Occupational Therapist

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Work Tasks

• Work with people who have physical, mental, or emotional disabilities
• Help people with daily living and work skills, and with basic motor skills
• Give patients physical and mental exercises
• Keep patient records
• Give equipment such as wheelchairs and aids for eating and dressing to patients with permanent disabilities
• Work for hospitals, clinics, schools, nursing homes, adult day care programs, live-in care facilities, job training services, and home health agencies
• Work with splints, wheelchairs, hand and power tools, computer-aided adaptive equipment, computers, business machines, personnel records, schedules, medical records, and treatment plans

Salary, Size & Growth

• $66,000 average per year ($31.75 per hour)
• A medium occupation (135,200 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow rapidly (2.7% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 4-year or master's degree in occupational therapy
• Skills/Courses: College courses include biology, psychology, sociology, anthropology, liberal arts, and anatomy. Graduate coursework includes the physical, biological, and behavioral sciences.
• Certification/Licensing: Occupational therapists must be licensed.