Job Description

There are several career options available in the OT industry. If your passion is working with people and helping them to become stronger and healthier, an OT job may be right choice for you! As an Occupational Therapist, you will use your skills and training to help people of all ages to improve or maintain their quality of life by strengthening their muscles and improving their fine motor skills. People with physical or cognitive disabilities may be unable to perform daily tasks, such as eating, dressing or bathing. With the help an occupational therapy program, designed by a trained OT professional, a person with a disability can become more independent. An Occupational Therapist’s job is to do an initial evaluation of a person needing treatment, customize an individualized treatment plan, implement treatment, and evaluate outcomes to ensure that goals are being met.

OT Salaries

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, as of May 2015, OTs made an average annual income of $81,690 or roughly $39.27 per hour.

For-Instances

Hospitals and healthcare systems are constantly hiring qualified professionals. For instance:

Lee Health is a community-owned healthcare system in southwest Florida. There are currently OT jobs in Fort Myers, FL.

New England Baptist Hospital (NEBH) is a regional provider that specializes in the treatment of orthopedic and musculoskeletal disorders. There are currently OT jobs in Boston, MA.

Training and Requirements

To become an Occupational Therapist, you must graduate from an accredited OT master’s program. Some people may choose to first become Occupational Therapy assistants, which requires an associate’s degree, and then continue their education at a later time. Bridge programs are an option in some regions. Bridge programs allow students with an associate’s degree to further their education to a master’s degree. Start to finish, it can take 5-7 years to become an Occupational Therapist.

After graduation from an accredited program, you must pass a national certification exam, called the NBCOT to be able to legally practice. After passing the exam, you must apply for a state license and pay the required fee. Depending upon the facility in which you are hired, you may also be required to obtain a CPR or BLS certification. While most OT jobs are in medical offices or hospitals, other places of employment include elementary schools, skilled nursing facilities, and home health care agencies.

Author Bio: Kristen Smith is a full-time RN working as a Case Manager in Labor & Delivery in Tennessee. She’s also a part-time writer, a new mom, and somehow manages to love doing it all.