Occupational Therapist

By Hailey Nickolopoulos
What I think this career is.
I am not sure what this career is at all. My friend is trying to become an
occupational therapist later in her life. I thought I would do a little research to help
her out.
What is an Occupational Therapist?
An occupational therapist is someone who helps a person of any age engage fully
in their daily life. These people help them do anything from work to working out.

This career is part of the therapeutic services cluster.

(Liaison,
2017)
Education
The education for an occupational therapist is you should take a variety of science
classes you should.

Some colleges that offer an OT program in Michigan are Grand Valley State,
Eastern Michigan, and Saginaw Valley.

These colleges all offer a master's program for OT. This is the required education
for occupational therapy .

(Wilson, 2003)
Classes
Some classes you have to take as a prerequisite are:

Anatomy and Physiology

Lifespan Developmental Psychology

Psychopathology

Kenesiology

And a neuroscience class

(Admissions, 2016)
Responsibilities
Evaluating patient's condition

Develop a treatment plan

Help with lots of disabilities

Look at a patients home or workplace to identify their needs

Educate the patient's employer and family about how to take care of them

Suggest safety equipment

(Truity , 2012)
Work Places
You could work in

Hospitals

Nursing Facilities

Elementary Schools

Offices

Home Health Care Facilities

(Truity , 2012)
Salary
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics the median salary in May of 2015 was
about $80,150.

(Wilson, 2003)
Outlook
The job outlook for an occupational therapist is expected to increase by 27% or
higher. This is much higher than many other jobs because the baby boomers are
starting to get older and are going to need help.

(Wilson, 2003)
Typical Day
A typical work day for an occupational therapist is usually emotionally draining.
They may face many challenges during the day. You will be lifting patients and
helping them with various exercises.

(Princeton
Review)
Skills
You will need to be:

Strong (emotionally and physically)

Communication

Empathy

(Princeton
Review)
Interesting Things
Two things that I found interesting
You have to have a masters degree.
That there is a 27% job outlook
Non Interesting Things
Two things I didn't like

That you had to take a bunch of science classes

That you get paid roughly 82,000 a year.

Reflection
This career might be for me. I really like the aspect of this career as a whole. Im
not sure if I would like the amount of schooling you have to go through. I also am
not sure how I feel about the fact that you get paid so little for the amount of
schooling. Overall I am not sure if this career is for me or not.
Citations
Admissions. (2016). Grand Valley State University. Retrieved March 10, 2017, from
http://www.gvsu.edu/ot/

Princeton Review . (n.d.). Retrieved March 10 , 2017, from Princeton Reveiw :

https://www.princetonreview.com/careers/102/occupational-therapist

Truity . (2012). Retrieved March 10, 2017, from Truity: https://www.truity.com/career-profile/occupational-

therapist

Wilson, B. (2003). Study.com. Retrieved March 9, 2017, from Study.com:

http://study.com/articles/Occupational_Therapist_How_Do_I_Become_an_Occupational_Therapy_Profes
sional.html