What is the easiest area of occupational therapy?
These settings include interventions such as CBT, DBT, stress management, mindfulness, counseling, and more. Compared to other OT settings, mental health, in general, is often the easiest on your body as there is no lifting or transfers involved.
The Hardest Courses are Usually at the Start
For many students (myself included), gross anatomy, neuroscience/neuroanatomy, and kinesiology are typically the hardest of the classes. These courses are almost always in the beginning, which helps ensure that admitted students can handle the rigors of graduate school.
Mental health occupational therapists typically work in the community setting which can include group homes, club houses, after-school programs, vocational programs, senior centers, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, and outpatient group therapy.
- Nursing care facilities: $92,260 per year.
- Home healthcare services: $91,830 per year.
- Hospitals: $86,910 per year.
- Offices: $86,830 per year.
- Elementary and secondary schools: $76,560 per year.
Yes, occupational therapists can make six figures.
The top-paying states are Nevada, California, and Arizona, and specific metropolitan areas pay very well.
Yes, occupation therapy is harder than nursing because it has more education requirements which take longer to complete. If you are looking for which job has more day-to-day duties, that is definitely nursing, but the actual process of becoming a nurse or occupational therapist is typically easier for nurses.
To enter the occupation, occupational therapists typically need a master's degree in occupational therapy. All states require occupational therapists to be licensed.
Being an occupational therapist can be stressful.
So while you do get to provide meaningful treatments and help people achieve their goals, you will likely have to deal with the struggle of meeting your productivity on a daily basis.
- 1 – The Medical Field is Emotionally Stressful. ...
- 2 – Occupational Therapy is a Physically Demanding Job. ...
- 3 – Institutional Barriers May Prevent Desired Results. ...
- 4 – Long Work Hours Are Common. ...
- 5 – Learning New Techniques and Technology.
The job is physically demanding. Occupational Therapists are required to stand for long periods of time. They spend considerable time stooping, kneeling and crouching. PTs move heavy equipment.
How demanding is occupational therapy?
Emotional and physical demands
Since many occupational therapy patients experience some hardship, working as an occupational therapist can be emotionally demanding. Learning stress management can help handle these physical and emotional requirements of the job.
Being an Occupational Therapist: A Typical Day at Work
Evaluate and treat patients' physical and mental abilities. Analyze medical data to discover realistic rehabilitation goals for patients. Develop treatment plans for patients' by identifying activity types that will help patients reach their rehabilitation goals.

How Megan Wynne went from occupational therapist to $1.5b empire. Megan Wynne, the Perth entrepreneur behind $1.5 billion recruitment giant APM, is not slowing down.
- Nurse practitioner. Median salary in 2021: $120,680. ...
- Data scientist. Median salary in 2021: $100,910. ...
- Information security analyst. Median salary in 2021: $102,600. ...
- Web developers. Median salary in 2021: $77,030. ...
- Physician assistant (PA) Median salary in 2021: $121,530. ...
- Software developer. ...
- Actuary. ...
- Financial manager.
So what do Occupational therapists wear? Occupational therapists usually wear scrubs, business casual clothing, or a polo shirt with khakis.
OTs are more likely to have a better work-life balance due to fewer chances of 'bringing your work home'.
Benefits of a doctorate in OT
Earn a higher income than those with bachelor's or master's degrees in occupational therapy. Demonstrate your seriousness and commitment to employers who can trust you for leadership roles. Open new career paths, such as an occupational therapy professor or teacher.
The average Occupational Therapist in the US makes $84,688. The average bonus for an Occupational Therapist is $1,299 which represents 2% of their salary, with 99% of people reporting that they receive a bonus each year.
Unlike other exams, students took during their academic tenures, the NBCOT® Exam is rigid, requiring you to adopt the mindset of the individuals who wrote the questions in order to pass. It's arduous and of course, time-consuming. Below, we unpack just why this test is so hard to prepare for.
Summary: OT is a good career because it offers a flexible schedule, comfortable salary and the ability to choose where you work. While it's true you may have to deal with setbacks and manage tough situations, you'll also get to help people and make a difference.
Is there a shortage of occupational therapists?
The demand for occupational therapists is rising, with job growth expected to increase 17% from 2020 through 2030, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The aging population is definitely driving those numbers, but it's not the only cause.
While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $134,644 and as low as $21,543, the majority of Entry Level Occupational Therapist salaries currently range between $34,762 (25th percentile) to $77,848 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $109,184 annually in California.
An occupational therapist works with patients who have conditions that are mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabling. They help these patients develop, recover, or maintain the skills needed for daily living and working.
A master's degree is the minimum standard for becoming a practicing occupational therapist, and admission to occupational therapy degree programs is competitive. The average master's degree program takes a student two and a half years to complete.
At CareerExplorer, we conduct an ongoing survey with millions of people and ask them how satisfied they are with their careers. As it turns out, occupational therapists rate their career happiness 2.9 out of 5 stars which puts them in the bottom 27% of careers.
You want to support public health: Occupational therapists perform an important role in society by supporting public health and enabling people to complete daily tasks and return to their careers. You may want to become an OT to support social functions overall and help people live fulfilling lives.
Occupational therapy plays an important role in helping clients with anxiety manage their condition and minimise its impact on their daily life. An occupational therapist will work with a client with anxiety to identify how the condition is affecting them and what their future goals are.
Occupational therapy goals for autism typically focus on helping the client develop gross and fine motor skills, while goals for ABA therapy tend to be more focused on social and communication skills.
Myth 4: “An OTA degree is too specialized.” Truth: Earning an OTA degree makes for a great healthcare career, as evidenced by the “A” grade by the career website owlgurus.com. Those who choose the occupational therapy assistant degree love working one-on-one with clients and seeing them achieve their life goals.
A doctoral degree in OT is typically three years in length. “Prospective students need to be clear about their career objectives,” said Sheperd. “Degree requirements can differ depending on whether you want to work directly with clients as an OT practitioner, or if you want to go into teaching or research.”
Can you move up in occupational therapy?
A common career path for occupational therapists after they've been in the field for several years or even several decades is to go into teaching and/or research at a specific occupational therapy or occupational therapy assistant program.
Evaluating a patient's condition and needs. Developing treatment plans to address a patient's needs and help them meet specific goals. Assessing a patient's home and/or work environment and recommending adaptations to fit the patient's needs and improve independence.
- Enhance patient quality of life. ...
- Assist a wide client demographic. ...
- Use creative solutions. ...
- Enjoy career stability. ...
- Build and strengthen relationships with patients. ...
- Integrate technology into work tasks. ...
- Take advantage of flexible work opportunities. ...
- Apply problem-solving skills.
Salaries for these professionals range for a variety of reasons. As such, the lowest 10 percent earned less than $55,490 while the highest 10% earned more than $120,750 in the same year.
For example, activities to build fine motor skills might include picking things up with tweezers. Exercises to improve gross motor skills might include jumping jacks or running an obstacle course. For someone who struggles with motor planning, therapists might work on daily routines like getting dressed.
Occupational therapy is great for those who are unable to take care of themselves, move easily, or perform a normal function in school or at work because of illness, pain, injury, or disability.
The length of therapy/treatment sessions are based on individual needs. A session can be anywhere between 30 minutes and an hour.
Depending on your goals, starting point, and physical ability, one personal training session can be enough, although 1-3 personal training sessions per week is recommended. For those new to exercise, 2-3 personal training sessions per week is recommended to ensure that you develop proper form and a sustainable routine.
A thorough understanding of physical anatomy and biology is necessary for an occupational therapist, but knowledge about cognitive development and emotional response is also key for developing and executing effective patient care in this field.
Most OTs go to school for a total of five years to get their bachelor's and master's degree. The average OT Student Loan Planner® client has about $190,000 in student loans. In fact, 40% of our occupational therapist clients have student loans in excess of $200,000.
What is the happiest field to work in?
- Early childhood education teacher.
- Sound engineering technician.
- Event planner.
- Plumber.
- General manager.
- Carpenter.
- Esthetician.
- Interior designer.
- Veterinary technician.
- Home health aide.
- Graphic designer.
- Massage therapist.
- Plumber.
- Digital marketer.
- Research analyst.
- Family therapist.
- Truck Driver. ...
- Employee Experience Manager. ...
- Sales Enablement Specialist. ...
- Advanced Practice Provider. ...
- Growth Marketing Manager. ...
- Data Governance Manager. ...
- Grants Management Specialist.
No Hand/Wrist Jewellery is to be worn. One plain band ring is the only exception • Nails must be short and free from polish/varnish or nail extensions or false nails.
Nail polish is permitted but must not be chipped. Nails should be kept short, clean, neatly manicured, and not extend ¼ inch past the fingertips.
Orange | Brown | Russet |
Music | Nursing | Occupational Therapy |
Pink | Apricot | Ink |
Physical Therapy | Public Admin., Foreign Affairs | Public Health |
Teal | Peacock Blue | salmon |
For many students (myself included), gross anatomy, neuroscience/neuroanatomy, and kinesiology are typically the hardest of the classes. These courses are almost always in the beginning, which helps ensure that admitted students can handle the rigors of graduate school.
Yes, occupational therapists can make six figures.
The top-paying states are Nevada, California, and Arizona, and specific metropolitan areas pay very well.
- Vermont. The average salary for an occupational therapist in Vermont is currently $79,269 per year . ...
- Pennsylvania. ...
- Illinois. ...
- 4. California. ...
- Texas. ...
- New York.
An occupational therapist with an earned doctoral degree from an accredited school, college, or university may use the suffix designating the degree, or the prefix “Doctor” or “Dr.” and add after the person's name the words “occupational therapist”.
Is it better to get a masters or doctorate in occupational therapy?
Conclusion. Both MOT and OTD are great ways to kickstart a rewarding career as an occupational therapist. A master's degree is more financially feasible and provides faster access to jobs. On the other hand, a doctorate in occupational therapy is more suited for those more interested in teaching and research roles.
Most Schools Require a 3.0
The GPA requirement at occupational therapy schools can vary from school to school. However, most accredited schools require a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Unpaid leave for already scheduled trips. This is a no-brainer. ...
- Mutually beneficial continuing education. ...
- The ideal schedule. ...
- AOTA and NBCOT membership. ...
- Loan repayment options. ...
- Salary.
Unlike an Occupational Health Nurse, an Occupational Therapist is not a qualified nurse, they are specially trained in occupational therapy. Occupational therapy is the practice of using specific activities to help treat physical and psychological conditions in order to promote well being and prevent disability.
Best-paid skills and qualifications for Physical Therapists
Physical Therapists with this skill earn +15.50% more than the average base salary, which is $51.45 per hour.
According to the research (n = 268), most students do pass on the NBCOT exam, about 85% of students pass on their first attempt.
Overall performance is reported on a standardized scale ranging from 300 to 600. A total scaled score of at least 450 is required to pass the OTR or COTA certification examination. It is important to note that the passing standard is based on candidate performance across the entire exam.
See the Florida OT Board's recommendation under FAQ: “I FAILED the NBCOT Exam 3 times, What kind of education is prescribed by the Florida OT Board?” Also, pursuant to Pursuant to 468.211(6), Florida Statutes, after 5 unsuccessful examination attempts an applicant is no longer eligible to take the examination.
What type of occupational therapist gets paid the most? According to the BLS, OTs who work in home healthcare get paid the most. The annual mean wage of home health care OTs was $102,640 in 2021. Home healthcare OTs typically work for private agencies in their clients' homes.
The home is where most occupational therapy matters most. This is where patients spend most of their time, and where the “activities of daily living” (ADLs) matter most. Occupational therapy professionals often visit homes as part of a home healthcare team.
How much do occupational therapists make per hour in Florida?
Occupational Therapy License
Occupational Therapists with this license earn +16.22% more than the average base salary, which is $43.09 per hour.
A professional and experienced occupational therapist is willing to listen to their clients and is very patient. They should exhibit empathy, smile, and even try to inject well-placed, tactful humor in their interactions with clients.
You want to support public health: Occupational therapists perform an important role in society by supporting public health and enabling people to complete daily tasks and return to their careers. You may want to become an OT to support social functions overall and help people live fulfilling lives.
Unlike other exams, students took during their academic tenures, the NBCOT® Exam is rigid, requiring you to adopt the mindset of the individuals who wrote the questions in order to pass. It's arduous and of course, time-consuming. Below, we unpack just why this test is so hard to prepare for.
- Mobility & falls. ...
- Children's handwriting difficulties. ...
- Personal care & dressing. ...
- Self-care skills. ...
- Planning activities. ...
- Getting out & about – scooters, chairs & cars. ...
- Forgetfulness & memory problems. ...
- Confidence.
Working as an occupational therapy assistant is physically demanding. Occupational therapy assistants spend most of their day on their feet and moving around. This is not only hard on your body, but you must be healthy enough to stand and assist clients who may need assistance.
- Telehealth Care Services.
- Personalized Care.
- Wearable Tech.
- Nanotechnology.
- Covering New Territory.
- Improved Focus on Whole-Body Wellness.
- Technology and Rehab Gyms for Patient Retention and Engagement.
- What are some current trends in occupational therapy?
The 3 states with the largest OT shortages (the number of OT jobs) will be California, Florida, and Texas. States in the northeast are projected to have the smallest shortages whereas states in the south and west are projected to have the largest shortages.
- increasing lighting.
- removing throw rugs.
- changing the route of travel through the home if a safer route is available.
- using contrast-colored tape to mark changes in surfaces.
- placing commonly used items within reach.
Your OT will ask you questions about what's important to you, like driving your car or folding your laundry, so treatment focuses on meeting your goals. They might change the way you do an activity, like putting an extension on your steering wheel or suggesting grab bars to help you get in and out of the shower.
How do you stand out in OT applications?
- Thoroughly research the schools you are interested in. ...
- Write a Strong Personal Statement. ...
- Complete a Competitive Amount of Shadowing Hours. ...
- Highlight Your Relevant Volunteer and Extracurricular Activities. ...
- Prepare for the Graduate School Interview.