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Occupational Therapist

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AVG. SALARY

$90,200

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EDUCATION

Master's degree

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JOB OUTLOOK

Increasing

What They Do

Occupational Therapists Career Video

About This Career

Assesses, plans, and organizes rehabilitative programs that help build or restore vocational, homemaking, and daily living skills, as well as general independence, to persons with disabilities or developmental delays. Uses therapeutic techniques, adapts the individual's environment, teaches skills, and modifies specific tasks that present barriers to the individual.

This career is part of the Health Science cluster Therapeutic Services pathway.

A person in this career:

  • Tests and evaluates patients' physical and mental abilities and analyzes medical data to determine realistic rehabilitation goals for patients.
  • Completes and maintains necessary records.
  • Plans, organizes, and conducts occupational therapy programs in hospital, institutional, or community settings to help rehabilitate those impaired because of illness, injury or psychological or developmental problems.
  • Plans and implements programs and social activities to help patients learn work or school skills and adjust to handicaps.
  • Selects activities that will help individuals learn work and life-management skills within limits of their mental or physical capabilities.
  • Evaluates patients' progress and prepares reports that detail progress.
  • Trains caregivers in providing for the needs of a patient during and after therapy.
  • Lays out materials such as puzzles, scissors and eating utensils for use in therapy, and cleans and repairs these tools after therapy sessions.
  • Consults with rehabilitation team to select activity programs or coordinates occupational therapy with other therapeutic activities.
  • Designs and creates, or requisitions, special supplies and equipment, such as splints, braces, and computer-aided adaptive equipment.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would often handle loads up to 20 lbs., sometimes up to 50 lbs. You might do a lot of lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling.
  • Exposed to disease and infections more than once a month through work such as patient care, laboratory work, and sanitation control
  • Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
  • Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Seeing clearly at a distance
  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person

Work Hours and Travel

  • Regular working hours and limited travel

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Certified Hand Therapist (CHT)
  • Assistive Technology Trainer
  • Early Intervention Occupational Therapist
  • Industrial Rehabilitation Consultant
  • Pediatric Occupational Therapist (Pediatric OT)
  • Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR)
  • Pediatrics and Acute Care Occupational Therapist
  • Home Health Occupational Therapist

Contact

  • Email Support

  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900

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