Occupational Therapist

What They Do:

Occupational therapists are health care professionals who help people resume or maintain participation in a variety of tasks - their jobs, leisure and social activities, getting around, caring for themselves and their home, and much more. Occupational therapists help people learn new ways of doing things, regain skills and develop new ones, use materials or equipment that makes life easier, and/or adapt their environment to work better for them.

Also Known As:

Assistive Technology Trainer, Certified Hand Therapist (CHT), Early Intervention Occupational Therapist, Home Health Occupational Therapist, Industrial Rehabilitation Consultant, Occupational Therapist (OT), Pediatric Occupational Therapist (Pediatric OT), Pediatrics and Acute Care Occupational Therapist, Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR)

Minimum Education Requirements for an Occupational Therapy Assistant:

• Associate degree in Occupational Therapy: 2 years
• At least two months of occupational therapy supervised field experience
  

Minimum Education Requirements for an Occupational Therapist:

• Baccalaureate degree in Occupational Therapy: 4 years
• At least six months of occupational therapy supervised field experience
• Occupational Therapy Doctorate (O.T.D.): 3 years (including classroom and clinical work)

Career Info Sources Include:

• Career One Stop
• Bureau of Labor Statistics