Occupational therapy helps patients with physical, emotional, mental, or developmental conditions perform daily tasks. Occupational therapists and assistants work in hospitals, schools, and nursing homes. A master’s degree and national certification exam are required. OTs may work with specific demographics and perform various tasks. Employment is increasing, but can be tiring and hazardous.
Occupational therapy is a branch of rehabilitation that involves helping patients perform daily tasks that have been made difficult by physical, emotional, mental, or developmental conditions. Occupational therapists (OTs) and occupational therapy assistants help patients regain these skills and maintain the functions that allow them to survive day to day. Occupational therapy employment can be found primarily in hospitals, although additional settings for this type of work include offices, schools, and nursing homes.
To work as a TA, one must obtain a master’s degree. After completing an occupational therapy program at an accredited occupational therapy school, a candidate must pass a national certification exam. This is a comprehensive test that ensures the candidate has learned all the concepts needed to work as an occupational therapist. Upon passing the exam, a license is granted and the OT can seek employment in occupational therapy.
In a typical occupational therapy employment setting, the OT will perform a variety of roles to help patients re-establish their lives after a condition or accident leaves them disabled in some way. The day-to-day duties of an TA and an occupational therapy assistant may include assisting patients with strengthening activities, assisting patients with exercises, stimulating the visual senses, using computer programs to help regain decision-making skills, problem solving, problems, memory and perception, designing special equipment skills and developing alternative activities for patients with severe limitations. Employment in occupational therapy may only deal with a demographic group of the population, such as the elderly, children, or the mentally disabled. OTs for seniors will mostly work in nursing homes, while children in occupational therapy will often be found in day care centers or schools. Working with the mentally disabled will require time spent in hospitals or health facilities.
Employment in occupational therapy is increasing faster than in many other professions, even among health professionals. About a quarter of all OTs work only part-time, and about one in ten therapists have a second job. Occupational therapy work can be tiring as the therapist is usually on their feet for most of the day and is constantly interacting with others. OTs can work in large spaces with loud noises and machines, and the work often involves more than 40 hours a week, depending on the setting and conditions of employment in occupational therapy. Health hazards, such as strain from lifting heavy equipment, are also a risk.
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