What does it take to become an Occupational Therapist?
Occupational therapy is a health profession that allows you to help people of all ages live satisfying and productive lives by redesigning daily occupations or tasks to maximize their independence in living. Occupational therapists work in schools, hospitals, nursing facilities, home health care and behavioral health care settings. They plan activities and approaches to help people who are experiencing mental, physical, developmental or emotional conditions.
To be an occupational therapist, you need to be a good listener, enjoy working with people with illness or life challenges, be an excellent communicator and creative problem solver, enjoy both art and science, and be fascinated by how the human body works and the healing process.
Occupational therapists enter the profession with either a master’s degree or doctoral degree (OTD) from an accredited institution, be nationally certified, and obtain state licensure in order to obtain employment. Mount Mary occupational therapy graduates have an excellent job placement rate throughout Wisconsin and other regions of the country.
High Demand for Occupational Therapists
Occupational therapists are in high demand nationally, and Mount Mary occupational therapists are in even higher demand. Many organizations have stated a preference for hiring Mount Mary graduates due to their reputation for being exceptional, creative practitioners. Need proof of the demand? According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics:
| Quick Facts: Occupational Therapists | |
|---|---|
| $85,570 per year $41.14 per hour |
|
| 131,600 | |
| 17% (Much faster than average) | |
| 23,000 | |