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Becoming an Occupational Therapy Practitioner
Occupational Therapy services are provided by occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants. Occupational therapy practitioners can be credentialed at either the professional (occupational therapist) or technical (occupational therapy assistant) level after completing a 4-year baccalaureate or 2-year associate degree program at one of over 300 accredited programs in colleges and universities throughout the United States. Occupational therapists evaluate clients, plan programs, and supervise or provide treatment. Occupational therapy assistants are supervised by occupational therapists and may also provide some evaluations, as well as plan and carry out treatment programs. Both therapists and assistants must complete a supervised fieldwork program, graduate from an accredited education program, and pass a national certification examination.
PREREQUISITES
Meeting prerequisites for a program does not guarantee admission. Schools typically require course work concentrating on the biological and behavioral sciences, including biology, psychology, and sociology. Each school will provide information on specific requirements and related elective course work. Most programs also require volunteer or paid work experiences with persons with disabilities prior to entering.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
All programs prepare you for entry into the profession and meet the educational standards for program accreditation. Students interested in occupational therapy are diverse in age, education, work experience, and cultural background. It is important when applying to an education program to consider location, admission standards and competition, as well as the length of the program.
To prepare for a career as an occupational therapist (OT), you must complete an education program accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association's Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE). Accreditation of a program indicates that the program is in substantial compliance with the "Essentials" established by the Accreditation Board. Currently, you may choose from several routes: An bssociate's degree (for occupational therapy assistant), or a bachelors degree, professional master's degree program, or post-baccalaureate certificate program (for occupational therapist). However, by the year 2007, a baccalaureate will no longer be available. It will be replaced by an entry-level masters degree.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROGRAMS
Baccalaureate degree programs include 4 years of study. Many of these require successful completion of 2 years of prerequisite courses before a student can apply for entrance to the professional occupational therapy program in the junior or third year. Professional master's degree programs are available for the person who has a baccalaureate degree in an area other than occupational therapy. Completing a master's degree in occupational therapy takes approximately 2 to 2 1/2 years to complete. All OT education programs include a period of supervised clinical experience. Employers do not necessarily differentiate between the various entry degrees when recruiting new OT graduates. However, a master's degree is a definite advantage to the therapist considering a career path that includes teaching, research or management.
Both, the baccalaureate and master's programs are entry level to the profession and are accredited using the same ACOTE educational standards or Essentials. The professional content will be basically the same, however, the master's program will place a great emphasis on research and critical thinking. On you first job, the difference in salary offered for a professional master's degree prepared therapist and a baccalaureate degree prepared therapist may be negligible. However, over time, the individual with a master's degree may be more readily placed in higher level and high paying positions. Successful completion of either program qualifies an individual to sit for the NBCOT certification examination.
The post baccalaureate certificate takes 2 to 2 1/2 years to complete. A certificate program is one that, upon completion of the academic course work and fieldwork, awards a certificate rather than a degree. The certificate is then the credential that enables the graduate to sit for the NBCOT certification examination. Some master's programs award a certificate "in partial fulfillment" of a master's degree so that you can work as an OT while you finish your degree. Certificate programs must be accredited and must demonstrate substantial compliance with the Essentials. There are a few certificate programs at both the professional and technical levels of education. There are a few states that require a degree in the profession for licensure. Therefore, the certificate may not be as transportable as a degree. You should check with the regulatory board in the state(s) in which you intend to work.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT PROGRAMS
To become an occupational therapy assistant (OTA) you must complete a 2-year associate degree froom an ACOTE accredited program. These programs also include a period of supervised clinical experience. Because entrance requirements, prerequisites, and program components differ from school to school, it is important to get specific information from those programs to which you are interested in applying. Programs are available in colleges, universities, medical schools, and vocational, technical or community colleges throughout the country. There are no on-the-job training programs.
Review the comprehensive state listing of educational programs by clicking here for OT programs or here for OTA programs. For national lists refer to www.aota.org for complete information.
