Occupational Therapist Job Description

Occupational therapists help people recover from illnesses, injuries and disabilities. They are experts in healthcare who specialize in helping people get better.

An occupational therapist is a registered healthcare professional who specializes in helping people recover from illnesses, injuries and disabilities. Occupational therapists help clients identify challenges they face with activities that relate to self-care, work, education or leisure. They use their expertise to help clients develop skills and strategies for overcoming the obstacles they are facing.

Occupational therapists also provide services to people who suffer from mental illness by helping them learn new ways to function in their environment. Occupational Therapists might work with a patient who has difficulty dressing, doing household chores or going to work. They may also assist clients during rehabilitation and recovery periods after surgery or injury. To treat patients, occupational therapists may rely on a combination of medical knowledge, research and techniques such as modeling, education, therapy or assessment.

An occupational therapist assesses patient needs by observing how they function in their environment. The therapist then uses the information they have gathered to create an individualized plan for treatment and progress monitoring that is specific to each client's circumstances. The occupational therapist uses their expertise to help patients overcome obstacles and may also provide advice for the client's caregivers.

Occupational therapists have a hand in just about every industry. They improve working conditions for people in factories, healthcare facilities, office buildings and even schools. Some work with children who are struggling at school or don't fit in socially; others help adults who've been injured or have physical disabilities.

There's a lot of room for growth in the field, since occupational therapists specialize in many different areas, such as geriatrics, pediatrics, sports medicine and cardiopulmonary care. Some work with patients with mental illness. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment will rise by nineteen percent through 2016.

Occupational therapists need a doctoral degree from an accredited school of professional psychology. They have to pass licensure tests to practice in most states, must maintain their certification and are required to continually upgrade their education with relevant courses. Most entry-level occupational therapist positions require a minimum of

Statistics on Occupational Therapists

Employment of occupational therapists is projected to grow 16 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. (bls.gov)
The largest employers of occupational therapists were as follows: Hospitals; state, local, and private 26% Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists. (bls.gov)
The lowest 10 percent earned less than $57,330, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $122,670. (bls.gov)

Articles On Occupational Therapists

Occupational Therapists : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Occupational therapists treat patients who have injuries, illnesses, or disabilities through the therapeutic use of everyday activities. (bls.gov)

Occupational therapist - Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

Occupational Therapists (onetonline.org)

Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists work with patients to build or restore their abilities to perform the daily tasks of life. (money.usnews.com)

What's Occupational Therapy? Make Work or Play Easier to Do

Learn about occupational therapy, what occupational therapists do, where they work, and why you might need this treatment. (webmd.com)

Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists help people fully engage in daily life, from work and play to activities of daily living like dressing, cooking, eating and driving. (explorehealthcareers.org)

How to Become an Occupational Therapist (2021) • OT Potential

In this article, we will cover the content you need to know to help you decide if occupational therapy might be the career for you. We’ll also give you step by step guidance on how to become an occupational therapist. (otpotential.com)

Occupational Therapists at My Next Move (mynextmove.org)

Occupational Therapist (rheumatology.org)

Occupational Therapist - Explore Health Care Careers - Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science

Learn about a health care career as an occupational therapist, including what they do, where they work, and training programs at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science., Occupational Therapist - Explore Health Care Careers - Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science (college.mayo.edu)

NBCOT - National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy

NBCOT provides initial and renewal certification for occupational therapy in the United States. (nbcot.org)

What does an occupational therapist do? - CareerExplorer

An occupational therapist is someone who enables people to become more productive and overcome obstacles when experiencing difficulties attempting to do everyday activities. They do this by helping patients with injuries, illnesses, or disabilities develop, recover, and improve the skills needed for... (careerexplorer.com)

What Occupational Therapists (OTs) Do

Occupational therapists are health care professionals who help people to resume or maintain participation in a variety of tasks. (coto.org)

Physical Therapy vs Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy and physical therapy are often confused. We outline the main difference between OT vs PT including job duties, salary and more. (usa.edu)