How To Become an Occupational Therapist

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How Long Does It Take, What Degree Do You Need, and More

Occupational Therapists

Occupational Therapists assess, plan, and organize rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays. Use therapeutic techniques, adapt the individual's environment, teach skills, and modify specific tasks that present barriers to the individual.

Salary
$87480
Becoming One
Very Hard
Education
Master's degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match



What degree do you need

Recommended degree level

Master’s Degree

We did a survey to ask other Occupational Therapists what degree they had when they became an Occupational Therapist. Here are the results.
Master’s Degree
71.43%


Bachelor’s Degree
19.05%


First Professional Degree
4.76%


One of the most common questions that we always get is what major or degree do I need to become Occupational Therapists or what courses do I need to take.

We also asked Occupational Therapists what did they major in college or university and here are the top 5 most popular majors that came up.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists need at least a master’s degree in occupational therapy; some therapists have a doctoral degree. Occupational therapists also must be licensed or registered.



How hard is it

Difficulty
Very Hard

You will need an extensive amount of skill, knowledge and experience to be an Occupational Therapist. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, a surgeon must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Careers in this difficulty category may need some on-the-job-training, but most of these careers assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, and work-related experience and training. These careers usually involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Similar careers include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, neurologists, and veterinarians.


Related work experience required
None

None
38.1%


3 to 6 months
19.05%


6 months to 1 year
14.29%


Job training
Up to 1 month

Up to 1 month
38.1%


3 to 6 months
23.81%


1 to 2 years
14.29%



License and certifications

Do you need any license or certification
Required

All states require occupational therapists to pass the national examination administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapists (NBCOT). To sit for the NBCOT exam, candidates must have earned a degree from an accredited educational program and completed all fieldwork requirements. Therapists must pass the NBCOT exam to use the title “Occupational Therapist Registered” (OTR). They must also take continuing education classes to maintain certification.


Skills required

We asked other Occupational Therapists if they could only have 5 skills, what would they be. Here is what they said.

1. Monitoring what does this mean
2. Service Orientation what does this mean
3. Reading Comprehension what does this mean
4. Active Listening what does this mean
5. Speaking what does this mean

= Hot in-demand that most employers are looking for


Knowledge required

Just like any other job, you will need certain know-hows to excel at your job. Occupational Therapists are generally very knowledgeable in these 5 key areas.

1. Psychology what does this mean
2. Therapy and Counseling what does this mean
3. Medicine and Dentistry what does this mean
4. Education and Training what does this mean
5. English Language what does this mean


Learn more about Occupational Therapists

Summary
Job Description
Salary
Requirements (You are here)
Quiz

Related to Occupational Therapists Requirements

Occupational Therapists requirements, how to become Occupational Therapists, degree required to be an Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapists license and certifications, majors to be an Occupational Therapist, is it hard to become an Occupational Therapist and how long does it take


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