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Introduction to Occupational Therapy

The American Occupational Therapy Association describes the work of occupational therapists (OTs) as "helping people do activities they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations)". Occupational therapists play a crucial role in enabling individuals to achieve their goals and participate fully in their daily lives.

Role of Occupational Therapists

Occupational therapists:

• Help clients and their families set personal goals by conducting individualized evaluations.
• Customize therapeutic interventions to help improve their clients' abilities to do daily activities that will help them reach their goals.
• Evaluate their clients' progress, adjusting the interventions as needed.
  • OTs evaluate clients within their homes, schools, and workplaces so they can make the most appropriate suggestions for using adaptive equipment and provide guidance and education for their clients' families, teachers, and caregivers.
• Work with people of all ages and abilities.

Work Settings for Occupational Therapists

Work settings for OTs include:

• Hospitals
• Long-term care facilities
• Schools
• Home health agencies

Job Outlook and Compensation

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for occupational therapists is very good, and the need for OTs is expected to increase much faster than most occupations. The median annual pay for OTs is $81,910.

Common Academic Majors

Common academic majors for those interested in pursuing a career in occupational therapy include:

• Human development and family science (College of Health and Human Sciences)
• Kinesiology (College of Health and Human Sciences)
• Life science (College of Arts and Sciences)
• Psychology (College of Arts and Sciences)

Degree Pathway for Occupational Therapists

• A bachelor's degree is required prior to entering a professional OT education program.
• Students may choose any academic major of interest to them; no major is preferred.
• Entry into the OT profession requires at least a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) degree, and some practitioners have earned a Doctor of Occupational Therapy (DOT) degree.