Occupational Therapist
Occupational therapistsare professionals who help people function to the best of their ability in daily living and working environments. They primarily work with individuals who have short-term or long-term physical, emotional, mental, or developmental disabilities. Their goal is to make life better for those they work with, helping them to learn new skills, re-learn ones they may have been able to perform in the past but can't at the present time for some reason, or to improve upon their existing skills.
Helping clients to liveindependent, productive, and overall satisfying livesare what occupational therapists see as their top priority. They primarily focus on fine motor skills, however they also help with some main gross motor skills as well. They also help clients with their thought processes and reasoning abilities to help them learn or re-learn to prioritize better and to understand what they need to be responsible for in order to live independently and maintain a job. In addition, occupational therapists also work with clients who may have lost function of a certain limb, of their sight, or specific abilities they once had but no longer do. They help clients cope with these losses and teach them ways to complete basic tasks and essential living and working skills in alternate ways. Some occupational therapists specialize and work with a specific age group such as toddlers, teenagers, elderly individuals, etc. or with clients with a particular illness or condition, while others are more varied in their work with no specific identified specialty.
Occupational therapists constantly test and evaluate patients anddocument their clients' progress. They prepare reports based upon these observations and findings. They make recommendations on patients' living and/or work environments based upon their needs, desires,and capabilities. They form and consult with rehabilitation teams of other varied professionals to coordinate occupational therapy goals with other assorted therapeutic goals. There are also times where need to utilize or create tools, supplies, or equipment for their clients, including but not limited to splints, braces, and technological devices.
Those wishing to become occupational therapists must complete at least a master's degree in anaccredited occupational therapy program. Additionally, they must take a national certifying exam and obtain a license from a regulatory board in the state where they plan to practice. States have varying requirments for licensure. It is also a great idea for prospective occupational therapists to take advantage of as many volunteer and/or paid healthcare opportunities that they can. This shows colleges and universities and possible future employers that they are interested in helping others and are taking steps to learn more about patient care.
Licensed occupational therapists in the United States make an averageyearly wage of $73,380 or an hourly wage of $35.28 per hour. Salaries vary based upon factors such as where the occupational therapist practices, who he or she works for, if he or she puts in overtime, and his or her level of skill and/or experience. However, nearly all occupational therapists make between$48,920 and $102,520per year.
