Occupational Therapy

What is occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy is therapy designed to develop, maintain or restore the skills used to perform the activities of daily life.

What should I look for in an online occupational therapy school?

The best online occupational therapy schools should possess either regional or national accreditation from an accrediting body that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

In addition, you can often recognize top online occupational therapy schools based on:

• The school's name and status
• The school's history
• Teacher credentials
• Alumni network

In choosing the best online occupational therapy school for you, you should consider the following factors:

• Admission requirements
• Residency requirements
• Class and teaching style
• Testing methods used
• Course content and presentation
• Program length
• Class size
• Student-teacher interaction
• Technology use
• Tuition and financial aid
• Transferability of credits
• Availability of a dedicated administration team and resources

What levels of online occupational therapy programs are available?

The following levels of occupational therapy degree online programs are available:

• Online Occupational Therapy Certificate Programs
• Online Associates in Occupational Therapy
• Online Bachelor in Occupational Therapy
• Online Masters in Occupational Therapy
• Online PhD in Occupational Therapy

How long does it take to get an online occupational therapy degree?

The amount of time it takes a student to earn an accredited online occupational therapy degree depends on the level of occupational therapy degree being pursued and the pace of the student.

Typically, the breakdown is as follows:

• Online Occupational Therapy Certification Programs - 6 months to 1 year
• Online Occupational Therapy Associates Degree - 2 years
• Online Occupational Therapy Bachelor Degree - 4 years
• Online Occupational Therapy Masters - 2 years
• Online Occupational Therapy PhD - 2 to 5 years

What are some examples of online occupational therapy courses?

Some of the most common online occupational therapy courses offered by accredited online occupational therapy schools are:

• Medical Terminology

  Online occupational therapy certification programs offer this course to ensure that future occupational therapists, who often work in clinical settings, are familiar with the medical terminology they will use in their profession.

• Physiology

  This course, offered by the best online occupational therapy degree programs, examines the physical and mechanical functions of the human body.

• Gerontology

  In this course, students pursuing accredited online occupational therapy degrees learn the unique physical, mental and emotional needs of elderly patients.

• Occupational Therapy for Mental Health

  As part of online occupational therapy certificate programs, this course teaches the occupational therapy major the techniques and practices used to provide occupational therapy to patients with significant mental health disabilities.

• Occupational Therapy for Children

  In this course, accredited online occupational therapy school students study the approaches used in a clinical setting to provide occupational therapy to children with disabilities.

What areas of occupational therapy specialization are available?

Occupational therapy is a profession with many areas of concentration; some of the most popular online occupational therapy degree specializations are:

• Mental Health
• Physical Disabilities
• Pediatrics
• Geriatrics
• Lifestyle Rehabilitation
• Acute Care
• Ergonomics
• Vision Rehabilitation
• Hand Therapy
• Driver Rehabilitation

What can I do with an occupational therapy degree?

The occupational therapy profession offers a variety of career options for graduates of online occupational therapy training programs. Some of the most popular jobs chosen by graduates with top online occupational therapy degrees are:

• Assisted Living Occupational Therapist
• School Occupational Therapist
• Prosthetic Counselor
• Pediatric Occupational Therapist
• Assistive Device Counselor

What is an occupational therapist?

An occupational therapist is a health care professional who helps individuals with disabilities perform the actions associated with daily life such as eating, dressing and grooming. Some graduates of popular online occupational therapy school programs work in a clinical setting while others work in a more intimate one-on-one setting.

What does an occupational therapist do?

Graduates with popular online occupational therapy degrees help people with disabilities gain essential skills for performing daily tasks through a combination of physical therapy, counseling and adaptive device training. Graduates from top online occupational therapy school programs assess and measure clients' progress, teach clients to use helpful devices, and help clients re-learn abilities which were lost through illness or injury.

How much does an occupational therapist earn?

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average yearly income for an occupational therapist is $70,680. During the decade between 2008 and 2018, the occupational therapist profession is expected to grow by approximately 26 percent, which is much faster than the national average. The demand for professionals with the best online occupational therapy degrees will increase mainly due to the aging American population and their needs for qualified occupational therapists.

How do I become an occupational therapist?

To obtain an occupational therapy job, a top online occupational therapy degree is a good start but further education and licensure are often required. The occupational therapy profession requires state licensure after graduation from an online occupational therapy degree program. After becoming licensed, graduates can work in the profession and begin building a resume while helping change the lives of people in need.