Having a job that feels meaningful can make the difference between a satisfying life and one that is missing something special. If you’re looking for a career that makes a difference, occupational therapy is an excellent choice.
What Is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy (OT) involves using everyday activities to address the physical, mental, emotional, and developmental issues that negatively impact patients’ lives. Occupational therapists often focus on rehabilitating motor skills and helping patients perform daily activities more effectively, but their overall goal is to help patients be more independent and attain a better quality of life.
What Kind of Training Does OT Require?
Before you start applying for OT job listings, you’ll need to get some training. Occupational therapists must be licensed by the state in which they work. To get licensed, you’ll need a master’s degree in a relevant field and a passing grade on the NBCOT.
If that sounds like a lot of work, rest assured that it’s worth the investment of time and money into education and licensure. Occupational therapists widely report high levels of job satisfaction and increasing annual salaries that average nearly $100,000.
What Makes OT So Special?
If you’re like most aspiring occupational therapists, you’re not in it for the money. You want a rewarding career that involves helping others. That’s just what you’ll find with occupational therapy.
Improve Patients’ Quality of Life
Some medical practitioners focus only on particular areas of a patient’s body. Occupational therapists get the opportunity to improve patients’ general quality of life through rehabilitation and restore independence following injuries, illnesses, and surgeries.
Work With a Range of Patients
Occupational therapists have interesting jobs. They get to help people struggling with conditions that range from acute injuries to chronic pain and cognitive decline. Every patient is different, which means occupational therapists will be presented with new challenges each day.
Develop Close Relationships With Patients
Occupational therapists often work with the same patients for extended periods, allowing them to form genuine bonds. Patients experiencing improvements in their home lives know that they have their occupational therapists to thank for their restored independence. The gratitude of patients and their families can be very rewarding.
Come Up With Unique Solutions
Every patient has a different set of needs, which means an occupational therapist gets to think creatively to come up with a health plan tailored to each person. As a result, occupational therapists get the opportunity to implement a variety of different solutions for patients using adaptive equipment, manual therapy, custom orthotics, and novel technologies.
Establish a Stable Career
You will get more out of practicing occupational therapy than the satisfaction of helping patients. That may be what brings most occupational therapists to the field, but once they’re there, they stay for the stable career and plentiful job opportunities. Unlike some lifestyle choices, a career in occupational therapy will bring stability and good wages.
The Next Steps to Get Started
The first step you’ll need to take if you want to become an occupational therapist is to attain a Master’s degree. Start looking into programs in your area and online today, and don’t forget that while it takes a lot of work to get through school, it will be worthwhile in the long run when you wind up with a rewarding career helping others.
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