Careers in Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is one of the fastest-growing professions in America today. Employment opportunities in occupational therapy  are projected to rise as rapid growth in the number of middle-aged and elderly individuals increases the demand for therapeutic services. The increased recognition of developmental and learning disabilities in children also will increase the demand for occupational therapists.

As an occupational  therapist, you will work in a variety of settings, including:

• Hospitals
• Schools
• Homes
• Mental health clinics
• Rehabilitation centers
• Outpatient clinics
• Private practices

You may help patients with diagnoses such as

• Stroke
• Arthritis
• Cerebral palsy
• Learning disabilities
• Hand injuries
• Depression
• Schizophrenia

Rewarding Futures

Graduates of the Department of Occupational Therapy earn competitive salaries immediately following graduation. According to an annual survey conducted by USP’s Career Services Division, the department’s alumni from the Class of 2007 earned salaries ranging from $45,000 to $70,000 upon graduating.

Licensure

Nearly every state will require you to have a license to practice occupational therapy.

Each state has a law describing the process for obtaining a license to practice occupational therapy. The primary criterion for obtaining a license is passing the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) examination. Each state has specific application requirements. The NBCOT examination is widely recognized throughout the world in case you plan to work overseas.

In order to be eligible to take the certification exam, you must complete all of the MOT program requirements. All fieldwork must be completed within two years of completion of the academic work. From 2005 through 2007, all 24 of the program’s 24 graduates sat for the certification. Nineteen of them – 79.1 percent – passed on the first attempt.