Occupational Therapists help individuals with mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally, disabling conditions to develop, recover, or maintain daily living and work skills. They not only help patients improve basic motor functions and reasoning abilities, but also to compensate for permanent loss of function, Their goal is to help patients have independent, productive, and satisfying lifestyles. Therapists use activities of all kinds to assist the patient in caring for daily needs (dressing, bathing, cooking) as well as exercises aimed at regaining physical strength and dexterity. For those with permanent functional disabilities, therapists provide adaptive equipment and training in there use. Examples would be wheelchairs, splints, and prosthetic devices. Occupational Therapists work closely with other health care professionals and with the patient and family to provide education regarding the nature of the disability, precautions, home programs and community resources. A Therapist must have an interest in human behavior, in helping others, and in the physical sciences. Therapists must be in good physical and emotional health, have a warm friendly manner, be adaptable, academically above average, and have abilities for creativity, teaching, observing, reporting and teamwork.

After completing 2 college years of prerequisite courses, a student may enter a bachelors degree program with a major in Occupational Therapy. Of the total 4 1/2 to 5 year program, about 9 months are spent in clinical affiliations working under supervision with patients. Some states regulate the practice of occupational therapy through licensure or trademark laws. Applicants for a license must have a degree or certificate from an accredited educational program and pass a national certification examination through the American Occupational Therapy Certification Board, which awards the title of Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR) to qualified applicants. An Occupational Therapist can receive a master's degree with an additional 1 1/2 years of study. Occupational Therapy programs for graduates in other fields are also available at a few selected schools throughout the country.

• 4+ year Bachelors Degree

Employment of occupation therapists is expected to increase much faster than the average of all occupations through the year 2005 due to anticipated growth in demand for rehabilitation and long-term care services. Several factors are increasing the need for rehabilitative services. Medical advances are now making it possible for more patients with critical problems to survive. These patients, however, may need extensive therapy. Also, there is the anticipated demand generated by the baby-boom generation’s move into middle age, a period during which the incidence of heart attack and stroke increases. Additional services will also be demanded by the population 75 years of age and above, a rapidly growing age group that suffers from a very high incidence of disabling conditions. Finally, additional therapists will be needed to help prepare handicapped children to enter special education programs, as required by recent Federal legislation. Due to industry growth and more intensive care, hospitals will continue to employ the largest number of occupation therapists. Hospitals will need occupational therapists to staff their growing home health care and outpatient rehabilitiation programs. Employment of occupational therapists in the home health field is expected to grow very fast. The rapidly growing number of people age 75 and older who are more likely to need home health care, and the greater use of at-home followup care will encourage this growth

Occupational therapists use specialized knowledge to help individuals perform daily living skills and achieve maximum independence. Other workers performing similar duties include orthotists, prothetists, physical therapists, chiropractors, speech pathologists and audiologists, rehabilitation counselors, recreational therapists, art therapists, music therapists, dance therapists, horticultural therapists, and manual arts therapist.

$49,450

• Avila University
• Kirksville College Of Osteopathic Medicine
• Maryville University
• Newman University
• Rockhurst University
• St. Louis University Doisy School Of Health Sciences
• University Of Kansas School Of Allied Health
• University Of Missouri - Columbia
• University Of Missouri - Columbia School Of Health Professions
• Washington University School Of Medicine Program In Occupational Therapy
• William Jewell College

• Aft Healthcare
• American Association Of Spinal Cord Injuries Nurses
• Missouri Occupational Therapy Association
• National Board For Certification In Ot, Inc.
• National Environmental Health Association
• National Rehabilitation Association
• National Rehabilitation Counseling Association