What Medical Jobs are Available in Occupational Therapy?

Question: What Medical Jobs are Available in Occupational Therapy?

Answer: Due to the high demand and need for occupational therapy services, the field of occupational therapy was named as one of the 150 most recession-proof jobs in 2008, according to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). Occupational therapy is another growing allied health career option.

Occupational therapy, according to the AOTA, is "skilled treatment that helps individuals achieve independence in all facets of their lives. Occupational therapy assists people in developing the 'skills for the job of living' necessary for independent and satisfying lives."

Occupational therapy includes, but is not limited to, the rehabilitation of people who have been affected by brain injury, who have a brain disorder, or other mental development delays which prevent them from comprehending and performing basic tasks needed in everyday life. For example, interacting with others, shopping at a store, dining at a restaurant, getting on a bus, are all examples of basic tasks which may be developed through occupational therapy, to allow a patient to learn or regain the ability to do certain tasks independently.

According to the AOTA, there are primarily two different careers available in Occupational therapy:

• Occupational Therapist: requires a Master’s degree.
• Occupational Therapist’s assistant – requires an associate’s degree (two years of college)