How to become An Occupational Therapist

Injured, ill or disabled individuals face physical, mental and social challenges. They need a compassionate and dedicated professional to help them develop, recover, improve and maintain the skills required to lead a productive and satisfying life. 

Occupational Therapists empower their patients to carry out everyday tasks or occupations and improve their health, quality of life and wellbeing.

• Registered Occupational Therapist

What do Occupational Therapists do?

An Occupational therapist would typically need to:

• Plan, implement and evaluate OT programs in hospital, institutional or community settings to facilitate the comprehensive rehabilitation of individuals based on their physical, social, psychological and environmental needs
• Review the patient’s medical history, interview the patient/patient’s family members and observe the patient performing tasks to evaluate their condition and needs
• Design a customised treatment plan which incorporates appropriate, realistic goals and the activities that will enable the patient to work toward those goals
• Liaise with other professionals such as doctors, physiotherapists, social workers, equipment suppliers and architects as well as the patient’s family, teachers, caregivers and employers
• Teach people with different disabilities to perform challenging tasks that will help them in their daily routine, such as teaching a stroke victim to get dressed
• Demonstrate exercises such as stretching the joints for relief from arthritis that can help relieve pain in people with chronic conditions
  Study a patient’s home or workplace and use the patient’s health needs to identify viable upgrades such as labelling kitchen cabinets for an older person with poor memory
• Meet with the patient’s employer to collaborate on changes to the patient’s work environment or work schedule
• Ensure a patient’s family, caregivers and employer are fully trained on how to accommodate and care for the patient
• Teach the patient and their family anxiety management techniques; mentor the patients on how to control their behaviour
  Recommend special equipment such as wheelchairs and eating aids; make sure the patient and their family is thoroughly familiar with using the equipment
• Manage a caseload and prioritise patient needs; assess and record the patient’s activities and progress to facilitate formal evaluation and billing
• Develop reports and care plans; attend multidisciplinary case meetings to plan and review ongoing treatment; make sure written and electronic records are up-to-date
• Refer patients to other specialists when needed; organise support and rehabilitation groups for caregivers and clients
• Assist the analysis, planning, audit, development and evaluation of clinical services in the field; train students and supervise the work of OT assistants

The work environment may range from healthcare facilities to educational institutions to companies to the client’s home. Regardless of the setting, Occupational Therapists spend a lot of time on their feet while working with patients. They may need to lift and move patients or heavy equipment regularly.

Occupational Therapists in a healthcare setting typically work alongside doctors, registered nurses, and other therapists to help patients recovering from hip replacement surgery or chronic conditions such as diabetes.

They may also need to supervise OT aides and assistants. Those working in multiple facilities will have to travel regularly between different locations.

Most Occupational Therapists work full time, around 37.5 hours/week, Monday to Friday. However, if employed by a community mental health service or a client who cannot fit into your regular schedule, you should be prepared to work evenings and weekends. 

Part-time work and flexi-hours are a definite possibility. 

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Occupational Therapists can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies. Entry-level posts need geographic mobility. Self-employment is a viable option.

You may choose to practice solo or in a group practice. You may opt to be employed by healthcare facilities or work with them on an independent contractor basis. You may also choose temporary locum tenens positions offered by practices, hospitals, or healthcare organisations with an unfilled clinical need.

Occupational Therapists are generally employed by:

• Public & Private Hospitals
• Social Work Departments
• Amalgamated Health & Social Care Trusts
  Schools, Colleges & Universities
• Residential & Nursing Homes
• Community & Day Centres
• Job Centres
• GP Surgeries
• Prisons
• Charities & Voluntary Organisations
• Housing Associations
• Equipment Manufacturers
• Government Organisations

Healthcare associations such as the World Federation of Occupational Therapists provide unparalleled networking and educational opportunities. They offer all the certification courses members will need throughout their professional careers.

Affiliated Occupational Therapists may attend conventions, seminars, and dinners frequented by peers, mentors, and other industry leaders. The events help them learn about the newest breakthroughs and latest developments in the field, including plum jobs.

• Stressful encounters with defiant, depressed or simply disinterested patients; dangerous encounters with patients who may become violent due to brain injury or other issues
• Medical staff or family members who nullify the therapy by completing tasks for the patient instead of letting them learn how to accomplish them independently
• Employment by educational institutions may lead to being overwhelmed by cases and individualised education plans (IEPs) which must be created for each student undergoing OT
• Lack of work-life balance due to a travel-intensive work schedule which may also include late nights and weekends
• Health issues due to long hours spent on one’s feet and regularly lifting or moving patients and heavy equipment
  Likely exposure to chemicals or potentially dangerous tools while creating assistive aids for patients
• Possible exposure to bacteria or infectious diseases through work with patients

Usually, graduate programmes in OT require voluntary or paid work experience in a healthcare, charity or social care setting. 

Both master’s and doctoral programs include at least six months of supervised fieldwork. The students receive hands-on clinical training in rehabilitation centres, private clinics, acute-care hospitals, nursing homes and private homes. 

Doctoral programs may require an additional four-month capstone experience. 

Capstone experience integrates coursework, knowledge, skills and experiential learning so the student can demonstrate a broad mastery of learning across the curriculum for further career advancement. It helps to secure posts in more competitive areas of OT such as paediatrics.

Another option is a degree-level apprenticeship in OT. Universities collaborate with hospitals and social care organisations to deliver the training.

Arrange for a visit to an OT unit in a hospital or social services setting and better understand the profession before applying for a course. 

Job shadowing a qualified Occupational Therapist in one or more clinical settings will also help students confirm their interest in and capability for the occupation. 

Options include hospitals, nursing care facilities, home healthcare services, and the offices of Occupational Therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists and audiologists. Your high school counsellor and local healthcare businesses should be able to point you in the direction of possible work shadow experiences. 

Some teaching hospitals also offer work experience in their OT departments, specifically for secondary school students interested in a career as an Occupational Therapist. It also can be a helpful way to gain insight.

Reading about the profession and interviewing experienced Occupational Therapists working in residential homes, homeless shelters or charities will prove your commitment to course providers and prospective employers.

In general, Occupational Therapists need an accredited master’s degree in OT, offering coursework in functional anatomy, neurobiology, kinesiology, foundations of OT, therapeutic communication skills and statistics.

Standard prerequisites include a bachelor’s degree in biology, kinesiology, health science, psychology or sociology, experience in a relevant setting and recommendation from a certified Occupational Therapist.

You can choose a dual-degree program and earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years. Master’s programs may take two to three years, while doctoral programs take around three and a half years. Also available are part-time programs that offer evening and weekend classes.

In some locations, prospective Occupational Therapists need to complete an accredited pre-registration OT programme at the undergraduate or postgraduate level and register with an authorised regulatory body. 

You can complete a full-time BSc in OT in three years; it may take around four years to complete a four-year program. Applicants with a relevant degree and some healthcare experience can apply to a two-year accelerated postgraduate programme. Successful candidates will receive a pre-registration postgraduate diploma or an MSc in OT.

Make sure you check with the course providers for more exact details.

All programmes combine both academic and practical elements. They include practice placements comprising around 1,000 hours to teach the aspiring Occupational Therapist how to assess and treat their patients.

Occupational therapy/rehabilitation assistants, technicians or support workers may undertake an approved in-service BSc in OT with the support of their employer. Your high school curriculum should focus on biology, human biology and psychology English and speech classes will help you develop your research, writing, and oral communication skills.

In most locations, Occupational Therapists need to be certified, licensed and registered to practice their profession.OT certification or license usually requires a master’s degree, at least 24 weeks of fieldwork in different specialities and a passing score on a qualifying exam. Check with your local regulatory body for exact requirements. 

Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics and will allow the candidate to use the title “Occupational Therapist, Registered.”

OT graduates must register with their national Health Professions Council or equivalent before they can practice in other locations.

Occupational Therapists can choose to go straight into their chosen specialism such as alcohol & substance abuse, burns & plastic surgery, mental health or stroke rehabilitation.With the requisite education, experience and expertise to vouch for your competence, you may be able to move into clinical posts, research, teaching or management.

As a Consultant Occupational Therapist, you will be able to influence and drive strategic and organisational development. An increasing number of doctoral programs allow you to specialise in sensory integration, hand therapy, assistive technology, low vision and environmental modifications.

Further training will qualify you to work as a High-Intensity Therapist or as a Care Manager within primary care, industry or business.

You can also move into private practice, where you can assess injuries that have resulted in compensation claims. There are numerous opportunities to work internationally.

Candidates with specialised knowledge in a treatment area will have better job prospects in all settings but primarily in acute hospital, rehabilitation and orthopaedic settings where the elderly receive treatment.

Newly qualified Occupational Therapists may be given rotational roles in acute clinical areas such as medicine, orthopaedics, surgery, stroke, and cardiac care, which enable them to gain experience in a range of specialities.

In-house training inclusive of regular clinical supervision, support and training from senior colleagues will enhance your skills and knowledge.You can also avail of the accredited board and speciality certifications to better understand paediatrics, mental health, or low vision.

Regular renewal of certifications, licenses, and registration requires continuous professional development (CPD) comprising a record of your informal and formal learning, courses taken, work-based knowledge and experience in patient care delivery. 

Ideally, the professional organisation you chose to become a member of should support CPD in the form of events, seminars, workshops and e-learning. It should also provide access to a multitude of professional networks and professional indemnity and public liability insurance.

Reflective learning, interaction with peer groups, comprehensive inclusion and professional publications educate, influence, support, and foster lifelong enlightenment in all career-grade Occupational Therapists.

You can expect support and additional training from the academic institution or from Vitae, a non-profit global leader with over 50 years of experience in enhancing the skills of researchers. In partnership with governments, funders of research, professional bodies, trusts & foundations, universities, and research institutes, Vitae offers training, resources, events, consultancy, and membership.

Occupational Therapy vs Physical Therapy

Physical therapy focuses on movement and regaining strength after an injury, while OT focuses on increasing independence to complete daily activities.

Tools of the Trade

Occupational Therapists make the best use of appropriate adaptive equipment such as leg braces, wheelchairs and eating aids to help patients perform a multitude of daily tasks and make them more independent.

Accredited master’s programs in OT include musculoskeletal anatomy, neuroscience, assistive technology, patient-care concepts, physical interventions, mental health therapy and research methods. Graduates use their hard-earned knowledge and skills as essential tools to help their patients.

Different Strokes for Different Folks

Some Occupational Therapists work with children in educational settings. They assess the children’s abilities, modify classroom equipment to accommodate children with disabilities and help them participate in school activities.

Others may provide early intervention therapy to infants and toddlers who have or are at risk of having developmental delays. 

Therapists enable the elderly to lead more independent and active lives. They work in mental health settings with patients who suffer from developmental disabilities, mental illness or emotional problems. The patients learn essential skills such as managing time, budgeting, using public transportation and doing household chores to help them cope with and engage in daily life activities.

In addition, therapists work with individuals who have problems with drug abuse, alcoholism, depression and other disorders. People who have been through a traumatic event or a war would also benefit from occupational therapy.

Work is Play

Pediatric Occupational Therapists help children diagnosed with Autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, traumatic brain injuries or premature birth, among many others.

They can be found having fun all day long alongside their patients, playing with playdough, colouring pictures or doing puzzles with enthusiasm. 

Reap the Benefits - Tangible & Intangible

Occupational Therapists get to see the fruits of their labour when their patients meet realistic goals and begin to experience life to the fullest possible extent. 

The money earned from working with a patient and the priceless awards you may receive as someone whose work has a substantial positive impact on the profession are tangible rewards. 

However, the infinite satisfaction derived from knowing that you may have helped a mentally disabled student become the school mascot or coached a paroled convict to get through a crucial job interview is priceless.

Interesting Trivia

Occupational Therapy began to enjoy official recognition during the first and second world wars when the US Military understood the benefit of using reconstruction aids to treat wounded soldiers and help them return to the battlefront.

An Occupational Therapist can opt for a specific practice model from among the prevalent ones.

Solo Practice

Suburban or rural areas with significant medical needs and less competition suit solo practice. Remember that while you can grow and develop your unique style of medical care, it involves considerable effort, time and financial risk. 

Group Practice

The group practice may comprise single-speciality or multi-speciality providers. Therapists in this model enjoy financial security and can focus more time and energy on patient care. However, autonomy and decision-making ability decrease, increasing the risk of conflict around significant practice issues. Larger practices also tend to become more bureaucratic and policy-driven.

Employed Therapist Practice

The physician can focus on practising medicine because the employer takes over the practice’s financial and administrative responsibilities. Even so, your work schedule and activities will be controlled by those who develop the policies and procedures.

Other Types of Therapy

Some therapists work as independent contractors in a solo or group practice; they may share financial responsibility and flexibility in clinical practice but may not be free to make all decisions.

Locum tenens (literally “place holder”) is an alternative to more permanent employment. Locum tenens positions are temporary (up to a year) offered by practices, hospitals, or healthcare organisations with an unfilled clinical need.

The compensation rate is generally higher than what the permanent position would suggest. Locum tenens allows Occupational Therapists to gauge a specific type of practice or location without committing to long-term employment.

Occupational Therapy (OT) was ranked #10 in the 2021 list of best healthcare professions by the US News and World Report.

Flexibility, compassion, patience, encouragement and the ability to relate and respect the individuals they work with - are the trademarks of a successful Occupational Therapist who make life worth living for innumerable patients with disabilities.

Treat your profession as a calling, not just a means of earning a livelihood.