Occupational Therapy Jobs For College Graduates

There are various options available to those considering a healthcare career. Similarly to that, there are several employment alternatives. But finding the best one for you might take time and effort. occupational therapist jobs
One such profession in healthcare that has gained popularity is occupational therapy. Many people love the compassion of OT work and the opportunity to make a difference in others’ lives. occupational therapist jobs

What is the role of an occupational therapist? Let’s first examine the work that occupational therapists conduct and their compensation. occupational therapist jobs

Occupational Therapist Definition?

Occupational Therapy (OT) refers to an allied profession that uses everyday activities or occupations to treat mental, emotional, developmental, and physical ailments that affect a patient’s ability to perform daily tasks.

An occupational therapist uses therapeutic techniques to improve, rehab, or maintain a patient’s ability to do everyday activities.

Michael Roberts is an associate professor and program Director for the Master in occupational therapy program. He explains that OTs have the job of helping people to be more independent and enjoy a better quality of life.

Occupational therapy differs from other healthcare professions, such as nursing or physical therapy, in that it focuses on the whole person and not just a specific injury, illness, or disability. For example, a nurse may help patients with pain management, dressing changes, or care during recovery after surgery. An occupational therapist will help the patient regain independence after the surgery and assess their essential activities.

According to Roberts, OTs are differentiated by their emphasis on occupation, which they employ as a vehicle to rebuild, repair, and improve the lives of their clients. “By ‘occupation,’ we mean the daily activities, the jobs, and objectives that define who we are. Whether it be job, art, school, or leisure, everyone has activities that identify them. These exercises can be used as therapeutic tools to improve the quality of life for our patients.

Occupational Therapist Job Description

As we have already discussed, occupational therapists are responsible for helping patients with everyday activities. This means that occupational therapy is responsible for assisting the patients in developing, recovering, and improving their ability to perform daily activities. What does this mean?

OTs often handle a wide variety of patient care-related jobs and responsibilities. The following tasks may be needed by OTs, depending on their workplace environment:

Assessing the patient’s needs and condition
Develop treatment plans that address a patient’s needs and help them achieve specific goals.
Assessing the home and work environment of a patient and suggesting adaptations that will suit their needs and increase independence
Special equipment training for patients and caregivers
Document and assess progress for billing and reporting purposes.
More

The environment in which occupational therapists work will likely influence the activities they do every day. Although many occupational therapists work in hospitals or private practices, many other settings offer opportunities.

For example, some practitioners also work with the elderly and children to ease the burden of aging. In addition, entrepreneurs may choose to start and manage their practice.

Requirements Skills

Although occupational therapists can come from many backgrounds, some specific skills and attributes make occupational therapy work well. To serve their patients’ best interests, occupational therapists must have compassion and empathy. Many occupational therapists choose this career path because they want to make a difference in people’s lives.

To be successful in this sector, OTs not only need to be people-oriented but also have a wide range of talents. Among these abilities are:

Communication skills: OTs must have excellent written and oral communication skills to communicate with patients and provide treatment information. They must also be able to communicate clearly with healthcare professionals and collaborate with them to document their treatment plans and track progress.
Problem-Solving Because no two cases are ever the same. Good OTs must have excellent problem-solving skills to find the best solution for each subject.
Flexibility and Patience: Sometimes, occupational therapy can be a difficult road to restoring independence. Good occupational therapists should be patient and flexible in dealing with the highs and lows of this process.

Children’s Occupational Therapy

An allied health professional (AHP) is a children’s occupational therapist. This profession is the same as physiotherapy, psychology, and speech and language therapy. A children’s occupational therapist can support sensory Processing, self-care, Dyspraxia, and the development of fine motor skills. OTs can also help with access to learning, play skills, and fine motor skills.

Handwriting, feeding, poor coordination, toilet training, writing, and sensory issues are some areas that pediatric occupational therapy helps with. They may do this by providing advice or working directly with the child.

The UK government often includes occupational therapy in statutory provisions on Education, Health, and Care Plans. As a result, many schools must offer OT support for their students. Typical targets include sensory issues support, handwriting improvement, button-pressing ability, and other acceptable motor skills improvement.

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The occupational therapists for children are skilled in fine motor skills, sensory processing, and self-care. For example, an OT might be able to assist a child with autism with sensory sensitivities like touch sensitivity or audio sensitivity.

An occupational therapist might be recommended to help improve a child’s handwriting. Some children might see an OT for help with feeding and toileting.

Some children may have difficulties with their fine motor skills, which could affect their ability to cut with scissors and do up buttons. Only occupational therapists can learn about both mental and physical health. Their primary focus is on function and participation. They are well-suited to help children with many different challenges.

Occupational Therapy Degree

Career Fast Fact:

What will you do? Occupational therapists are trained to treat patients with disabilities, injuries, or illnesses through everyday activities. Your job is to help patients develop, recover and improve their daily living and work skills.
You’ll work in private practice or an office with other occupational, Audiology Speech therapists and speech therapists. Hospitals, Elementary schools, and nursing homes. You can also find work at home or in a health care agency.
You will need a degree Master’s degree.
Median annual salary $85,570

Types of OT Degrees

When you begin your search for occupational therapy schools, there are many degree options to choose from. Below is a list of programs that make sense to you.

Certificate of Occupational Therapy Assisting – These programs last for just one year and will not prepare you to be a certified occupational therapist assistant.
Associate’s degree in Occupational Therapy Assisting These 2-year programs will prepare you for the exam. The national certification exam for occupational therapy assistants.
Master’s/Bachelor’s Degrees in Occupational Therapy These joint bachelor’s/masters programs are also known as 4+1 or 4+2 programs. They allow you to get both degrees more efficiently.
Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT), Degree Direct-entry MOT programs is for students with bachelor’s degrees in another field. These programs give credit for your liberal arts education and allow you to take a shorter schedule of undergraduate courses before you move on to your graduate work. This program combines preparation for licensure with advanced training within a graduate-level specialty area.

Occupational Therapist Education

To practice as an occupational therapist, you must hold a master’s degree in the field. Program admission for occupational therapy is selective. A normal two-year master’s program lasts for two years.

Usually, the first half of the year is devoted to finishing prerequisite courses in a classroom environment. Spending the previous year in clinical settings.

It would help if you had a high-grade point average (above 3.3 GPA) in your undergraduate coursework. Volunteer or work as an occupational therapist aide to be accepted into an accredited occupational therapy school. Some schools require at least 150 hours of clinical experience before admitting students.

Most master’s programs will require academic coursework and one to two-quarters clinical fieldwork.

To gain practical experience, you will also need to spend six months in supervised fieldwork at clinics and community organizations. You may need to do a master’s or similar Capstone project in addition to the intensive fieldwork. Letters of recommendation from science teachers or occupational therapists will be required. Most schools require a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Examination.

Accreditation of Occupational Therapy Schools

The American Occupational Therapy Association is the accrediting body for occupational therapy programs and schools. Therefore, students can rest assured that their coursework meets the AOTA standards by having their approval.

Licensing & Certification

Although certification is voluntary, it shows you are serious about your profession. To become certified, occupational therapists must pass the NBCOT (National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapists) exams. The board’s mission is to “provide a standard of excellence” in the field.

Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR) is a title that therapists can use with NBCOT certification. You will also need to take continuing education classes to maintain your certification.

All states require occupational therapists to be licensed. You will need a degree from an accredited school and your NBCOT certificate to earn your license. Additional fees and requirements may apply in the state where you intend to work.

Occupational Therapy Schooling

Students who study occupational therapy learn how to help people with severe health conditions. Occupational Therapy Schooling
People who are disabled, sick, or injured often have difficulty with daily tasks. This can lead to a loss of self-confidence. An occupational therapist (or OT) is a professional who helps people with limitations or impairments in their daily lives. Occupational Therapy Schooling
An OT can often be trained to treat children and adults. Sometimes, they also help seniors. In all cases, however, their job is to help clients overcome or work around personal limitations.
Aspiring OTs need to know much about the field and what education is required.

How to Enter the Profession of Occupational Therapy Grad School

According to occupational therapists, their job requires both a passion for science and compassion for patients in pain. In addition, experts say that the occupation requires problem-solving skills because OTs are responsible for helping patients with severe disabilities.

Beverly Moskowitz is an occupational therapist with more than 40 years of experience and a fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association. She says that anyone who wants to pursue a career as an occupational therapist must be persistent enough to fight for a spot in a well-respected profession.

Moskowitz points out that there is a high demand for OT grad school seats. Therefore, applicants must demonstrate their ability in math and science to be considered. They must also demonstrate their ability to think logically and communicate well in writing and speech.

President and CEO of Real OT Solutions, Moskowitz, says that shadowing an occupational therapist is necessary for any potential OT grad student. Occupational Therapy Schooling

Experts recommend that applicants get as much experience as possible in OT clinics. As there are many types of occupational therapy clinics, OT grad students must volunteer in multiple classes.

The owner and director of Bloom Pediatrics occupational therapy clinic in Los Angeles, Ransom, noted in an email, “We are inundated with requests from college students to volunteer with us in exchange for experience in pediatric occupational therapy.

Ransom says that college students who volunteer for Ransom’s practice can stand out in various ways.

Additionally

“Volunteers want strong letters of recommendation to help them in their graduate applications. Therefore, they must find ways to shine to make that happen. Some people stand out for their intuition, others because they have a strong work ethic, others because of the joy in their personality, and some because they have all three!

Ransom adds that an OT candidate’s undergraduate course of study may affect their chances of getting into graduate school. She says a bachelor’s degree can help students stand out in a field like biology, psychology, or any other hard science. “Human development classes and anatomy, physiology, sociology are all useful.”

Ransom states that it is also a good idea if applicants can explain what inspired them to pursue occupational therapy and then relay that information in a written application.

Quinn Tyminski is an occupational therapy and psychiatry teacher at Washington University St. Louis. He holds a doctorate in occupational treatment. Applicants should choose the program that best suits them.

She says that a master’s degree is necessary for clinical practice. “A master’s degree is the best way to get out there and be a practicing OT,” she said. However, she adds that a doctorate is best for those who plan to become OT clinical researchers or academics or who wish to work in administrative positions such as OT program development.

Tyminski states that no particular college major is required for admission to OT school. However, she says that OT graduate programs often have prerequisites. These include introductory science courses at the college level, such as chemistry, physics, and anatomy. It’s, therefore, essential to take all these undergraduate courses.

How To Become OT

You must have a degree in occupational therapy to become an occupational therapist in Australia.

You can prepare for a career as an occupational therapist by completing Certificate IV (Allied Health Assistance) in Occupational Therapy (HLT43015).
Completion of a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy. It usually takes four years to complete this degree.
Alternatively, if your undergraduate degree is already complete, you can finish a master’s in occupational therapy. It usually takes two years of full-time studies. Some institutions may require you to complete specific prerequisite courses in your undergraduate degree.
Gain work experience. You can gain relevant experience by working as a nanny or summer camp worker for children with special needs.
Register with the Occupational Therapist Board of Australia to practice in Australia.

Occupational Therapist Jobs

Are you a well-trained and qualified Occupational Therapist seeking to work as an Occupational Therapist? Then the Occupational Therapist Jobs below are for you.

1. Occupational Therapist- 2K BONUS-00025388

Consonus Healthcare Portland, Oregon Metropolitan Area

Consonus Healthcare, a contract rehabilitation and pharmacy provider for senior care residents and facilities across the country, is Consonus Healthcare. It is part of Marquis Companies which owns 26 old care campuses in Oregon, California. Join a family with more than 4,000 employees. We all share a common goal: to be champions for every journey.

We offer a variety of career options and a comprehensive benefits package. This can include:

Competitive Compensation
Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
Paid Time Off Program “Choice Time,” which pools Vacation, Sick, and Holiday Pay
Employer-Issued Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance for Full-Time employees
Life insurance, short-term disability, critical care, and AD&D coverage
Flexible Spending on Medical & Dependent Care
401(k), Plan with Employer Match
Annual Continuing Education Benefit
Consonus University provides online access to CEUs
Continuous Growth Opportunities and Up to $25,000 for ongoing education
Use of ACP equipment
Refer an employee to receive a bonus
Employee Assistance Program
Employees Get a Discount on Cell Phones
Vital Life Foundation Contribution to Non-Profit Volunteer Hours
*Benefits may vary depending on the status of your hire
A degree in occupational therapy is awarded to graduates of accredited programs
Current state licensure or in the process of obtaining appropriate state licensure
CPR Certification (requirements vary based on state/location).
National Provider Identifiers (NPI) is required for hire
Excellent organizational skills are essential to facilitate program development
Strives to be positive in representing their discipline and Consonus Rehab within the community
We encourage new graduates to apply. Learn and grow with us!

APPLY ON OUR EXTERNAL LINK

2. Staff Occupational Therapist, Home Health

St. Luke’s University Health Network Bethlehem, PA

St. Luke’s is proud to have such a talented, experienced, and compassionate workforce. However, our most valuable asset is our employees at St. Luke’s. Our employees work together and individually to fulfill the mission of St. Luke’s. This is an unwavering commitment to excellence in care and education for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. It also improves access to care in our communities, regardless if a patient can afford it. To ensure that the team is successful, this position collaborates with other interdisciplinary team members.

Providing high-quality occupational therapy services according to physician’s orders

Abide by the agency’s policies and programs. The services are rendered at the patient’s home.

JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Performs an initial evaluation to determine functional deficiencies. In consultation with the physician, establishes a plan of treatment that includes both short- and long-term goals.
The patient is guided in therapeutic, creative, and self-care activities to improve or restore function.
Plans for a patient using physical or mental activities, crafts
To reach the maximum level of wellness, you can engage in hobbies, daily exercises, and self-care activities.

Function.

Instructions on how to use equipment that can improve the function of the home.
Monitors and records the patient’s responses to treatment. Also, reports any changes to the patient’s condition to the physician.
Communicates with the Rehab Manager, Patient Care Manager, and Clinical Coordinator to plan complete patient and family care. As needed, confers with other disciplines to plan rehabilitation for the patient.
The family-oriented approach is reflected in the records. Documentation must be accurate, timely, legible, and by agency policies and directives. The documents show the family and patient’s goals and plans.
Documents the effectiveness and results of care and evaluates them on an ongoing basis. Makes revisions as necessary.
Discharge plans when appropriate.
When appropriate, instruct other health team members in occupational therapy, including activities of daily living.

This applies to the patient as well as their family members. APPLY HERE

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FAQ

What is Occupational Therapy?

Ans: Occupational Therapy (OT) refers to an allied profession that uses everyday activities or occupations to treat mental, emotional, developmental, and physical ailments that affect a patient’s ability to perform daily tasks.

What Does An Occupational Therapist Do?

Ans: An occupational therapist uses therapeutic techniques to improve, rehab, or maintain a patient’s ability to do everyday activities.

How To Become An Occupational Therapist

Ans:

You can prepare for a career as an occupational therapist by completing Certificate IV (Allied Health Assistance) in Occupational Therapy (HLT43015).
Completion of a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy. It usually takes four years to complete this degree.
Alternatively, if your undergraduate degree is complete, you can finish a master’s in occupational therapy. Usually, two years of full-time study are required. In addition, depending on the institution, you might need to finish specific prerequisite courses for your undergraduate degree.
Gain work experience. You can gain relevant experience by working as a nanny or summer camp worker for children with special needs.
Register with the Occupational Therapist Board of Australia to practice in Australia.

What is Occupational Therapy For kids

Ans: This profession is the same as physiotherapy, psychology, and speech and language therapy. A children’s occupational therapist can support sensory Processing, self-care, Dyspraxia, and the development of fine motor skills. OTs can also help with access to learning, play skills, and fine motor skills.

How Long Does It Take To Become An Occupational Therapist?

Ans: To become a certified occupational therapist, you must complete five to six years of training. Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree before pursuing a master’s or doctorate. To get real-world experience, fieldwork is necessary. Before becoming an occupational therapist, you must also fulfill license criteria and pass a test.

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