Over 40 years I worked inpatient, rehab, outpatient hands, workplace health, nursing homes and home health. Thanks so much for adding this, Carolyn! Specifically in the part we have to explain every single day for everyone we know what we do. All of this is very true! Your comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Are you interested in becoming an occupational therapist?
Being an occupational therapist can be stressful. Becoming an occupational therapist is expensive. Getting into occupational therapy school is hard.
After graduating, you might not get to work in your dream setting right away. You are always explaining what you do as an OT. Many occupational therapy settings are physically demanding.
Would I personally change my career choice? Absolutely not! You may also like. In my 40 years I never regretted my career choice. Loved every minute. Leave a comment Cancel reply.
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We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Tasks and duties Assessing injured workers to determine the best way to help them get back to work. Visiting workplaces to gain an understanding on what challenges an injured worker may face when trying to get back to work. Reviewing high risk manual tasks at workplaces to determine how they can be performed more safely.
Providing clinical opinions and justification through comprehensive report writing. Running workshops on health and wellbeing topics. Consulting with insurers, medical practitioners and employers. Conducting Pre-Employment Assessments to help ensure workers are fit for work. Read less. Hi there ,. What can I earn as an Occupational Therapist? Did you find this helpful? Occupational Therapist. Allied Health Professional - Occupational Therapists. Occupational Therapist Grade 2.
See all related jobs on SEEK. How to become an Occupational Therapist. To become an Occupational Therapist in Australia, there are two different pathways available, and you must hold formal qualifications. Complete an undergraduate degree in Occupational Therapy. Undergraduate occupational therapy courses in Australia generally take 4 years.
Alternatively, after completing an undergraduate degree in any field, you may complete a Masters degree in Occupational Therapy. Gain work experience. This may include, for example, working as a nanny for a child with special needs or working at a summer camp for people with disabilities. Register with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia and meet the Board's registration standards in order to practise in Australia.
Explore related qualifications SEEK users who have worked as an Occupational Therapist have studied these qualifications. Bachelor of Occupational Therapy This degree develops skills and knowledge needed to pursue a career as an Occupational Therapist.
That number jumps to a 19 percent increase for late-career professionals. Earnings also vary depending on an where an occupational therapist practices. Prospective occupational therapists should check out state-specific wage information to get a more accurate picture of the field where they plan to work. Like the national median wage per year, the projected job growth for occupational therapy is considerably higher than the average for all occupations: a 24 percent increase is expected between and This growth is largely due to increased need for occupational therapists as the Baby Boomer population ages and requires more assistance.
Jobs in various medical settings, including hospitals and rehabilitation centers, will likely provide many opportunities for occupational therapists. There is also consistent demand for treatment of people with chronic illnesses or disabilities, especially the non-invasive, long-term outpatient treatments provided by occupational therapists. Working in schools with students on the autism spectrum may be a good option for occupational therapists as well.
Legislative developments and changes in the healthcare system can affect the job outlook for occupational therapists in the future. There are many things students should consider when looking for an occupational therapy program. Students should always make sure their program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education , but beyond that, students can account for different variables, like cost, delivery method, program length and combined degree programs versus standalone ones, to tailor their school search.
Search tools like the one below can help students narrow down their options and find an occupational therapy program that meets their needs. Networking is an important part of being an occupational therapist. As a student, networking can help with landing internships, supervised fieldwork, job shadows and future career and education opportunities.
For established professionals, networking helps occupational therapists meet others in the field, make job connections, learn about changes in the industry and best practices, promote their services, gain new skills and learn about classes and other opportunities. Organizations like the ones below can open experienced and prospective occupational therapists to a range of networking opportunities to help them thrive in the field. AOTA is a national professional association for occupational therapists and has a membership of over 60, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants and occupational therapy students.
AOTA provides members with professional support, information and resources, discounted continuing education, legal advocacy, professional certification and credentialing and more.
Organized by the American Occupational Therapy Foundation, Pi Theta Epsilon is a national honor society for occupational therapy students and alumni. The association allows students to collaborate and exchange information and provides research and continuing education opportunities.
Students can look for student occupational therapy associations SOTA like this one at their schools. This is an example of occupational therapy associations at the state level.
Finding a local association can help professionals build strong connections with other occupational therapists in their community and open up job and education opportunities in their area. This international professional association connects occupational therapist from around the world and promotes the global advancement of occupational therapy.
Members receive exclusive access to articles, bulletins, an online forum and other publications. Because they help all types of people improve their functionality in day-to-day activities, occupational therapists can benefit from having a large arsenal of tools and educational resources.
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