Occupational Therapy Provider Schools, Salaries, and Job Data
Occupational Therapy Providers Job Overview
Occupational therapy providers help people who suffer from mental, emotional and physical conditions of disability. They assist these patients live their lives as normally and easily as possible. They try to help patients live independent and fulfilling lives.
Occupational Therapy Providers Schools and Degrees
A master’s degree in occupational therapy is required in order to become an occupational therapy provider. It is also important to pass national and state level examinations and have six months of field work under the supervision of an authorized expert.
Job Requirements
Most states control the practice of occupational therapy. Licensure and the title of Occupational Therapist Registered is earned after passing the national certification examination. Occupational therapists who wish to work in early intervention plans may also need to have a certificate for educational practice.
Occupational therapy providers should add to their professional growth by enrolling in ongoing education programs in their field of work. They should also participate in workshops. In many states, continuing education is required in order to maintain licensure.
Occupational therapy providers need to earn the faith and respect of their patients in order to help them in the easiest way possible. Strong interpersonal skills are an important requirement for an occupational therapy provider. Resourcefulness and creativity in adapting activities to individual requirements is an advantage.
Nature of Work
Occupational therapy providers help patients improve their basic motor activities. They also try to improve their reasoning skills and help them adapt to their condition in the easiest and most productive way possible. They help them do physical exercises so they are able to take care of their own everyday needs like dressing and eating. To patients who are permanently impaired, they teach the use of instruments like wheel chairs and dressing aids. They also chronicle the patients’ recovery rates for future references.
Occupational therapy providers working in hospitals and health care environments work in big rooms with the machines and tools that are required to help patients. They may have to be on their feet with patients for long periods of time. As such, they may suffer from stress and back problems. Those who opt for home care services spend a lot of time traveling from one appointment to the next.
Occupational Therapy Providers Jobs and Outlook
According to research in 2006, occupational therapy providers held about 99,000 jobs in the US. Employment is highest in the following industries:
Elementary and Secondary Schools
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
Home Health Care Services
Nursing Care Facilities
Offices of Other Health Practitioners
The mean hourly wage for occupational therapy providers in the US is about $30.00, while the mean annual saslary is around $60,000.
Job Numbers and Growth
About 99,000 occupational therapy providers can be found working in the US. A very low unemployment level has been the case recently. Employees without jobs were about 1%.
Area Job Conditions
Finding employees is easiest in Haverhill (Massachusetts), Wichita Falls (Texas), and San Angelo (Texas), and by comparison more challenging in Huntsville (Alabama), Davenport (Iowa), and Bakersfield (California).
The pay is best in Terre Haute (Indiana), Naples (Florida), and Valdosta (Georgia) and worst in Phoenix (Arizona), Wichita Falls (Texas), and San Angelo (Texas).
Training and Education
You'll generally want a master's degree for this career path. Of current occupational therapy providers, 90% graduated from college with degrees. Some 9% of workers attened college but did not go on to get a bachelor's degree. Recommended schools are shown in the column to the right; request information from them to help you decide which if any could help you with this career.
Part-Time Work and Self-Employment
Occupational therapy providers working part-time accounted for 30% of those employed in 2008. Self-employed workers represent an estimated 9% of the total.
Occupational Therapy Providers by Metropolitan Area (city and its surroundings)
In the table below, a Job Density near 0% means the area has an average number of people in this occupation, for its population. A higher or lower Job Density (e.g., +22% or -45%) tells you there are that many more or fewer workers of that type there than in the average US metro area. So, the higher the number, the more common the occupation.
Schools recommended for people interested in this career. Request info with quick online forms. These particular schools are noted for getting back to people fast.
Schools recommended for people interested in this career. Request info with quick online forms. These particular schools are noted for getting back to people fast.