Occupational Therapist and Occupational Therapist Assistant positions are among the fastest growing jobs in America. If you want a stable, well-paying job that provides you the satisfaction of helping others improve their lives and become more independent , occupational therapy might be the career for you! Employment opportunities for occupational therapists are expected to grow more than 27% through 2014, as more jobs become available in nursing homes, clinics, hospitals, and schools. Whether you want to work with children or adults, occupational therapy can be an incredibly rewarding and fun career!

Job Description
An occupational therapist works to help patients with physical, emotional, mental, or developmental disabilities gain the ability to lead independent and productive lives. Occupational therapists outline a customized treatment plan, and occupational therapist assistants help patients with the rehabilitative exercises and activities prescribed in the given treatment plan.

Some therapists and assistants choose to specialize in a particular disability or age group. For example, a therapy assistant can work with elderly patients suffering from arthritis, Alzheimer’s, or stroke, or they can work with newborns or children with birth injuries or learning disabilities. Other specialties include eating disorders, work-related injuries, substance abuse, and post-traumatic stress.

Education Requirements
Becoming an occupational therapist requires a master’s degree with coursework in biological, physical, and behavioral sciences and six months of supervised clinical experience. In addition, someone interested in becoming an occupational therapist will need to pass the national certification exam to become an Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR). Of course, with more responsibility comes a higher salary.

The requirements for an occupational therapy assistant are not as demanding, but the salary is also not as high as that of an occupational therapist. With a 2-year associate’s degree in occupational therapy, you can be on your way to a great career as an occupational therapy assistant! Occupation therapy associate’s degrees include coursework in health care, anatomy, basic medical terminology, mental health, gerontology, and pediatrics. In addition, students must complete 16 weeks of clinical fieldwork and pass a national certification exam to become a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.

Salary Range
Occupational therapy is a satisfying job – and a well-paying one too! In May 2004, Occupational therapists earned an average of $54,660 annually, with the highest 10% earning more than $81,600. Occupational therapy assistants earned an average of $38,430 in May 2004, with the highest 10% earning more than $52,700.

Sources:

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
The American Occupational Therapy Association

If you’re ready to start a fantastic and rewarding career in Occupational Therapy, request information from any of our Occupational Therapy Assistant Training Schools today!

Featured Occupational Therapy Assistant Training School:

Keiser University
Location: Multiple Locations in Florida
Programs: Occupational Therapy Assistant
For more than 25 years, Keiser University has maintained a practical, hands-on approach to career education to help our students achieve their personal and professional goals. Our student-centered approach remains at the foundation of the Keiser University mission and continues to attract students who prefer a more personal learning experience.

At Keiser University, you will find a warm, friendly community with faculty and staff truly committed to your success. Our small class sizes, individualized attention and one-class-at-a-time schedules create a positive learning environment where you can excel. Whether your goal is to prepare for a new career or to advance with your current employer, Keiser University is designed around your needs.

Florida
Keiser University (Ft.Lauderdale, Melbourne, Miami, Orlando, Pembroke Pines) - Occupational Therapy Assistant

Pennsylvania
Kaplan Career Institute - ICM (Pittsburgh) - Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physical Therapist Assistant

Click here to see More Schools offering Occupational Studies and Occupational Therapy Assistant Training >>