Occupational Therapists

Occupational Description

Occupational therapy uses purposeful interventions to achieve outcomes that maximize the independence and the maintenance of health of any individual who is limited by a physical injury or illness, a cognitive impairment, a psychosocial dysfunction, a mental illness, a developmental or learning disability, or an adverse environmental condition.

Personal Skills & Characteristics

Occupational therapists need patience, understanding and compassion when dealing with clients facing health problems. Patience is important because many clients may not show rapid progress and practitioners must be prepared for the challenge. Being understanding and having compassion is also vital when working with clients who have disabilities that require them to undergo extensive and sometimes painful treatment in order to improve their function. And finally, occupational therapy is a field that calls for a certain amount of passion for the beneficial and life-changing work that therapists perform.

Employment

Occupational Therapists work with young children, adolescents, adults, and older people in the following areas:

• Physical rehabilitation
• Mental health services
• Primary care
• Pediatrics

Occupational therapists work in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation facilities, long-term care facilities, extended care facilities, schools, camps, and patients' own homes.

Earnings

Salaries vary based on geographic location and industry (home health care, nursing care, hospitals, etc.) Overall, the median annual earning of occupational therapists were $67,094 in April 2009.  The middle 50 percent earned between $61,125 and $74,538.

Job Outlook

Employment of occupational therapists is expected to increase 23 percent, which is much faster than the average for all occupations, between 2006 and 2016. This growth will occur as a result of the increasing number of middle-aged and elderly people who require therapeutic services. The demand for occupational therapists is also increasing because of growing public and government support for occupational therapy programs that help people with disabilities attain the fullest possible functional status. The demand for occupational therapists in rehabilitative and long-term care services is also expected to grow strongly over the next decade. There will be numerous opportunities for work with mental health clients, children, and the elderly, as well as those with disabling conditions.

Planning Ahead

Students should begin taking some of the required course work for occupational therapy early in their academic careers. It is also important to obtain hands-on experience within the health care field.

The Career Center has a team of pre-health counselors to assist students with a preparation and application timeline that fits their circumstances. Appointments may be scheduled with a pre-health counselor by calling 734/764-7460 or stopping by the office at 3200 Student Activities Building.

Educational Requirements

Occupational therapy candidates will be required to fulfill a number of prerequisites, which may include: biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy & physiology with corresponding lab work, developmental & abnormal psychology, sociology, kinesiology, and statistics. A GPA of 3.0 or above is usually required in all prerequisite courses.

For general occupational therapy requirement questions contact a pre-health academic advisor in LSA. For school specific questions, contact the schools directly.

As of January 2007, all new occupational therapy candidates are required to hold a post-baccalaureate degree, i.e., a professional master’s degree or an entry-level doctoral degree.

Preparation Beyond the Classroom

Explore the field of occupational therapy in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation facilities, long-term care facilities, extended care facilities, schools, and camps. Programs may require 50-150 hours of documented volunteer or work experience. Most programs also require volunteer or paid work experience with persons with disabilities. Engage in research if possible. Admissions committees are also interested in teaching and leadership experiences. Many programs require Infant, Child and Adult CPR Certification.

Connect with U of M alumni for informational interviewing, networking, or job shadowing. Visit Alumni Networks at http://alumni.umich.edu/networking-tools

Application Process Overview

Students applying to occupational therapy programs are strongly encouraged to initiate their application process one year prior to when they plan to begin their academic program.

There is no primary application service for centralizing and standardizing the admissions process to occupational therapy programs or schools. For more information on requirements for admission to a specific occupational therapy program, contact the office of admissions at each individual institution.

Admission committees for occupational therapy programs review credentials such as academic qualifications, GRE scores, transcripts, grade point average, personal statements, letters of reference, a personal interview, health care volunteer work, or shadowing experiences. Keep in mind that these are general admissions criteria and other admissions requirements can vary from school to school.

For a listing of occupational programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) visit: http://www.aota.org/Students/Schools/EntryLevelOT/40572.aspx.

Standardized Tests

Occupational therapy programs usually require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). GRE scores taken more than five years from date of application are not valid. All information concerning the GRE may be obtained by calling 1-800-GRE-TEST or by visiting http://www.gre.org.

Reference Letters

Most occupational therapy programs will require at least one letter from an occupational therapist and one from a science professor. Some programs may require more than one letter from a licensed occupational therapist. It may also be helpful to obtain letters from employers, research and health-related volunteer supervisors. Check with each program since reference letter policies vary from school to school.

The Career Center’s Reference Letter Service (RLS) offers University of Michigan students and alumni/ae the opportunity to have letters of reference on file to use in support of their employment and continuing education efforts. Open a reference letter file with the RLS.

Personal Statement Information

Occupational therapy programs require a biographical essay indicating interest in the program, exposure to occupational therapy, and professional goals. If you need assistance getting started on your personal statement or would welcome feedback on your draft, please schedule an advising appointment by calling 734/764-7460.

Interviews

Students will be assessed on their knowledge of the scope of the occupational therapy profession. Gather interview tips through available literature and interview programs sponsored by The Career Center. Schedule a videotaped mock interview at The Career Center, 3200 SAB (734/764-7460) to gain practice and confidence.

Admissions Update

As of April 2008, there were 147 accredited occupational therapy programs. The total number of students enrolled in OT programs in 2006 was 11,138. Also, occupational therapist has made U.S. News & World Report’s list of 31 “Best Careers 2008” based on job satisfaction, training difficulty, prestige, and job market outlook.

Resources to Learn More

Links to Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement. General information on occupational therapy as a career is available from:

American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (AOTA),
4720 Montgomery Lane, PO Box 31220, Bethesda, MD 20824-1220,
301-652-2682
http://www.aota.org

National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
www.nbcot.org